Marion County, Alabama

Marion County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census the population was 30,776.[1] The county seat is Hamilton.[2] The county was created by an act of the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818. The county seat was originally established in Pikeville in 1820, and moved to Hamilton in 1881. The county was named for General Francis Marion of South Carolina.[3]

Not to be confused with Marion, Alabama.
Marion County
U.S. county
Marion County Courthouse in Hamilton
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°08′11″N 87°53′03″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedFebruary 13, 1818
Named forFrancis Marion
SeatHamilton
Largest cityHamilton
Area
 • Total744 sq mi (1,930 km2)
 • Land742 sq mi (1,920 km2)
 • Water1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total30,776
 • Estimate 
(2019)
29,709
 • Density41/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitemarioncountyalabama.org
 
  • County Number 49 on Alabama Licence Plates

Marion County is located in the northwestern part of the state, bounded on the west by the state of Mississippi. It encompasses 743 square miles (1,920 km2). The county is a prohibition or dry county, however, the sale of alcohol is permitted within the cities of Guin, Hamilton, and Winfield.

History

The county was created by the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818, preceding Alabama's statehood by almost two years. It was created from land acquired from the Chickasaw Indians by the Treaty of 1816. Marion County included all of its current territory and parts of what are now Winston, Walker, Fayette, and Lamar counties in Alabama as well as portions of present-day Lowndes, Monroe, and Itawamba counties in Mississippi. The county was named in honor of General Francis Marion (1732–1795), an American Revolutionary War hero from South Carolina who was known as "The Swamp Fox." Most early settlers of Marion County came from Kentucky and Tennessee after General Andrew Jackson established the Military Road. The first towns in the area were Pikeville, Hamilton (formerly Toll Gate), Winfield, and Guin.

The county's first seat was settled in 1818 at Cotton Gin Port, near present-day Amory, Mississippi. It was moved in 1819 to the home of Henry Greer along the Buttachatchee River, in 1820, the first permanent county seat was established at Pikeville, now a ghost town, located between present day Hamilton and Guin, along U.S. Highway 43/Old U.S. Highway 78. Pikeville served as the county seat of Marion County until 1882. Although the town is now abandoned, the home of Judge John Dabney Terrell Sr., which served as the third county courthouse, still stands. In 1882, Hamilton became the county seat. The first courthouse in Hamilton was destroyed by fire on March 30, 1887, and the second courthouse, constructed in the same place, also burned. A new courthouse, constructed of local sandstone opened in 1901. In 1959, the building was significantly remodeled to give the structure its current 1950's "international style" design theme.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 744 square miles (1,930 km2), of which 742 square miles (1,920 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18304,058—
18405,84744.1%
18507,83334.0%
186011,18242.8%
18706,059−45.8%
18809,36454.5%
189011,34721.2%
190014,49427.7%
191017,49520.7%
192022,00825.8%
193025,96718.0%
194028,77610.8%
195027,264−5.3%
196021,837−19.9%
197023,7888.9%
198030,04126.3%
199029,830−0.7%
200031,2144.6%
201030,776−1.4%
Est. 201929,709[5]−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2018[1]

At the 2000 census there were 31,214 people, 12,697 households, and 9,040 families living in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile (16/km2). There were 14,416 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.76% White, 3.3% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[10] Of the 12,697 households 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 26.50% of households were one person and 12.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 22.50% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median household income was $27,475 and the median family income was $34,359. Males had a median income of $26,913 versus $19,022 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,321. About 12.00% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 30,776 people, 12,651 households, and 8,676 families living in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16/km2). There were 14,737 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.6% White, 3.8% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[11] Of the 12,651 households 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.4% of households were one person and 13.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% 65 or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.

