Cherokee County, Alabama

Not to be confused with Cherokee, Alabama.
Cherokee County, Alabama
Map of Alabama highlighting Cherokee County
Location in the state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded January 9, 1836
Named for Cherokee Nation
Seat Centre
Largest city Centre
Area
 • Total 600 sq mi (1,554 km2)
 • Land 554 sq mi (1,435 km2)
 • Water 46 sq mi (119 km2), 7.7%
Population
 • (2010) 25,989
 • Density 47/sq mi (18/km²)
Congressional districts 3rd, 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.cherokeecounty-al.gov

Cherokee County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census the population was 25,989.[1] Its county seat is Centre,[2] and it is a prohibition or dry county. The county is named for the Cherokee tribe.

History

The area included in today's Cherokee County for centuries had belonged to the Cherokee Nation of Native Americans. On December 29, 1835, however, Cherokee leaders signed the controversial Treaty of New Echota, agreeing to surrender their lands in return for new lands west of the Mississippi River. This treaty contributed to the apparent theft of land from the Native Americans by the U.S. government. To this day, there are few Native Americans in Cherokee County.

On January 9, 1836, the Alabama legislature created Cherokee County with its present boundaries.[3] Two years later, the United States government removed by force all Cherokees who had refused to leave on what would become known as the Trail of Tears.

Cherokee County was in the news again on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1994, when it was hit by a Force 4 tornado. Goshen United Methodist Church was destroyed only twelve minutes after the National Weather Service at Birmingham had issued a warning for northern Calhoun, southeastern Etowah, and southern Cherokee counties.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 600 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 554 square miles (1,430 km2) (or 92.19%) is land and 46 square miles (120 km2) (7.7%) is water.[4] It is the second-smallest county in Alabama by land area.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18408,773—
185013,88458.3%
186018,36032.2%
187011,132−39.4%
188019,10871.6%
189020,4597.1%
190021,0963.1%
191020,226−4.1%
192020,8623.1%
193020,219−3.1%
194019,928−1.4%
195017,634−11.5%
196016,303−7.5%
197015,606−4.3%
198018,76020.2%
199019,5434.2%
200023,98822.7%
201025,9898.3%
Est. 201326,2030.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 23,988 people, 9,719 households, and 7,201 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile (17/km2). There were 14,025 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.83% White, 5.54% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,719 households out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,874, and the median income for a family was $36,920. Males had a median income of $29,978 versus $20,958 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,543. About 11.80% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places (CDPs)

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Cherokee County, Ala.". Calhoun Times. September 1, 2004. p. 39. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

External links

 DeKalb County Chattooga County, Georgia
Etowah County Floyd County, Georgia
   Cherokee County, Alabama  
Cleburne County and Calhoun County Polk County, Georgia

Coordinates: 34°10′11″N 85°35′39″W / 34.16972°N 85.59417°W