Cleburne County, Alabama

Cleburne County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,972.[1] Its county seat is Heflin.[2] Its name is in honor of Patrick R. Cleburne of Arkansas[3] who rose to the rank of major general in the Confederate States Army. The eastern side of the county borders the state of Georgia.

Cleburne County
County
Cleburne County
Cleburne County Courthouse in Heflin in 2012
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°40′38″N 85°30′09″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 6, 1866
Named forPatrick Cleburne
SeatHeflin
Largest cityHeflin
Area
 • Total561 sq mi (1,450 km2)
 • Land560 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2 km2)  0.2%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total14,972
 • Estimate 
(2019)
14,910
 • Density27/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.cleburnecounty.us
 
  • County Number 18 on Alabama Licence Plates

History

Cleburne County was established on December 6, 1866, by an act of the state legislature. The county was made from territory in Benton (now Calhoun), Randolph, and Talladega counties. In 1867, Edwardsville was made the county seat.[4] An election was held in 1905 to move the county seat to Heflin. The result of that election, which agreed to move the seat, was appealed to the Supreme Court, who decided on July 1, 1906, to uphold the election results. Heflin is still the county seat.[5] Heflin was at one point thought of as a hub for nearby farmers to send their cotton.[6] Shortly after the Civil War, a group of northern investors created the town of Fruithurst in Cleburne County as part of a wine-growing project. Fruithurst became a boomtown shortly thereafter.[7]

Geography
Cleburne County Courthouse in March 1980.
Cheaha Mountain, Cleburne County
Shoal Creek Church is a historic church located in Cleburne County just north of Edwardsville, Alabama in Talladega National Forest. The church was built in 1895 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 4, 1974

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 561 square miles (1,450 km2), of which 560 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (0.2%) is water.[8] It is the fourth-smallest county in Alabama by land area and second-largest by total area. Cleburne County is home to Alabama's highest natural point on Cheaha Mountain which is part of the southernmost mountain range in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18708,017—
188010,97636.9%
189013,21820.4%
190013,206−0.1%
191013,3851.4%
192013,360−0.2%
193012,877−3.6%
194013,6295.8%
195011,904−12.7%
196010,911−8.3%
197010,9960.8%
198012,59514.5%
199012,7301.1%
200014,12310.9%
201014,9726.0%
2019 (est.)14,910[9]−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2018[1]

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 14,972 people, 5,891 households, and 4,196 families living in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10/km2). There were 6,718 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.0% White (non-Hispanic), 3.3% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,891 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.6 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,077, and the median income for a family was $41,585. Males had a median income of $39,709 versus $26,229 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,490. About 11.6% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 14,123 people, 5,590 households, and 4,125 families living in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (10/km2). There were 6,189 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.74% White (non-Hispanic), 7.70% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 3.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,590 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,820, and the median income for a family was $35,579. Males had a median income of $29,752 versus $18,840 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,762. About 10.90% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.10% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Although not to the same extent as Winston or Chilton Counties, Cleburne County was at least in Presidential elections a Republican island in overwhelmingly Democratic Alabama during the “Solid South” era due to its unsuitable terrain for slave-based plantation agriculture. This led to considerable Populist support during the period of “Redemption” by white Democrats, which produced later support for the Republican Party even when in most of Alabama whites associated the “Party of Lincoln” with occupation and black political power.

Since the end of the dealigned political era of the 1960s and 1970s, Cleburne County has followed the same trajectory towards overwhelming Republican dominance as the rest of Appalachia: in 2016 Hillary Clinton gained barely ten percent of the county's vote, a figure less than George McGovern in his landslide 1972 defeat.

Presidential elections results
Cleburne County vote
by party in presidential elections [16]
Year GOP Dem Others
2020 89.7% 6,484 9.34% 675 0.9% 68
2016 87.4% 5,764 10.4% 684 2.2% 145
2012 83.4% 5,272 15.4% 971 1.2% 76
2008 80.4% 5,216 18.0% 1,168 1.7% 108
2004 75.4% 4,370 24.0% 1,391 0.6% 37
2000 65.5% 3,333 32.7% 1,664 1.9% 95
1996 48.6% 2,063 41.0% 1,737 10.4% 441
1992 46.3% 2,425 40.9% 2,144 12.8% 668
1988 68.4% 3,071 30.8% 1,383 0.8% 36
1984 70.5% 3,259 26.8% 1,238 2.7% 126
1980 52.8% 2,389 45.3% 2,050 1.9% 87
1976 36.1% 1,436 62.6% 2,490 1.4% 55
1972 85.2% 3,420 14.5% 581 0.3% 13
1968 12.1% 485 4.0% 160 83.9% 3,350
1964 76.2% 2,156 23.8% 672
1960 40.0% 1,008 59.9% 1,510 0.2% 4
1956 42.8% 1,056 57.0% 1,407 0.3% 7
1952 33.6% 792 66.1% 1,557 0.2% 5
1948 30.9% 317 69.1% 710
1944 34.6% 504 65.0% 948 0.4% 6
1940 24.0% 434 75.7% 1,369 0.3% 5
1936 30.8% 543 68.6% 1,212 0.6% 11
1932 22.4% 405 77.4% 1,403 0.2% 4
1928 58.3% 1,108 41.8% 794 0.0% 0
1924 51.2% 696 45.7% 622 3.1% 42
1920 58.6% 971 41.3% 684 0.1% 2
1916 42.8% 578 56.2% 760 1.0% 14
1912 10.0% 133 51.7% 691 38.3% 512
1908 49.9% 357 38.8% 278 11.3% 81
1904 35.9% 414 60.9% 701 3.2% 37

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 84.
  4. "Cleburne County, Alabama history, ADAH". www.archives.state.al.us. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  5. "City of Heflin Website - City Information - Heflin, AL". www.cityofheflin.org. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  6. Cleburne County By Wayne Ruple page 33
  7. Cleburne County By Wayne Ruple page 11
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  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. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved December 10, 2016.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.