Escambia County, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Escambia County
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Escambia County, Alabama Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
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 Alabama's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alabama |
| Founded | December 10, 1868 |
| Seat | Brewton |
| Largest city | Atmore |
| Area | |
| • Total | 953 sq mi (2,470 km2) |
| • Land | 945 sq mi (2,450 km2) |
| • Water | 8.1 sq mi (21 km2) 0.8% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 36,757 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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36,558  |
| • Density | 38.570/sq mi (14.892/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 1st, 2nd |
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Escambia County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,757. Its county seat is Brewton.
Escambia County is coextensive with the Atmore, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area; which is itself a constituent part of the larger Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL-AL Combined Statistical Area.
The county is the base of the state's only federally recognized Native American tribe, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. They have developed gaming casinos and a hotel on their reservation here, but also a much larger business extending to locations in other states and the Caribbean.
Contents
Etymology
The name "Escambia" may have been derived from the Creek name Shambia, meaning "clearwater", or the Choctaw word for "cane-brake" or "reed-brake".
History
Historic American Indian tribes in the area included the Muskogean-speaking Creek, Choctaw, and Alabama, who had inhabited the lands for centuries and had many settlements. The former two tribes were among those in the Southeast whom the European-American settlers called the Five Civilized Tribes, as they adopted some European-American cultural ways. Many of their members had close working relationships with traders and settlers moving into the area in the early 19th century. Most of these nations were forced to cede their lands to the United States and to remove in the 1830s to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.
Escambia County was organized and established after the American Civil War, on December 10, 1868, during the Reconstruction era. The state legislature created it from parts of Baldwin and Conecuh counties, to the west and north, respectively. The area was part of the coastal plain. It was largely agricultural into the 20th century.
The county is subject to heavy winds and rains due to seasonal hurricanes. In September 1979, the county was declared a disaster area due to damage from Hurricane Frederic. It was declared a disaster area again in September 2004 due to damage from Hurricane Ivan.
In the 20th century, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians organized to gain recognition as a tribe, and established a government under a written constitution. It had control of some lands that were taken into trust on their behalf by the federal government as part of the federal recognition process. It is the only federally recognized tribe in the state. Since the late 20th century, they have developed three gaming resorts to generate revenues for tribal health and welfare.
In addition, Alabama has recognized nine tribes, generally descendants of Choctaw, Creek, and Cherokee Native Americans who had historically lived here.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 953 square miles (2,470 km2), of which 945 square miles (2,450 km2) is land and 8.1 square miles (21 km2) (0.8%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 65
U.S. Highway 29
U.S. Highway 31
State Route 21
State Route 41
State Route 113
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Adjacent counties
- Conecuh County (north)
- Covington County (east)
- Okaloosa County, Florida (southeast)
- Santa Rosa County, Florida (south)
- Escambia County, Florida (southwest)
- Baldwin County (west)
- Monroe County (northwest)
Escambia County in Alabama and Escambia County in Florida are two of 22 counties or parishes in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines.
National protected area
- Conecuh National Forest (part)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 4,041 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,719 | 41.5% | |
| 1890 | 8,666 | 51.5% | |
| 1900 | 11,320 | 30.6% | |
| 1910 | 18,889 | 66.9% | |
| 1920 | 22,464 | 18.9% | |
| 1930 | 27,963 | 24.5% | |
| 1940 | 30,671 | 9.7% | |
| 1950 | 31,443 | 2.5% | |
| 1960 | 33,511 | 6.6% | |
| 1970 | 34,912 | 4.2% | |
| 1980 | 38,440 | 10.1% | |
| 1990 | 35,518 | −7.6% | |
| 2000 | 38,440 | 8.2% | |
| 2010 | 38,319 | −0.3% | |
| 2020 | 36,757 | −4.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 36,558 | −4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 24,575 | 23,508 | 22,004 | 63.93% | 61.35% | 59.86% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 11,799 | 12,162 | 10,922 | 30.69% | 31.74% | 29.71% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 1,153 | 1,274 | 1,488 | 3.00% | 3.32% | 4.05% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 93 | 86 | 108 | 0.24% | 0.22% | 0.29% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 10 | 12 | 22 | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 25 | 20 | 49 | 0.07% | 0.05% | 0.13% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 406 | 539 | 1,413 | 1.06% | 1.41% | 3.84% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 379 | 718 | 751 | 0.99% | 1.87% | 2.04% |
| Total | 38,440 | 38,319 | 36,757 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2020, there were 36,757 people, 13,089 households, and 8,019 families residing in the county.
2010 census
According to the 2010 United States census:
- 62.1% White
- 31.9% Black
- 4.4% Native American
- 0.2% Asian
- 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- 1.5% Two or more races
- 1.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
As of 2012 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Escambia County were:
- 30.5% English
- 12.1% "American"
- 9.9% Irish
Communities
Cities
- Atmore
- Brewton (county seat)
- East Brewton
Towns
Unincorporated communities
- Canoe
- Dixonville
- Foshee
- Freemanville
- Huxford
- McCullough
- Nokomis
- Spring Hill
- Wahl
Former town
Indian reservation
Education
The two school districts are Brewton City School District (City of Brewton) and Escambia County School District (all other locations).
Historic sites
Escambia County has three sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Atmore Commercial Historic District the Brewton Historic Commercial District, and the Commercial Hotel-Hart Hotel.
Notable residents
- Esther Blake (1897–1979), the first woman in the United States Air Force.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Escambia (Alabama) para niños
