Wilcox County, Alabama

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Wilcox County
Wilcox County Courthouse.jpg
Wilcox County Courthouse in Camden, Alabama
Seal of Wilcox County, Alabama.png
Map of Alabama highlighting Wilcox County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama in United States.svg
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°59′06″N87°18′39″W / 31.985°N 87.310833333333°W / 31.985; -87.310833333333
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Alabama.svg  Alabama
FoundedDecember 13, 1819
Named after Joseph M. Wilcox
Seat Camden
Largest cityCamden
Area
  Total
907 sq mi (2,350 km2)
  Land888 sq mi (2,300 km2)
  Water19 sq mi (50 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
10,600
  Estimate 
(2023)
9,944 Decrease2.svg
  Density12/sq mi (4.5/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 7th
  • County Number 66 on Alabama Licence Plates

Wilcox County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,600. [1] Its county seat is Camden. [2]

Contents

History

Wilcox County was established on December 13, 1819. The county was named after Joseph M. Wilcox, a United States Army lieutenant who was killed in Alabama during the Creek War. [3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 907 square miles (2,350 km2), of which 888 square miles (2,300 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (2.1%) is water. [4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1820 2,917
1830 9,548227.3%
1840 15,27860.0%
1850 17,35213.6%
1860 24,61841.9%
1870 28,37715.3%
1880 31,82812.2%
1890 30,816−3.2%
1900 35,63115.6%
1910 33,810−5.1%
1920 31,080−8.1%
1930 24,880−19.9%
1940 26,2795.6%
1950 23,476−10.7%
1960 18,739−20.2%
1970 16,303−13.0%
1980 14,755−9.5%
1990 13,568−8.0%
2000 13,183−2.8%
2010 11,670−11.5%
2020 10,600−9.2%
2023 (est.)9,944 [5] −6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]
1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8]
1990–2000 [9] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 Census

Wilcox County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition
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 (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000 [10] Pop 2010 [11] Pop 2020 [12] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)3,6113,1102,86627.39%26.65%27.04%
Black or African American alone (NH)9,4238,4207,42571.48%72.15%70.05%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1914110.14%0.12%0.10%
Asian alone (NH)8470.06%0.03%0.07%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)2150.02%0.01%0.05%
Other race alone (NH)02160.00%0.02%0.15%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)23471580.17%0.40%1.49%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)97721120.74%0.62%1.06%
Total13,18311,67010,600100.00%100.00%100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,600 people, 3,854 households, and 2,284 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 11,670 people living in the county. 72.5% were Black or African American, 26.8% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% of some other race and 0.4% of two or more races. 0.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census [13] of 2000, there were 13,183 people, 4,776 households, and 3,376 families living in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 6,183 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 71.90% Black or African American, 27.51% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.19% from two or more races. Nearly 0.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,776 households, out of which 36.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.80% were married couples living together, 26.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. Nearly 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70, and the average family size was 3.31.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.70% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $16,646, and the median income for a family was $22,200. Males had a median income of $26,216 versus $17,274 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,903. About 36.10% of families and 39.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.40% of those under age 18 and 32.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Wilcox County leans heavily towards the Democratic Party. The only Republican to carry the county since 1900 has been Barry Goldwater in 1964 – when little to none of the county's black majority had voted for over seven decades and opposition by the voting white minority to Civil Rights meant that national Democrat Lyndon Johnson was not allowed on the ballot. Even after the Voting Rights Act of 1965, black registration was so slow that segregationist George Wallace comfortably carried the county in 1968, but since then the Democratic presidential candidate has carried Wilcox in every election. It was one of only six Wallace counties [a] to vote for George McGovern against Richard Nixon's 3,000-plus-county landslide of 1972.

