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Randolph County, Alabama
Randolph County Alabama Courthouse
County courthouse in Wedowee
Seal of Randolph County, Alabama
Seal
Map of Alabama highlighting Randolph County
Location in the state of Alabama
Map of the U.S
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded December 18, 1832[1]
Named for John Randolph of Roanoke
Seat Wedowee
Largest city Roanoke
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

584 sq mi (1,513 km²)
581 sq mi (1,505 km²)
3.6 sq mi (9 km²), 0.56
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

21,967
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website http://randolphcountyalabama.gov/
Footnotes: *County Number 56 on Alabama License Plates

Randolph County is a county on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,967.[2] Its county seat is Wedowee.[1][3] Its name is in honor of John Randolph, a member of the United States Senate from Virginia.[1] Randolph County was a prohibition or dry county until 2012, when the citizens of Randolph County voted to repeal prohibition.

History[]

Randolph County was established by the Alabama Legislature on December 18, 1832,[1] following Indian Removal of the Creek people. It was named in honor of John Randolph, a well-known Virginia congressman. Randolph County was one of several counties created out of the last Creek cession formulated by the Treaty of Cusseta, on March 24, 1832. It lies within the Piedmont region, which extends from Alabama to Pennsylvania.[1]

The first white settlers said the county had an abundance of the "purest and coldest freestone water in the world." The area was also noted for its gentle rolling hills.[4] The first county seat for Randolph County was established in 1833 at Hedgeman Triplett's Ferry on the west bank of the Big Tallapoosa River, about 10 miles (16 km) west of Wedowee, Alabama.[1]

In 1835 (2 years later), the county seat was moved by the commissioners to nearby Wedowee. This city lies in the center of Randolph County, on a fork of the Little Tallapoosa River. Wedowee was named after a Creek tribal chief "Wah-wah-nee" (or "Wah-dow-wee") of a village here. The European-American town was developed near that site after the Creek were forced out.[1]

The county was developed for agriculture, specifically cotton plantations, which were worked by African-American slaves brought by migrants to the region or transported from the Upper South during the domestic slave trade. It was adjacent to what became known as the Black Belt of Alabama, an area of plantation development in the uplands, where short-staple cotton was cultivated. Many African Americans stayed in the area as sharecroppers and tenant farmers after the Civil War, but left for other opportunities during the first half of the 20th century. The table below shows population declines from 1920 to 1970, reflecting this demographic change. In 2010 some 20 percent of the population was African American, reflecting this history of cotton agriculture.

Geography[]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 581 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1840 4,973
1850 11,581 132.9%
1860 20,059 73.2%
1870 12,006 −40.1%
1880 16,575 38.1%
1890 17,219 3.9%
1900 21,647 25.7%
1910 24,659 13.9%
1920 27,064 9.8%
1930 26,861 −0.8%
1940 25,516 −5.0%
1950 22,513 −11.8%
1960 19,477 −13.5%
1970 18,331 −5.9%
1980 20,075 9.5%
1990 19,881 −1.0%
2000 22,380 12.6%
2010 22,913 2.4%
Est. 2021 21,989 [6] −1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[2]

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 22,380 people, 8,642 households, and 6,222 families living in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km2). There were 10,285 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.38% White (non-Hispanic), 22.24% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. 3.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,642 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 56.20% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. Nearly 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52, and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,675, and the median income for a family was $34,684. Males had a median income of $27,069 versus $20,323 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,147. About 12.60% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.10% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census[]

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 22,913 people, 9,164 households, and 6,357 families living in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15/km2). There were 11,982 housing units at an average density of 20.6 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.5% White (non-Hispanic), 20.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,164 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 51.0% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. Nearly 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% 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 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,593, and the median income for a family was $43,528. Males had a median income of $31,305 versus $27,908 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,844. About 14.7% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census[]

Randolph County racial composition[13]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 16,629 75.7%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 3,814 17.36%
Native American 50 0.23%
Asian 86 0.39%
Pacific Islander 1 0.0%
Other/Mixed 782 3.56%
Hispanic or Latino 605 2.75%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 21,967 people, 8,702 households, and 5,720 families residing in the county.

Government[]

United States presidential election results for Randolph County, Alabama[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 8,559 78.98% 2,203 20.33% 75 0.69%
2016 7,705 75.64% 2,291 22.49% 191 1.87%
2012 7,224 69.32% 3,078 29.54% 119 1.14%
2008 7,175 69.10% 3,064 29.51% 145 1.40%
2004 6,127 68.07% 2,817 31.30% 57 0.63%
2000 4,666 58.92% 3,094 39.07% 159 2.01%
1996 3,304 47.41% 3,023 43.38% 642 9.21%
1992 3,813 46.77% 3,318 40.70% 1,021 12.52%
1988 4,625 64.02% 2,462 34.08% 137 1.90%
1984 4,940 65.74% 2,439 32.46% 136 1.81%
1980 3,279 46.22% 3,378 47.62% 437 6.16%
1976 2,286 37.82% 3,539 58.55% 219 3.62%
1972 4,427 75.14% 1,330 22.57% 135 2.29%
1968 839 12.33% 666 9.79% 5,299 77.88%
1964 3,127 62.65% 0 0.00% 1,864 37.35%
1960 1,697 34.60% 3,175 64.73% 33 0.67%
1956 1,584 33.27% 3,151 66.18% 26 0.55%
1952 1,047 26.06% 2,964 73.77% 7 0.17%
1948 469 27.11% 0 0.00% 1,261 72.89%
1944 702 27.95% 1,785 71.06% 25 1.00%
1940 670 21.69% 2,407 77.92% 12 0.39%
1936 793 22.19% 2,766 77.39% 15 0.42%
1932 767 25.52% 2,226 74.08% 12 0.40%
1928 1,815 59.04% 1,257 40.89% 2 0.07%
1924 669 33.43% 1,307 65.32% 25 1.25%
1920 1,113 44.90% 1,357 54.74% 9 0.36%
1916 652 32.85% 1,324 66.70% 9 0.45%
1912 268 14.80% 1,177 64.99% 366 20.21%
1908 395 32.73% 799 66.20% 13 1.08%
1904 695 30.48% 1,518 66.58% 67 2.94%
1900 1,377 46.95% 1,510 51.48% 46 1.57%
1896 802 34.55% 1,442 62.13% 77 3.32%
1892 126 4.91% 1,196 46.59% 1,245 48.50%
1888 733 41.51% 1,023 57.93% 10 0.57%



Transportation[]

Major highways[]

  • US 431 U.S. Highway 431
  • Alabama 22 State Route 22
  • Alabama 48 State Route 48
  • Alabama 77 State Route 77

Rail[]

  • CSX Transportation

Communities[]

City[]

  • Roanoke

Towns[]

  • Wadley
  • Wedowee (county seat)
  • Woodland

Census-designated places[]

  • Graham
  • Morrison Crossroads
  • Rock Mills

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Almond
  • Ava
  • Bacon Level
  • Corinth (north)
  • Corinth (south)
  • Dingler
  • Folsom
  • Hobson
  • Liberty Grove
  • Louina
  • Newell
  • Omaha
  • Potash
  • Swagg

Places of interest[]

Randolph County is home to Lake Wedowee, a section of the Tallapoosa River.

See also[]

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

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named aces
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/randolphcountyalabama/PST045221. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  4. ^ Lois Walls George, Paula Burson Lambert, Wyner S. Phillips, Randolph County, page 113
  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. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html. 
  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=0500000US01111&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  14. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 33°17′21″N 85°27′37″W / 33.28917, -85.46028


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Randolph 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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