Pike County, Alabama

Pike County
County
Pike County Courthouse in Troy
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°47′57″N85°56′19″W / 31.7992°N 85.9386°W / 31.7992; -85.9386
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Founded	December 17, 1821
Named for	Zebulon Pike
Seat	Troy
Largest city	Troy
Area
• Total	673 sq mi (1,740 km2)
• Land	672 sq mi (1,740 km2)
• Water	0.9 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	33,009
• Estimate  (2023)	33,137
• Density	49/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.alabamagis.com/Pike/
County Number 55 on Alabama Licence Plates

Pike County is located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 33,009. ^[1] Its county seat is Troy. ^[2] Its name is in honor of General Zebulon Pike, of New Jersey, who led an expedition to southern Colorado and encountered Pikes Peak in 1806.

Pike County comprises the Troy, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The area of present-day Pike County was inhabited by Native Americans from prehistoric times. Spain, France, and Great Britain all claimed the area, but except for scattered military outposts like Fort Toulouse near present-day Wetumpka, European inhabitants were concentrated along the Gulf Coast, with very few settling inland. In 1763, at the close of the French and Indian War, France ceded all the territories of New France (including what is now Pike County, Spanish claims notwithstanding) to the victorious British. In the same year, the Royal Proclamation of 1763 prohibited British subjects from settling in this area, which was reserved for the native peoples.

A map from 1767 of British West Florida, including the area of present-day Pike County

Between the years of 1767 and 1783, the area that is now Pike County was part of the colony of British West Florida, though still with nearly all whites concentrated in the settlements along the coast or near the Mississippi River. ^[3] After the American victory in the Revolutionary War, the British ceded the territory to Spain, an American ally. However, Spain and the United States both claimed the region fell until Spain gave up its claims to the land north of the 31st parallel (present-day border of Alabama and Florida) in the Treaty of Madrid (1795). The United States organized the entire region north of that border and east of Georgia as the Mississippi Territory. In 1812, following the Louisiana Purchase, the United States unilaterally annexed the Mobile District from Spanish West Florida, most of the rest of which was acqurired with the Adams–Onís Treaty of 1819 (ratified 1821).

In 1817, the Mississippi Territory was divided, with the western part admitted to the Union as the State of Mississippi; the remainder was admitted as the State of Alabama in 1819, and was soon organized into counties. Pike County is one of the oldest in the state, organized on December 17, 1821. The temporary county seat was established at the house of Andrew Townsend. Pike County comprised a large tract of country, so large that it was called the State of Pike, including a part of what are now Crenshaw, Montgomery, Macon, Bullock, and Barbour counties, and extended to the Chattahoochee River on the east. ^[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 673 square miles (1,740 km²), of which 672 square miles (1,740 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) (0.1%) is water. ^[5]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 29
• U.S. Highway 231
• State Route 10
• State Route 87
• State Route 93
• State Route 125
• State Route 130
• State Route 167
• State Route 201
• State Route 223

Transit

• Pike Area Transit System (PATS) provides demand-response service.

Adjacent counties

• Bullock County (northeast)
• Barbour County (east)
• Dale County (southeast)
• Coffee County (south)
• Crenshaw County (west)
• Montgomery County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	7,108		—
1840	10,108		42.2%
1850	15,920		57.5%
1860	24,435		53.5%
1870	17,423		−28.7%
1880	20,640		18.5%
1890	24,423		18.3%
1900	29,172		19.4%
1910	30,815		5.6%
1920	31,631		2.6%
1930	32,240		1.9%
1940	32,493		0.8%
1950	30,608		−5.8%
1960	25,987		−15.1%
1970	25,038		−3.7%
1980	28,050		12.0%
1990	27,595		−1.6%
2000	29,605		7.3%
2010	32,899		11.1%
2020	33,009		0.3%
2023 (est.)	33,137	[6]	0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9] 1990–2000 [10] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 Census