The median household income was $32,769 and the median family income was $44,223. Males had a median income of $34,089 versus $24,481 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,030. About 13.3% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Two public school systems, Marion County Schools and Winfield City Schools, operate in the county. Hamilton is home to a campus of Bevill State Community College. Marion County School System

Winfield City School System

  • Winfield Elementary School
  • Winfield Middle School
  • Winfield High School

Events
  • Jerry Brown Arts Festival - Hamilton (March)
  • Neighbor Day - Hackleburg (Last Saturday in April)
  • MayFest - Guin (Second Saturday in May)
  • CoalFest - Brilliant (Memorial Day)
  • Mule Day - Winfield (September)
  • Buttahatchee River Fall Fest - Hamilton (October)

Media

Newspapers

The Court House at Hamilton burned in March 1887.[12] All newspapers before that date were lost in the flames as the Court House was the repository for them. The newspapers that we have record of after the fire are:

  • The Marion County Herald - (1885–1890) The first newspaper available for The Marion Herald is April 5, 1887 due to the Court House Fire. The original date of beginning and editors have been lost with the Court House fire, but seems to have been started around April 1885. The Lamar News states that A. A. Wall had been with the Marion Herald before he started The Vernon Courier which was in 1886.[13] No earlier publishers of the paper have been found. The newspaper passed through several hands before closing its doors. Some of the notable editors include W. F. Green, James S. Clements, W. T. Gast, L. J. Clark, and others. The first editors were listed under the name The Herald Publishing Company.
  • The Guin Dispatch (1888–1889) The Guin Dispatch was started around November 1888 by James S. Clements. It did not last long - only 13 issues. It closed its doors with the last issue of Feb 23, 1889.
  • The Hamilton Times (1890–1893)
  • The Hamilton Free Press (1893–1894)
  • The Hamilton News Press (1895)
  • The Hamilton Appeal (1896)
  • The Guin Gazette (1897)
  • The Gazette Appeal (1897)
  • The Winfield Enterprise (1899–1900)
  • The Marion County Democrat (1900–1904)
  • The Marion County Republican (1908–1909)
  • The Marion County News (1894, 1896 - 1959?)
  • New Hope Record (1920)
  • The Winfield Journal (1930–1959)
  • The Hackleburg Sentinel (1937–1955)
  • The Marion County Journal (1975)
  • The Guin Gazette (1987)
  • The Gazette Appeal (1987)
  • The Journal Record (1976–present)

Transportation

Major highways
  • Interstate 22
  • U.S. Highway 43
  • U.S. Highway 78
  • U.S. Highway 278
  • State Route 13
  • State Route 17
  • State Route 19
  • State Route 44
  • State Route 74
  • State Route 129

Rail

Air
  • Marion County-Rankin Fite Airport

Government
Presidential elections results
Marion County vote
by party in presidential elections [14]
Year GOP DEM Others
2016 86.8% 11,274 11.0% 1,432 2.1% 278
2012 80.0% 9,697 18.5% 2,249 1.5% 183
2008 77.2% 9,536 21.0% 2,600 1.8% 219
2004 69.8% 8,983 29.6% 3,808 0.7% 84
2000 58.8% 6,910 39.1% 4,600 2.1% 246
1996 43.8% 4,742 46.6% 5,049 9.6% 1,039
1992 42.9% 5,692 46.5% 6,167 10.6% 1,411
1988 56.7% 5,955 42.9% 4,505 0.4% 37
1984 63.2% 6,771 36.6% 3,918 0.2% 24
1980 48.3% 5,182 50.8% 5,450 1.0% 106
1976 32.6% 3,036 67.1% 6,244 0.3% 23
1972 85.4% 5,927 14.2% 986 0.4% 29
1968 17.8% 1,492 4.3% 365 77.9% 6,546
1964 69.4% 3,966 30.6% 1,747
1960 48.5% 2,938 51.2% 3,099 0.3% 17
1956 46.9% 2,536 52.7% 2,849 0.4% 24
1952 34.3% 1,489 65.6% 2,850 0.2% 9
1948 32.8% 813 67.2% 1,663
1944 40.2% 1,260 59.5% 1,866 0.4% 11
1940 28.4% 1,081 69.6% 2,654 2.0% 76
1936 25.2% 911 73.6% 2,655 1.2% 43
1932 18.7% 545 79.8% 2,325 1.5% 43
1928 49.1% 1,488 50.9% 1,541 0.0% 0
1924 0.0% 0 99.1% 1,359 0.9% 13
1920 43.1% 1,865 56.9% 2,461 0.1% 3
1916 37.7% 807 61.9% 1,325 0.4% 9
1912 22.4% 378 65.1% 1,098 12.6% 212
1908 34.7% 589 64.7% 1,100 0.7% 11
1904 34.1% 635 65.7% 1,224 0.3% 5

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 200.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  12. Marion Herald April 5, 1887 pg 8
  13. The Lamar News of May 20, 1886
  14. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.

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