Etowah County, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Etowah County
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Etowah County courthouse in Gadsden
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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 7, 1866 |
| Seat | Gadsden |
| Largest city | Gadsden |
| Area | |
| • Total | 549 sq mi (1,420 km2) |
| • Land | 535 sq mi (1,390 km2) |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (40 km2) 2.5% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 103,436 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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103,162  |
| • Density | 188.41/sq mi (72.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
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Etowah County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 103,436. Its county seat is Gadsden. Its name is from a Cherokee word meaning "edible tree". In total area, it is the smallest county in Alabama, but one of the most densely populated. Etowah County comprises the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
The territory of Etowah County was originally split among the neighboring counties, with most of it belonging to DeKalb and Cherokee counties. It was separated and established as Baine County on December 7, 1866, by the first postwar legislature, named for General David W. Baine of the Confederate Army. The county seat was designated as Gadsden.
Because of postwar tensions and actions against freedmen, a state constitutional convention was called in 1868. During it, this new county was abolished, replaced on December 1, 1868 by one aligned to the same boundaries and named Etowah County, from a Cherokee language word. Most of the Cherokee had been removed in the 1830s to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.
An F4 tornado struck here on Palm Sunday March 27, 1994. It destroyed Piedmont's Goshen United Methodist Church twelve minutes after the National Weather Service of Birmingham issued a tornado warning for northern Calhoun, southeastern Etowah, and southern Cherokee counties.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 549 square miles (1,420 km2), of which 535 square miles (1,390 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.5%) is water. It is the smallest county by area in Alabama.
Adjacent counties
- DeKalb County - north
- Cherokee County - east
- Calhoun County - southeast
- St. Clair County - southwest
- Blount County - west
- Marshall County - northwest
Transportation
Major highways
Interstate 59
Interstate 759
U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 278
U.S. Route 411
U.S. Route 431
State Route 77
State Route 132
State Route 179
State Route 205
State Route 211
State Route 291
State Route 759
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Rail
- Alabama and Tennessee River Railway
- Norfolk Southern Railway
- Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway (Defunct)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 10,109 | — | |
| 1880 | 15,398 | 52.3% | |
| 1890 | 21,926 | 42.4% | |
| 1900 | 27,361 | 24.8% | |
| 1910 | 39,109 | 42.9% | |
| 1920 | 47,275 | 20.9% | |
| 1930 | 63,399 | 34.1% | |
| 1940 | 72,580 | 14.5% | |
| 1950 | 93,892 | 29.4% | |
| 1960 | 96,980 | 3.3% | |
| 1970 | 94,144 | −2.9% | |
| 1980 | 103,057 | 9.5% | |
| 1990 | 99,840 | −3.1% | |
| 2000 | 103,459 | 3.6% | |
| 2010 | 104,430 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 103,436 | −1.0% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 103,162 | −1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 104,430 people, 42,036 households, and 28,708 families living in the county. The population density was 195 people per square mile (75/km2). There were 47,454 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile (33/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.3% White, 15.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 3.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 42,036 households 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.1% of households were one person and 11.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.
The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% 65 or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median household income was $36,422 and the median family income was $44,706. Males had a median income of $39,814 versus $30,220 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,439. About 13.1% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 77,731 | 75.15% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 14,999 | 14.5% |
| Native American | 332 | 0.32% |
| Asian | 921 | 0.89% |
| Pacific Islander | 39 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 4,519 | 4.37% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4,895 | 4.73% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 103,436 people, 40,053 households, and 25,177 families residing in the county.
Communities
Cities
- Attalla
- Boaz (partly in Marshall County)
- Gadsden (county seat)
- Glencoe (partly in Calhoun County)
- Hokes Bluff
- Rainbow City
- Southside (partly in Calhoun County)
Towns
- Altoona (partly in Blount County)
- Reece City
- Ridgeville
- Sardis City (partly in Marshall County)
- Walnut Grove
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Etowah para niños
