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Walker County, Alabama
Walker County Courthouse
Walker County Courthouse in Jasper
Map of Alabama highlighting Walker County
Location in the state of Alabama
Map of the U.S
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded December 26, 1823[1]
Named for John Williams Walker
Seat Jasper
Largest city Jasper
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

805 sq mi (2,085 km²)
791 sq mi (2,049 km²)
14 sq mi (36 km²), 1.7
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

65,342
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.walkercounty.com
Footnotes: *County Number 64 on Alabama Licence Plates

Walker County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama.[1] As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,342.[2] Its county seat is Jasper.[3] Its name is in honor of John Williams Walker, a member of the United States Senate.[1]

Walker County is included in the Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History[]

Walker County was established on December 26, 1823, and formed from sections of Marion and Tuscaloosa counties.[1] It was named after Senator John Walker, who represented Alabama in the U.S. Senate from 1819 to 1822.[1] The county was greatly reduced in size on February 12, 1850, when its northern half became the county of Winston. Jasper is the county seat, named after William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero from South Carolina.[1]

National Register of Historic Places[]

Walker County has sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They include the Bankhead House, Boshell's Mill, the First United Methodist Church of Jasper, the Gilchrist House, the Jasper Downtown Historic District, the Stephenson House, and Walker County Hospital.[4]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 805 square miles (2,080 km2), of which 791 square miles (2,050 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (1.7%) is water.[5] The county is located in the Cumberland Plateau region, with many plateaus and valleys, along with many forested areas, covering the county.[6]

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1830 2,202
1840 4,032 83.1%
1850 5,124 27.1%
1860 7,980 55.7%
1870 6,543 −18.0%
1880 9,479 44.9%
1890 16,078 69.6%
1900 25,162 56.5%
1910 37,013 47.1%
1920 50,593 36.7%
1930 59,445 17.5%
1940 64,201 8.0%
1950 63,769 −0.7%
1960 54,211 −15.0%
1970 56,246 3.8%
1980 68,660 22.1%
1990 67,670 −1.4%
2000 70,713 4.5%
2010 67,023 −5.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[2]

2000 census[]

At the 2000 census there were 70,713 people, 28,364 households, and 20,478 families living in the county. The population density was 89 people per square mile (34/km2). There were 32,417 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.15% White, 6.17% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Nearly 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[11] In 2000 the largest reported ancestry groups in Walker County, AL were:

There were 28,364 households, 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 56.30% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 25.30% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46, and the average family size was 2.93.

The age distribution was 23.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.80 males.

The median household income was $29,076 and the median family income was $35,221. Males had a median income of $31,242 versus $20,089 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,546. About 13.20% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census[]

At the 2010 census there were 67,023 people, 26,571 households, and 18,741 families living in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile (33/km2). There were 30,816 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.2% White, 5.9% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Nearly 2.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[12] There were 26,571 households, 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 52.0% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.8% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% 65 or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

The median household income was $37,191 and the median family income was $45,788. Males had a median income of $43,671 versus $27,662 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,516. About 14.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census[]

Walker County racial composition[13]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 56,394 86.31%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 3,889 5.95%
Native American 187 0.29%
Asian 283 0.43%
Pacific Islander 2 0.0%
Other/Mixed 2,435 3.73%
Hispanic or Latino 2,152 3.29%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 65,342 people, 25,153 households, and 17,410 families residing in the county.

Economy[]

Local officials have described coal mining as "literally at the core" of the county's economy.[14]

Government[]

