Winston County, Alabama

Winston County
County
Winston County courthouse in Double Springs
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°08′57″N87°22′29″W / 34.149166666667°N 87.374722222222°W / 34.149166666667; -87.374722222222
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Founded	February 12, 1850 [1]
Named for	John A. Winston
Seat	Double Springs
Largest city	Haleyville
Area
• Total	632 sq mi (1,640 km2)
• Land	613 sq mi (1,590 km2)
• Water	19 sq mi (50 km2)  3.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,540
• Estimate  (2023)	23,611
• Density	37/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.winstoncountyalabama.org
County number 67 on Alabama license plates Highest county number in Alabama Widely known as "The Free State of Winston."

Winston County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,540. ^[2] Its county seat is Double Springs. ^[3] Known as Hancock County before 1858, ^[1] the county is named in honor of John A. Winston, the fifteenth Governor of Alabama.

History

Winston County was established under the name Hancock County on February 12, 1850, from territory that was formerly part of Walker County (a county directly to the south of Winston County). ^[1] It was originally named for John Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts and famous signer of the American Declaration of Independence, with its county seat at Houston. On January 22, 1858, the county was renamed Winston County to honor Alabama Gov. John A. Winston.

During the American Civil War, Winston County gained attention for its opposition to secession, a sentiment so strong that the county is sometimes referred to as the Free State of Winston. ^[4] This area had few slaves and saw little benefit to secession. ^[5] The county today plays on its reputation as the "Free State of Winston" to attract tourists. The county's opposition to the Confederacy is briefly mentioned in the novels To Kill a Mockingbird and Addie Pray.

In 1883, the county seat was moved from Houston to Double Springs to be near the center of the county, since Cullman County was created from the eastern part of Winston County. ^[6]

The civil-rights judge Frank Minis Johnson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit was born in Delmar, in Winston County.

National Register of Historic Places

Winston County has four sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Archeological Site No. 1WI50, Feldman's Department Store, the Houston Jail, and the Winston County Courthouse. ^[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 631 square miles (1,630 km²), of which 613 square miles (1,590 km²) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) (3.0%) is water. ^[8]

Adjacent counties

• Lawrence County (north)
• Cullman County (east)
• Walker County (south)
• Marion County (west)
• Franklin County (northwest)

National protected area

• William B. Bankhead National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	1,542		—
1860	3,576		131.9%
1870	4,155		16.2%
1880	4,253		2.4%
1890	6,552		54.1%
1900	9,554		45.8%
1910	12,855		34.6%
1920	14,378		11.8%
1930	15,596		8.5%
1940	18,746		20.2%
1950	18,250		−2.6%
1960	14,858		−18.6%
1970	16,654		12.1%
1980	21,953		31.8%
1990	22,053		0.5%
2000	24,843		12.7%
2010	24,484		−1.4%
2020	23,540		−3.9%
2023 (est.)	23,611	[9]	0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [10] 1790–1960 [11] 1900–1990 [12] 1990–2000 [13] 2010–2020 [2]

2020 census

Winston 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 [14]	Pop 2010 [15]	Pop 2020 [16]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	24,055	23,237	21,598	96.83%	94.91%	91.75%
Black or African American alone (NH)	93	115	131	0.37%	0.47%	0.56%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	107	139	83	0.43%	0.57%	0.35%
Asian alone (NH)	30	59	58	0.12%	0.24%	0.25%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	2	8	9	0.01%	0.03%	0.04%
Other race alone (NH)	8	4	39	0.03%	0.02%	0.17%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	176	283	807	0.71%	1.16%	3.43%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	372	639	815	1.50%	2.61%	3.46%
Total	24,843	24,484	23,540	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 23,540 people, 9,592 households, and 6,268 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 24,484 people, 10,163 households, and 7,074 families living in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (15 people/km²). There were 13,469 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.6% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Nearly 2.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[17] There were 10,163 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. Nearly 27.1% of households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 2.86.

The age distribution was 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.

The median household income was $33,685 and the median family income was $39,784. Males had a median income of $38,074 versus $23,301 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,055. 15.4% of the population and 20.6% of families were below the poverty line. 31.4% of those under the age of 18 and 14.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

2000 Census

At the 2000 census there were 24,843 people, 10,107 households, and 7,287 families living in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (15 people/km²). There were 12,502 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.32% White, 0.038% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Nearly 1.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[18] There were 10,107 households, 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. Nearly 25.6% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median household income was $28,435 and the median family income was $32,628. Males had a median income of $26,206 versus $17,760 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,738. 17.1% of the population and 12.9% of families were below the poverty line. 21.8% of those under the age of 18 and 23% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Religion

At the 2010 US Religion Census: ^[19]

• Southern Baptist Convention (11,113)
• The United Methodist Church (1,117)
• Churches of Christ (978)
• Church of God (Cleveland) (784)
• Assemblies of God (295)
• Catholic Church (223)