United States presidential election results for Wilcox County, Alabama [14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 1,79334.07%3,44965.53%210.40%
2020 1,83331.05%4,04868.58%220.37%
2016 1,74228.45%4,33970.86%420.69%
2012 1,67925.61%4,86874.26%80.12%
2008 1,86828.77%4,61271.02%140.22%
2004 1,83432.28%3,83867.55%100.18%
2000 1,66132.40%3,44467.19%210.41%
1996 1,45430.00%3,30368.15%901.86%
1992 1,67131.50%3,43964.84%1943.66%
1988 1,73933.98%3,36965.83%100.20%
1984 2,33738.81%3,66360.83%220.37%
1980 2,28031.40%4,95168.19%300.41%
1976 1,82432.78%3,72366.90%180.32%
1972 2,64144.42%3,25454.74%500.84%
1968 2375.34%1,65837.38%2,54057.27%
1964 1,78991.93%00.00%1578.07%
1960 51336.00%90563.51%70.49%
1956 49933.85%77852.78%19713.36%
1952 72542.30%98857.64%10.06%
1948 141.19%00.00%1,16298.81%
1944 302.42%1,20997.42%20.16%
1940 201.29%1,53498.71%00.00%
1936 110.80%1,36599.13%10.07%
1932 231.67%1,35898.33%00.00%
1928 26621.35%97978.57%10.08%
1924 60.63%93897.81%151.56%
1920 20.18%1,09999.73%10.09%
1916 10.12%86699.88%00.00%
1912 70.78%87897.77%131.45%
1908 20.19%1,02799.81%00.00%
1904 20.22%91298.92%80.87%
1900 301.44%2,03197.46%231.10%
1896 451.48%2,95696.95%481.57%
1892 2153.96%4,68786.25%5329.79%
1888 60711.20%4,81188.80%00.00%
1884 1,54138.82%2,42961.18%00.00%
1880 1,26440.46%1,86059.54%00.00%
1876 3,59970.72%1,49029.28%00.00%
1872 3,95875.77%1,26624.23%00.00%
1868 3,39669.59%1,48430.41%00.00%
1860 00.00%1138.69%1,18891.31%
1856 00.00%81364.58%44635.42%
1852 28634.42%39847.89%14717.69%
1848 63957.16%47942.84%00.00%
1844 58548.19%62951.81%00.00%
1840 77864.09%43635.91%00.00%
1836 60771.50%24228.50%00.00%
1832 00.00%642100.00%00.00%
1828 9514.03%58285.97%00.00%
1824 7929.15%19270.85%00.00%

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives at Pennsylvania State University, religious affiliation in Wilcox County in 2010 was as follows: [15]

Education

All public schools in the county are operated by the Wilcox County School District, which covers the entire county. [16] The schools include: [17] and Camden School of Arts and Technology and Wilcox Central Academy. The community is also served by one private school, Wilcox Academy, founded in 1970 as a segregation academy. [18] The public schools are effectively all-Black.

Economy

Major industries in the county include a paper mill operated by International Paper, based in Memphis, Tennessee, on the Alabama River near Pine Hill that employs roughly 400 people, and a copper tubing plant owned by Golden Dragon Copper Group of Xinxiang, China in Sunny South that opened in 2014; it employs approximately 300. [19] [20] [21]

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Places of interest

Wilcox County is home to Roland Cooper State Park, Lake Dannelly, and Bridgeport Beach.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Joseph M. Wilcox • Cullum's Register • 72".
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wilcox County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
  11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilcox County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
  12. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilcox County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  15. "Wilcox County, Alabama". The Association of Religion. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  16. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wilcox County, AL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved November 26, 2024. - Text list
  17. "Schools". Wilcox County Schools. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  18. Carla Crowder (October 27, 2002). "Private white academies struggle in changing world". Birmingham News. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  19. Mitchell, Ellen (September 11, 2012). "International Paper Co. plans $27 million maintenance project for Pine Hill mill". Press-Register. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  20. McDonald, George. "Crews Clearing Site of Golden Dragon Copper Plant in Wilcox Co". WAKA CBS 8. Bahakel Communications, Ltd. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  21. "Wilcox County Demographics". March 14, 2014.

Notes

  1. The others were the fellow Alabama counties of Bullock and Lowndes with similarly delayed black registration after 1965, and the white majority, historically secessionist Middle Tennessee trio of Houston County, Perry County and Stewart County.

31°59′06″N87°18′39″W / 31.98500°N 87.31083°W / 31.98500; -87.31083