Coffee County, Alabama

Coffee County, Alabama
Coffee County Courthouse
Map of Alabama highlighting Coffee County
Location in the state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded December 29, 1841
Named for John Coffee
Seat Elba
Largest city Enterprise
Area
 • Total 680 sq mi (1,761 km2)
 • Land 679 sq mi (1,759 km2)
 • Water 1.5 sq mi (4 km2), (0.2%)
Population
 • (2010) 49,948
 • Density 74/sq mi (29/km²)
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.coffeecounty.us

Coffee County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,948.[1] Its county seat is Elba.[2] Its name is in honor of General John Coffee.

Coffee County comprises the Enterprise, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Dothan-Enterprise-Ozark, AL Combined Statistical Area. The Coffee County Courthouse is located in Elba.

History

The land in Coffee County was originally part of Dale County, which was incorporated in 1824. Coffee County was formed from the western part of Dale County on December 29, 1841.[3] It was named after John R. Coffee,[4] a hero in the Creek War of 1813—14. The first county seat was in Wellborn. After the courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1851, the county seat was moved to Elba.

On March 10, 2009, in Kinston, Michael McLendon began a shooting rampage that continued onward into the Geneva County towns of Samson and Geneva. Ten people were killed and six more were wounded before McLendon committed suicide.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 680 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 679 square miles (1,760 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18505,940—
18609,62362.0%
18706,171−35.9%
18808,11931.6%
189012,17049.9%
190020,97272.3%
191026,11924.5%
192030,07015.1%
193032,5568.3%
194031,987−1.7%
195030,720−4.0%
196030,583−0.4%
197034,87214.0%
198038,53310.5%
199040,2404.4%
200043,6158.4%
201049,94814.5%
Est. 201350,9382.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 43,615 people, 17,421 households, and 12,490 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile (25/km2). There were 19,837 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.11% White, 18.37% Black or African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.89% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 2.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,421 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% 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 2.93.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,664, and the median income for a family was $39,664. Males had a median income of $31,468 versus $20,234 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,321. About 11.30% of families and 14.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

  • Alberton
  • Basin
  • Battens Crossroads
  • Bluff Springs
  • Brooklyn
  • Central City
  • Chesnut Grove
  • Clintonville
  • Clowers Crossroads
  • Coppinville
  • Curtis
  • Damascus
  • Danleys Crossroads
  • Frisco
  • Goodman
  • Ino
  • Jack
  • Java
  • Keyton
  • Lowry Mill
  • Newby
  • Perry Store
  • Pine Level
  • Rhoades
  • Richburg
  • Roeton
  • Shady Grove
  • Tabernacle
  • Turner Crossroads
  • Victoria
  • Wilkinstown
  • Zoar

Notable people

In popular culture

The county is referred to in Joe David Brown's 1971 novel Addie Pray, which inspired the movie Paper Moon.

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. ↑ "Alabama Counties: Coffee County". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Montgomery, AL: Alabama Department of Archives and History. 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 86.
  5. ↑ Donna Francavilla (March 11, 2009). "Alabama gunman kills 10 in rampage". Agence France-Presse.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

External links

Coordinates: 31°24′12″N 85°59′12″W / 31.40333°N 85.98667°W

 Crenshaw County Pike County
Covington County Dale County
   Coffee County, Alabama  
Geneva County