DeKalb County, Alabama Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

DeKalb County

U.S. county

DeKalb County Courthouse in Fort Payne

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Alabama

Alabama's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Alabama

Founded

January 9, 1836

Largest city

Fort Payne

Area

• Total

779 sq mi (2,020 km²)

• Land

777 sq mi (2,010 km²)

• Water

1.6 sq mi (4 km²) 0.2%

Population

(2020)

• Total

71,608

• Estimate

(2023)

72,569

• Density

91.92/sq mi (35.492/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional district

4th

County Number 28 on Alabama License Plates

DeKalb County is a county in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 71,608. Its county seat is Fort Payne, and it is named after Major General Baron Johann de Kalb. DeKalb County is part of the Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville, AL Combined Statistical Area.

History
21st-century natural events
Geography
- Adjacent counties
- National protected area
Demographics
- 2020 census
- 2010 census
Transportation
- Major highways
- Rail
Communities
See also

History

DeKalb County was created by the Alabama legislature on January 9, 1836, from land ceded to the Federal government by the Cherokee Nation. It was named for Major General Baron Johann de Kalb, a hero of the American Revolution.

DeKalb County was the one time home of the famous Cherokee Native American Sequoyah.

The county's eastern edge, along the state line, was also the epicenter of an earthquake on April 29, 2003, measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale. Power was knocked out in the area, mirrors and pictures thrown to the floor, foundations cracked, and one chimney fell to the ground. It was felt over a significant portion of the southeastern states, including quite strongly in northeastern Alabama and neighboring northwestern Georgia, and nearby eastern Tennessee (especially near Chattanooga). It was also felt slightly in western upstate South Carolina, far west-southwestern North Carolina, south and southeastern Kentucky, and east-northeastern Mississippi.

On the whole, DeKalb County is a dry county. In 2005, a change in local laws enabled Fort Payne to become the only location in the county to allow the legal sale of alcohol. Collinsville later allowed alcohol sales.

DeKalb County saw one of the highest death tolls in Alabama during a massive tornadic system in April 2011, the 2011 Super Outbreak, with 31 deaths reported in the county.

21st-century natural events

The county's eastern edge, along the state line, was the epicenter of an earthquake on April 29, 2003, measuring 4.6 on the moment magnitude scale. Power was knocked out in the area, mirrors and pictures thrown to the floor, foundations cracked, and one chimney fell to the ground. The unusual earthquake for this region was felt over a significant portion of the southeastern states, including quite strongly in northeastern Alabama and neighboring northern Georgia, and nearby eastern Tennessee (especially near Chattanooga). It was also felt slightly in western upstate South Carolina, far west-southwestern North Carolina, south and southeastern Kentucky, and east-northeastern Mississippi.

DeKalb County had one of the highest death tolls in Alabama during a massive tornadic system in April 27, 2011, the 2011 Super Outbreak. A total of 31 deaths were reported in the county, 25 of them being a result of the 2011 Rainsville tornado, the last EF5 of the outbreak..

Geography

The "Old Union" or "Tallahatchie" covered bridge crosses the Little River.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 779 square miles (2,020 km²), of which 777 square miles (2,010 km²) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) (0.2%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Jackson County - north
Dade County, Georgia - northeast (EST)
Walker County, Georgia - east (EST)
Chattooga County, Georgia - east (EST)
Cherokee County - southeast
Etowah County - south
Marshall County - west

National protected area

Little River Canyon National Preserve (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1840	5,929	—
1850	8,245	39.1%
1860	10,705	29.8%
1870	7,126	−33.4%
1880	12,675	77.9%
1890	21,106	66.5%
1900	23,558	11.6%
1910	28,261	20.0%
1920	34,426	21.8%
1930	40,104	16.5%
1940	43,075	7.4%
1950	45,048	4.6%
1960	41,417	−8.1%
1970	41,981	1.4%
1980	53,658	27.8%
1990	54,651	1.9%
2000	64,452	17.9%
2010	71,109	10.3%
2020	71,608	0.7%
2023 (est.)	72,569	2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

DeKalb County racial composition
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	54,529	76.15%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	1,019	1.42%
Native American	715	1.0%
Asian	237	0.33%
Pacific Islander	16	0.02%
Other/Mixed	3,348	4.68%
Hispanic or Latino	11,744	16.4%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 71,608 people, 24,880 households, and 16,366 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 71,109 people, 26,842 households, and 19,361 families living in the county. The population density was 92 people per square mile (36/km²). There were 31,109 housing units at an average density of 39.9 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.5% White (non-Hispanic), 1.5% Black or African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 9.9% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 13.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.