Government and politics

Unlike nearly every other county in the Deep South, and in keeping with its history during the American Civil War, Winston County has always been a bastion of support for the Republican Party, even as the Democratic Party utterly dominated Alabama state politics from the end of Reconstruction until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For example, in four consecutive presidential elections from 1936 to 1948, Winston County was the only county in the state to vote for the Republican ticket, and one of just 2 in the Deep South to vote Republican in those elections, that county being Fannin County in Georgia. ^[20] In 1932, the county backed Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt by just a single vote, even while Roosevelt carried the state as a whole overwhelmingly. And in 1912, Winston County joined just three other Alabama counties in voting for the Bull Moose Party candidacy of Theodore Roosevelt. ^[21] The county also voted for Populist candidate James B. Weaver in 1892. ^[22]

The only Democrat to win the county since 1936 (or to get a majority in it since 1880) has been Jimmy Carter in 1976, and in recent times Winston County has become comparably Republican to the Texas Panhandle. ^[22] Winston County did vote for George Wallace in 1968, who was the Democratic candidate in the state. Winston was the only county in Alabama to give a majority of its votes to Republican candidate Thomas E. Dewey in 1948 over Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond. In 2020, Republican Donald Trump won just over 90% of the vote in Winston County, the best for any candidate in the county's history.

United States presidential election results for Winston County, Alabama ^[23]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	10,195	90.35%	974	8.63%	115	1.02%
2016	9,228	89.48%	872	8.46%	213	2.07%
2012	8,312	85.44%	1,286	13.22%	130	1.34%
2008	8,103	80.78%	1,757	17.52%	171	1.70%
2004	8,130	78.00%	2,236	21.45%	57	0.55%
2000	6,413	68.82%	2,692	28.89%	213	2.29%
1996	4,728	54.80%	3,120	36.17%	779	9.03%
1992	5,550	55.01%	3,415	33.85%	1,124	11.14%
1988	6,235	67.59%	2,954	32.02%	36	0.39%
1984	6,845	72.22%	2,624	27.69%	9	0.09%
1980	4,981	59.04%	3,368	39.92%	87	1.03%
1976	3,710	47.15%	4,134	52.54%	24	0.31%
1972	4,971	86.14%	779	13.50%	21	0.36%
1968	2,174	39.33%	258	4.67%	3,095	56.00%
1964	3,438	71.19%	0	0.00%	1,391	28.81%
1960	3,421	67.01%	1,681	32.93%	3	0.06%
1956	2,998	65.60%	1,570	34.35%	2	0.04%
1952	2,017	59.05%	1,390	40.69%	9	0.26%
1948	1,588	64.34%	0	0.00%	880	35.66%
1944	1,538	62.52%	912	37.07%	10	0.41%
1940	1,686	54.55%	1,394	45.10%	11	0.36%
1936	1,428	52.77%	1,270	46.93%	8	0.30%
1932	1,005	49.78%	1,006	49.83%	8	0.40%
1928	2,085	75.96%	659	24.01%	1	0.04%
1924	1,096	61.02%	650	36.19%	50	2.78%
1920	2,307	68.99%	1,037	31.01%	0	0.00%
1916	1,107	59.94%	727	39.36%	13	0.70%
1912	292	17.18%	508	29.88%	900	52.94%
1908	949	67.59%	443	31.55%	12	0.85%
1904	789	55.21%	602	42.13%	38	2.66%
1900	519	47.75%	539	49.59%	29	2.67%
1896	589	62.07%	349	36.78%	11	1.16%
1892	2	0.18%	526	47.99%	568	51.82%
1888	323	59.48%	220	40.52%	0	0.00%
1884	184	58.41%	131	41.59%	0	0.00%
1880	126	45.82%	149	54.18%	0	0.00%

Transportation

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 278
• State Route 5
• State Route 13
• State Route 33
• State Route 129
• State Route 195
• State Route 243

Rail

• Norfolk Southern Railway

Communities

City

• Haleyville (partly in Marion County)

Towns

• Addison
• Arley
• Double Springs (county seat)
• Lynn
• Natural Bridge
• Nauvoo (partly in Walker County)

Unincorporated communities

• Boar Tush
• Delmar
• Glen Mary
• Houston
• Posey Field

Ghost towns

• Batts Nest
• Corinth

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Winston County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Winston County, Alabama
• Fannin County, Georgia, a county with a very similar history to Winston County.

References

1. "ACES Winston County Office" (links/history), Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), 2007, webpage: ACES-Winston.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. Andrews, Evan; ‘6 Unionist Strongholds in the South during the Civil War’
5. Coates, Ta-Nehisi (December 23, 2010). "The Republic of Winston". The Atlantic. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
6. Owen, Thomas McAdory. History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1921
7. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
9. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
12. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
14. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Winston County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
15. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Winston County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
16. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Winston County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved August 19, 2015.
18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
19. "Winston County, Alabama". The Association of Religion. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
20. See 1936 election map by county.
21. 1912 election map by county.
22. The Political Graveyard; Winston County, Alabama
23. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 21, 2016.

External links

• Winston County is covered by the Northwest Alabamian Newspaper.
• Winston County map of roads/towns (map © 2007 Univ. of Alabama).
• Winston County, Alabama: The Free State of Winston
• Winston County article in the Encyclopedia of Alabama

34°08′57″N87°22′29″W / 34.14917°N 87.37472°W / 34.14917; -87.37472