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Lamar County, Alabama facts for kids

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Lamar County
U.S. county
Lamar County Courthouse in Vernon
Lamar County Courthouse in Vernon
Map of Alabama highlighting Lamar 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 February 8, 1877
Named for Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar
Seat Vernon
Largest city Vernon
Area
 • Total 605 sq mi (1,570 km2)
 • Land 605 sq mi (1,570 km2)
 • Water 0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 13,972
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 13,661 Decrease
 • Density 23.094/sq mi (8.917/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 4th
  • County Number 40 on Alabama Licence Plates

Lamar County (formerly Jones County and Sanford County) is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,972. Its county seat is Vernon and it is a dry county. It is named in honor of Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, a former Confederate officer and former member of both houses of the United States Congress from Mississippi.

History

Jones County, Alabama was established on February 4, 1867, with land taken from the southern part of Marion County and the western part of Fayette County. It was named for E. P. Jones of Fayette County, with its county seat in Vernon. This county was abolished on November 13, 1867. On October 8, 1868, the area was again organized into a county, but as Covington County had been renamed "Jones County" the same year (a change that lasted only a few months), the new county was named Sanford, in honor of H. C. Sanford of Cherokee County. On February 8, 1877, the county was renamed Lamar in honor of Congressman and Senator L.Q.C. Lamar of Mississippi.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 605 square miles (1,570 km2), of which 605 square miles (1,570 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.1%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Cemeteries

  • Asbury Methodist Church (2)
  • Pine Springs Cemetery
  • Blooming Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
  • Christian Chapel Church of Christ Cemetery
  • Fellowship Baptist Church Cemetery
  • Furnace Hill Cemetery
  • Kennedy Town Cemetery
  • Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery
  • Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery
  • Meadow Branch Baptist Church Cemetery
  • Mount Olive Church of Christ Cemetery
  • Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
  • Old Mount Nebo Cemetery
  • Shiloh (Pinhook) United Methodist Church Cemetery
  • Sulligent City Cemetery
  • Vernon City Cemetery
  • Providence United Methodist Cemetery
  • Union Chapel Church Cemetery near Crossville
  • Morton Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery near Vernon
  • Fairview Church Cemetery
  • Lebanon United Methodist Church Cemetery
  • Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery
  • Old Liberty Church Cemetery
  • South Carolina Church Cemetery near Hightogy
  • Springhill Cemetery near Millport
  • Walnut Grove Cemetery
  • Wesley Chapel Cemetery
  • Glimer Addition to Sulligent City Cemetery
  • Sandlin Cemetery (just north of Sulligent on Hwy 17)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870 8,893 —
1880 12,142 36.5%
1890 14,187 16.8%
1900 16,084 13.4%
1910 17,487 8.7%
1920 18,149 3.8%
1930 18,001 −0.8%
1940 19,708 9.5%
1950 16,441 −16.6%
1960 14,271 −13.2%
1970 14,335 0.4%
1980 16,453 14.8%
1990 15,715 −4.5%
2000 15,904 1.2%
2010 14,564 −8.4%
2020 13,972 −4.1%
2023 (est.) 13,661 −6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

Lamar County, Alabama – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 13,695 12,542 11,924 86.11% 86.12% 85.34%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,899 1,635 1,421 11.94% 11.23% 10.17%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 15 24 28 0.09% 0.16% 0.20%
Asian alone (NH) 9 4 6 0.06% 0.03% 0.04%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 1 3 0.00% 0.01% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 2 4 22 0.01% 0.03% 0.16%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 77 174 360 0.48% 1.19% 2.58%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 207 180 208 1.30% 1.24% 1.49%
Total 15,904 14,564 13,972 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 13,972 people, 5,856 households, and 3,895 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 14,564 people, 6,103 households, and 4,207 families living in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 7,354 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.7% White, 11.3% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. 1.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,103 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.8.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,887, and the median income for a family was $42,492. Males had a median income of $36,833 versus $25,125 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,789. About 13.2% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Newspapers

  • The Vernon Pioneer - (1875–1878) The first newspaper published in Lamar County was The Vernon Pioneer. The Editors and Proprietors included William R. Smith, William R. Smith Jr., Smith, McCullough & Co, Sid B. Smith, and Don R. Aldridge.
  • The Vernon Clipper - (1879–1880) - Alexander Cobb as Editor and Proprietor and later Alex A. Wall as Proprietor.
  • The Lamar News - (1886–1887) - E. J. McNatt as Editor and Proprietor
  • The Sulligent Lightning
  • The Vernon Courier - (1886–1890) - Alex A. Wall as Editor and Publisher, then Courier Publishing Co. (R. J. Young as Editor-in-Chief and Mollie C. Young as partner)
  • The Eagle-Eye (1894)
  • The Lamar Democrat (1896–present)
  • The Rural Educator (1908)
  • The Sulligent News (1942–1952)

Transportation

Major highways

  • US 278.svg U.S. Highway 278
  • Alabama 17.svg State Route 17
  • Alabama 18.svg State Route 18
  • Alabama 19.svg State Route 19
  • Alabama 96.svg State Route 96

Rail

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

See also

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

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