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Coffee County, Alabama facts for kids

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Coffee County
Original Coffee County Courthouse (Elba)
Original Coffee County Courthouse (Elba)
Map of Alabama highlighting Coffee County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Alabama
Founded December 29, 1841
Named for John Coffee
Seat Elba (de facto)
Enterprise (annex)
Largest city Enterprise
Area
 • Total 680 sq mi (1,800 km2)
 • Land 679 sq mi (1,760 km2)
 • Water 1.5 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 53,465
 • Estimate 
(2021)
54,174 Increase
 • Density 78.6/sq mi (30.36/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd
  • County Number 19 on Alabama Licence Plates

Coffee County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,465. Its name is in honor of General John Coffee.

Coffee County comprises the Enterprise, Micropolitan Statistical Area, which was originally Enterprise–Ozark micropolitan area in 2010 censuses before being split off. It was originally included in the Dothan-Enterprise-Ozark, Combined Statistical Area in its 2012 statistics but the area in its recent years has been separated from the Dothan metropolitan area and Ozark micropolitan area in later censuses and is its own primary statistical area now. Despite the census change of the statistics by the United States Census Bureau, the county still remains culturally connected alongside the two core based areas as it is commonly described as part of what is called the Wiregrass region together and also it shares its locations of United States army base, Fort Rucker. The county seat is mostly known as Elba, although Enterprise contains a second county courthouse as well.

History

The land in Coffee County was originally part of Dale County, which was incorporated in 1824. Coffee County was formed from the western part of Dale County on December 29, 1841. It was named after John R. Coffee, a hero in the Creek War of 1813—14. The first county seat was in Wellborn. After the courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1851, the county seat was moved to Elba.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 680 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 679 square miles (1,760 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.2%) is water.

Major highways

  • US 84.svg U.S. Highway 84
  • US 231.svg U.S. Highway 231
  • Alabama 27.svg State Route 27
  • Alabama 37.svg State Route 37
  • Alabama 51.svg State Route 51
  • Alabama 85.svg State Route 85
  • Alabama 87.svg State Route 87
  • Alabama 88.svg State Route 88
  • Alabama 92.svg State Route 92
  • Alabama 95.svg State Route 95
  • Alabama 105.svg State Route 105
  • Alabama 123.svg State Route 123
  • Alabama 134.svg State Route 134
  • Alabama 189.svg State Route 189
  • Alabama 192.svg State Route 192
  • Alabama 249.svg State Route 249

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 5,940
1860 9,623 62.0%
1870 6,171 −35.9%
1880 8,119 31.6%
1890 12,170 49.9%
1900 20,972 72.3%
1910 26,119 24.5%
1920 30,070 15.1%
1930 32,556 8.3%
1940 31,987 −1.7%
1950 30,720 −4.0%
1960 30,583 −0.4%
1970 34,872 14.0%
1980 38,533 10.5%
1990 40,240 4.4%
2000 43,615 8.4%
2010 49,948 14.5%
2020 53,465 7.0%
2021 (est.) 54,174 8.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

Coffee County racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 35,759 66.88%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 8,643 16.17%
Native American 405 0.76%
Asian 892 1.67%
Pacific Islander 57 0.11%
Other/Mixed 2,822 5.28%
Hispanic or Latino 4,887 9.14%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 53,465 people, 19,924 households, and 13,747 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 49,948 people, 19,849 households, and 13,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile (29/km2). There were 22,330 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (12.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.7% White, 16.7% Black or African American, 1.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. 6.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The largest self-reported ancestry groups in Coffee County were English (59.9%), German (4.4%), Irish (3.3%), "American" (3.1%), (1.8%), Scottish (1.2%) and Portuguese (1.0%).

There were 19,849 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% 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 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,253, and the median income for a family was $54,929. Males had a median income of $41,635 versus $29,082 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,797. About 14.1% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

In popular culture

The county is referred to in Joe David Brown's 1971 novel Addie Pray, which inspired the movie Paper Moon.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Coffee (Alabama) para niños

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