Pike County, Alabama – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2000 [11]	Pop 2010 [12]	Pop 2020 [13]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	17,790	18,887	18,036	60.09%	57.41%	54.64%
Black or African American alone (NH)	10,766	11,990	12,068	36.37%	36.44%	36.56%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	190	185	169	0.64%	0.56%	0.51%
Asian alone (NH)	105	645	577	0.35%	1.96%	1.75%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	5	6	9	0.02%	0.02%	0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	25	14	117	0.08%	0.04%	0.35%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	359	442	1,128	1.21%	1.34%	3.42%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	365	730	905	1.23%	2.22%	2.74%
Total	29,605	32,899	33,009	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 33,009 people, 11,601 households, and 6,422 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census ^[14] of 2010, there were 32,899 people, 13,210 households, and 7,759 families living in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile (19 people/km²). There were 15,267 housing units at an average density of 22.7 units per square mile (8.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 58.2% White, 36.6% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 2.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,210 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.3% under the age of 18, 21.2% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,181, and the median income for a family was $41,570. Males had a median income of $38,605 versus $26,495 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,013. About 20.5% of families and 28.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.8% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census ^[15] of 2000, there were 29,605 people, 11,933 households, and 7,649 families living in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17 people/km²). There were 13,981 housing units at an average density of 21 units per square mile (8.1 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 60.77% White, 36.60% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,933 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.60% were married couples living together, 16.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.90% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 15.80% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,551, and the median income for a family was $34,132. Males had a median income of $27,094 versus $18,758 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,904. About 18.50% of families and 23.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.90% of those under age 18 and 21.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

United States presidential election results for Pike County, Alabama ^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	8,042	58.10%	5,636	40.72%	163	1.18%
2016	7,693	58.42%	5,056	38.40%	419	3.18%
2012	7,963	56.38%	6,035	42.73%	125	0.89%
2008	8,004	57.36%	5,879	42.13%	72	0.52%
2004	7,483	62.97%	4,334	36.47%	66	0.56%
2000	6,058	57.45%	4,357	41.32%	129	1.22%
1996	5,281	51.07%	4,514	43.65%	546	5.28%
1992	5,423	48.45%	4,688	41.88%	1,082	9.67%
1988	5,897	60.04%	3,813	38.82%	111	1.13%
1984	6,231	62.60%	3,541	35.58%	181	1.82%
1980	5,220	52.25%	4,417	44.21%	354	3.54%
1976	4,363	44.12%	5,387	54.47%	139	1.41%
1972	5,690	76.66%	1,624	21.88%	108	1.46%
1968	658	7.89%	1,565	18.76%	6,118	73.35%
1964	4,373	84.49%	0	0.00%	803	15.51%
1960	1,006	22.62%	3,421	76.91%	21	0.47%
1956	997	25.97%	2,631	68.53%	211	5.50%
1952	965	27.46%	2,546	72.45%	3	0.09%
1948	87	4.74%	0	0.00%	1,747	95.26%
1944	90	3.63%	2,328	93.91%	61	2.46%
1940	121	3.81%	3,049	95.94%	8	0.25%
1936	55	1.74%	3,100	98.19%	2	0.06%
1932	52	2.00%	2,545	97.92%	2	0.08%
1928	552	23.24%	1,819	76.59%	4	0.17%
1924	30	1.59%	1,832	97.34%	20	1.06%
1920	204	11.32%	1,586	88.01%	12	0.67%
1916	50	2.69%	1,789	96.39%	17	0.92%
1912	13	0.96%	1,293	95.14%	53	3.90%
1908	39	2.49%	1,507	96.29%	19	1.21%
1904	29	1.80%	1,544	95.66%	41	2.54%

Communities

Cities

• Brundidge
• Troy (county seat)

Towns

• Banks
• Goshen

Unincorporated communities

• China Grove
• Curry
• Henderson
• Jonesville
• Josie
• Kent
• Needmore
• Orion
• Pronto
• Saco
• Shady Grove
• Shiloh
• Spring Hill
• Tennille

Notable people

• Littleton Prince (?-1833), white man executed for helping a runaway slave
• John Lewis (1940-2020), African-American civil rights leader and U.S. Congressman (1987-2020)

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pike County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Pike County, Alabama

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. The Economy of British West Florida, 1763-1783 by Robin F. A. Fabel (University of Alabama Press, 2002.)
4. Owen, Thomas McAdory (1921). History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Vol. II. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. p. 1126.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
11. "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Pike County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
12. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pike County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
13. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pike County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved August 6, 2015.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
16. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 21, 2016.

External links

• Pike County Chamber of Commerce
• Pike County Sheriff's Office

31°47′57″N85°56′19″W / 31.79917°N 85.93861°W / 31.79917; -85.93861