History
Randolph County was established by the Alabama Legislature on December 18, 1832, [1] following Indian Removal of the Creek people. It was named in honor of John Randolph, a well-known Virginia congressman. Randolph County was one of several counties created out of the last Creek cession formulated by the Treaty of Cusseta, on March 24, 1832. It lies within the Piedmont region, which extends from Alabama to Pennsylvania. [1]
The first white settlers said the county had an abundance of the "purest and coldest freestone water in the world." The area was also noted for its gentle rolling hills. [4] The first county seat for Randolph County was established in 1833 at Hedgeman Triplett's Ferry on the west bank of the Big Tallapoosa River, about 10 miles (16 km) west of Wedowee, Alabama. [1]
In 1835 (2 years later), the county seat was moved by the commissioners to nearby Wedowee. This city lies in the center of Randolph County, on a fork of the Little Tallapoosa River. Wedowee was named after a Creek tribal chief "Wah-wah-nee" (or "Wah-dow-wee") of a village here. The European-American town was developed near that site after the Creek were forced out. [1]
The county was developed for agriculture, specifically cotton plantations, which were worked by African-American slaves brought by migrants to the region or transported from the Upper South during the domestic slave trade. It was adjacent to what became known as the Black Belt of Alabama, an area of plantation development in the uplands, where short-staple cotton was cultivated. Many African Americans stayed in the area as sharecroppers and tenant farmers after the Civil War, but left for other opportunities during the first half of the 20th century. The table below shows population declines from 1920 to 1970, reflecting this demographic change. In 2010 some 20 percent of the population was African American, reflecting this history of cotton agriculture.
Demographics
Historical population| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|
| 1840 | 4,973 | | — |
|---|
| 1850 | 11,581 | | 132.9% |
|---|
| 1860 | 20,059 | | 73.2% |
|---|
| 1870 | 12,006 | | −40.1% |
|---|
| 1880 | 16,575 | | 38.1% |
|---|
| 1890 | 17,219 | | 3.9% |
|---|
| 1900 | 21,647 | | 25.7% |
|---|
| 1910 | 24,659 | | 13.9% |
|---|
| 1920 | 27,064 | | 9.8% |
|---|
| 1930 | 26,861 | | −0.8% |
|---|
| 1940 | 25,516 | | −5.0% |
|---|
| 1950 | 22,513 | | −11.8% |
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| 1960 | 19,477 | | −13.5% |
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| 1970 | 18,331 | | −5.9% |
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| 1980 | 20,075 | | 9.5% |
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| 1990 | 19,881 | | −1.0% |
|---|
| 2000 | 22,380 | | 12.6% |
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| 2010 | 22,913 | | 2.4% |
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| 2020 | 21,967 | | −4.1% |
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| 2023 (est.) | 22,786 | [6] | 3.7% |
|---|
|
2020 Census
Randolph 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) | 16,940 | 17,280 | 16,629 | 75.69% | 75.42% | 75.70% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,949 | 4,604 | 3,814 | 22.11% | 20.09% | 17.36% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 41 | 84 | 50 | 0.18% | 0.37% | 0.23% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 50 | 54 | 86 | 0.22% | 0.24% | 0.39% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 9 | 8 | 51 | 0.04% | 0.03% | 0.23% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 118 | 229 | 731 | 0.53% | 1.00% | 3.33% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 272 | 649 | 605 | 1.22% | 2.83% | 2.75% |
| Total | 22,380 | 22,913 | 21,967 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2020, there were 21,967 people, 8,702 households, and 5,720 families residing in the county.
2010 census
As of the census [14] of 2010, there were 22,913 people, 9,164 households, and 6,357 families living in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 11,982 housing units at an average density of 20.6 units per square mile (8.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.5% White (non-Hispanic), 20.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,164 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 51.0% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. Nearly 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46, and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,593, and the median income for a family was $43,528. Males had a median income of $31,305 versus $27,908 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,844. About 14.7% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, [15] there were 22,380 people, 8,642 households, and 6,222 families living in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 10,285 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.38% White (non-Hispanic), 22.24% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. 3.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,642 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 56.20% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. Nearly 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52, and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,675, and the median income for a family was $34,684. Males had a median income of $27,069 versus $20,323 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,147. About 12.60% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.10% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.
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Roanoke is a city in Randolph County, which is in the Piedmont region of eastern Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 5,311, down from 6,074 in 2010 and 6,563 in 2000.
Wadley is a town in Randolph County, Alabama, United States. It is home to the Wadley campus of Southern Union State Community College. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 751, up from 640 in 2000. According to the 1910 U.S. Census, the town was incorporated in 1908.
Wedowee is a town in Randolph County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 823, up from 818 in 2000. The small town is the county seat of Randolph County. It was initially incorporated in 1836, but its charter lapsed by the late 19th century. It was reincorporated in 1901.
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Dadeville is a city in and the county seat of Tallapoosa County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 3,230, up from 3,212 in 2000.
Tallapoosa is a city in Haralson County, Georgia. The population was 3,170 at the 2010 census, up from 2,789 at the 2000 census.
Tallapoosa is a city in New Madrid County, Missouri, United States. The population was 78 at the 2020 census.
United States
Alabama 
