Cullman County, Alabama

Cullman County, Alabama
The Cullman County Courthouse
Map of Alabama highlighting Cullman County
Location in the state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded January 24, 1877
Named for John G. Cullmann
Seat Cullman
Largest city Cullman
Area
 • Total 755 sq mi (1,955 km2)
 • Land 735 sq mi (1,904 km2)
 • Water 20 sq mi (52 km2), 2.7%
Population
 • (2010) 80,406
 • Density 109/sq mi (42/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.cullman.al.us

Cullman County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,406.[1] Its county seat is Cullman.[2] Its name is in honor of Colonel John G. Cullmann. It is a "moist" county in terms of availability of alcoholic beverages; the cities of Cullman, Good Hope and Hanceville allow sale of alcohol and are "wet" and the rest of the county is dry.

As of February 16, 2015, same-sex marriage licenses started at the courthouse, but marriage ceremonies had been stopped. February 9, probate judges were able to give out licenses, but most counties were in a state of confusion because of rulings between the Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice and a Federal Judge. On March 4, 2015, the Alabama Supreme Court has ordered all probate judges in all 67 counties to stop issuing same-sex marriage licenses creating more confusion between the Alabama Supreme Court and a Federal Judge. According to sources, Cullman County has stopped issuing same-sex marriage licenses until further notice.

Cullman County comprises the Cullman, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL Combined Statistical Area.

Cullman is served by TV stations and FM radio stations from both Huntsville and Birmingham. Cullman County is a part of the designated market area, or "DMA," of Birmingham. Electricity in Cullman County is provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority and by the Alabama Power Company. For a long time, telephone service in this county was provided by the Southern Bell Company.

There is no commercial air transportation service in Cullman County, and this county is no longer served by intercity commercial buses.

History

This area was inhabited for thousands of years by varying cultures of indigenous peoples. The historic Cherokee and Choctaw lived here at the time of European encounter, with the Cherokee moving in after the American Revolutionary War and in response to pressures from northern area. Their settlements in Alabama were known as the Lower Towns.

People claiming descent from Cherokee who remained in the county after Indian Removal in the 1830s, organized as the "Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama" in the 1980s. The tribe was recognized by the state in 1984 but is not federally recognized. It claims 22,000 members in the state, mostly in northern Alabama.[3]

Cullman County was organized in 1877 primarily by German American immigrants who had moved down from Cincinnati, Ohio. They founded an agricultural community and sought to create an agricultural revolution in what had been a frontier area, in the best traditions of innovation in the New South. However, hard geographical and social realities clashed with the often impractical vision of colonizer John G. Cullmann. His Germans, with their traditional work ethic and willingness to experiment with such new products as wine and strawberries, tried to make practical changes in southern farming. The Germans were outnumbered by more traditional families from neighboring regions, who replicated the traditional southern cotton culture.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 755 square miles (1,960 km2), of which 735 square miles (1,900 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (2.7%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

  • Interstate 65
  • U.S. Highway 31
  • U.S. Highway 231
  • U.S. Highway 278
  • State Route 67
  • State Route 69
  • State Route 91
  • State Route 157

Rail

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18806,355—
189013,439111.5%
190017,84932.8%
191028,32158.7%
192033,03416.6%
193041,05124.3%
194047,34315.3%
195049,0463.6%
196045,572−7.1%
197052,44515.1%
198061,64217.5%
199067,6139.7%
200077,48314.6%
201080,4063.8%
Est. 201380,8110.5%
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 77,483 people, 30,706 households, and 22,476 families residing in the county. The population density was 105 people per square mile (41/km2). There were 35,233 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile (18/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.81% White, 0.96% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 2.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 30,706 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 24.00% 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 2.49 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,256, and the median income for a family was $39,341. Males had a median income of $30,444 versus $20,436 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,922. About 9.50% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education in Cullman County is provided by two systems: the Cullman City School Board and the Cullman County School Board, which governs all municipalities except the City of Cullman.

Private educational institutions in the county include:

Cullman is also the home of the state-owned and operated Wallace State Community College in Hanceville. It was named for the former Governor of Alabama, George C. Wallace. His father and his wife, Governor Lurleen B. Wallace, also had junior colleges named for them.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Census-designated places (CDPs)

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Alabama Indian Affairs Commission. "Tribes Recognized by the State of Alabama". Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  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 16, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

External links

Further reading

 Lawrence County Morgan County Marshall County
Winston County Blount County
   Cullman County, Alabama  
Walker County

Coordinates: 34°08′N 86°52′W / 34.133°N 86.867°W