United States presidential election results for Walker County, Alabama[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 26,002 83.42% 4,834 15.51% 334 1.07%
2016 24,266 82.34% 4,497 15.26% 709 2.41%
2012 21,651 75.74% 6,557 22.94% 377 1.32%
2008 20,722 72.32% 7,420 25.90% 510 1.78%
2004 19,167 67.57% 9,016 31.78% 184 0.65%
2000 13,486 52.60% 11,621 45.32% 534 2.08%
1996 9,837 39.44% 12,929 51.84% 2,173 8.71%
1992 11,301 38.26% 14,831 50.22% 3,402 11.52%
1988 11,011 48.51% 11,338 49.95% 351 1.55%
1984 12,852 54.11% 10,591 44.59% 310 1.31%
1980 8,795 38.53% 13,616 59.65% 417 1.83%
1976 7,389 31.16% 16,232 68.46% 89 0.38%
1972 14,581 78.79% 3,724 20.12% 202 1.09%
1968 2,628 13.56% 1,971 10.17% 14,786 76.28%
1964 8,582 58.41% 0 0.00% 6,110 41.59%
1960 5,463 40.25% 8,109 59.75% 0 0.00%
1956 5,179 40.09% 7,661 59.30% 79 0.61%
1952 3,490 33.45% 6,862 65.78% 80 0.77%
1948 1,852 30.72% 0 0.00% 4,176 69.28%
1944 2,241 32.45% 4,619 66.87% 47 0.68%
1940 2,007 25.18% 5,940 74.52% 24 0.30%
1936 1,699 22.70% 5,697 76.12% 88 1.18%
1932 1,583 24.85% 4,734 74.31% 54 0.85%
1928 3,635 46.23% 4,228 53.77% 0 0.00%
1924 2,446 39.85% 3,351 54.59% 341 5.56%
1920 4,488 47.75% 4,703 50.04% 208 2.21%
1916 1,860 43.25% 2,314 53.80% 127 2.95%
1912 881 24.64% 2,063 57.71% 631 17.65%
1908 1,367 44.66% 1,632 53.32% 62 2.03%
1904 1,024 37.90% 1,639 60.66% 39 1.44%
1900 1,699 56.78% 1,250 41.78% 43 1.44%
1896 1,101 46.01% 1,248 52.15% 44 1.84%
1892 4 0.13% 1,583 51.68% 1,476 48.19%
1888 1,047 48.18% 1,126 51.82% 0 0.00%



Transportation[]

Major highways[]

  • I-22 (AL) Interstate 22
  • US 78 U.S. Highway 78
  • Alabama 5 State Route 5
  • Alabama 13 State Route 13
  • Alabama 18 State Route 18
  • Alabama 69 State Route 69
  • Alabama 102 State Route 102
  • Alabama 118 State Route 118
  • Alabama 124 State Route 124
  • Alabama 195 State Route 195
  • Alabama 257 State Route 257
  • Alabama 269 State Route 269

Rail[]

  • BNSF Railway
  • Norfolk Southern Railway

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Carbon Hill
  • Cordova
  • Dora
  • Jasper (county seat)
  • Sumiton (partly in Jefferson County)

Towns[]

  • Eldridge
  • Kansas
  • Nauvoo (partly in Winston County)
  • Oakman
  • Parrish
  • Sipsey

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Aldridge
  • Argo
  • Benoit
  • Boldo
  • Burnwell
  • Coal Valley
  • Corinth
  • Corona
  • Curry
  • Dogtown
  • Empire
  • Goodsprings
  • Gorgas (partly in Tuscaloosa County)
  • Hilliard
  • Lupton
  • Manchester
  • McCollum
  • Mount Hope
  • Patton
  • Quinton
  • Saragossa
  • Slicklizzard
  • Spring Hill
  • Townley
  • Union Chapel

Places of interest[]

Walker County is home to the William B. Bankhead National Forest and Lewis Smith Lake, in addition to the Alabama Mining Museum.

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Walker County, Alabama
  • Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Walker County, Alabama

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "ACES Walker County Office" (links/history), Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), 2007, webpage: ACES-Walker.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/walkercountyalabama/PST045221. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_01.txt. 
  6. ^ http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1185
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/al190090.txt. 
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US01127&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  14. ^ Ross, Sean (April 2, 2021). "Reed, South spearhead bill into law providing critical support for Alabama's coal counties". Yellowhammer News. https://yellowhammernews.com/tuberville-bidens-infrastructure-tax-proposal-really-the-green-new-deal-in-disguise/. 
  15. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 33°48′13″N 87°17′52″W / 33.80361, -87.29778

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Walker County, Alabama. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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