Talladega County, Alabama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Talladega County
U.S. county
Talladega County Courthouse in Talladega
Logo
Motto(s):  "Something For Everyone"
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Founded	December 18, 1832
Named for	Creek for “Border Town”
Seat	Talladega
Largest city	Talladega
Area
• Total	760 sq mi (2,000 km2)
• Land	737 sq mi (1,910 km2)
• Water	24 sq mi (60 km2)  3.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	82,149
• Estimate  (2023)	81,132
• Density	108.1/sq mi (41.73/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
County Number 61 on Alabama Licence Plates

Talladega County is one of 67 counties in Alabama, a state in the southeastern United States. It is located in the east-central part of Alabama. In 2020, about 82,149 people lived here. The main city and government center, called the county seat, is Talladega.

Talladega County is part of a larger area known as the Talladega-Sylacauga Micropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's a region with a city at its center and nearby communities that are closely connected.

History of Talladega County

Before European settlers arrived, the land that is now Talladega County was home to the Abihka tribe. They were part of the Creek Confederacy, a group of Native American tribes. The United States government made agreements with the Creek people. These agreements led to the Creek tribes giving up their land. Eventually, many Native American groups were moved to lands west of the Mississippi River. This area was called Indian Territory.

Talladega County was officially created on December 18, 1832. This land came from the Creek Indians. The main city, Talladega, became the county seat in 1834.

The name "Talladega" comes from a Muscogee (Creek) Native American word, Tvlvteke. This word means "Border Town." It describes the town's location. It was on the edge of lands belonging to the Creek, Cherokee, and Chickasaw tribes.

Geography of Talladega County

Talladega County covers about 760 square miles. Most of this area, about 737 square miles, is land. The remaining 24 square miles, or 3.1%, is water. Rivers and streams like Choccolocco Creek flow through the county.

The county is located in the Coosa River Valley. It is also part of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians region. Mount Cheaha, the highest point in Alabama, is on the border of Talladega County and Cleburne County.

Neighboring Counties

Talladega County shares its borders with several other counties:

• Calhoun County – to the north
• Cleburne County – to the northeast
• Clay County – to the east
• Coosa County – to the south
• Shelby County – to the southwest
• St. Clair County – to the northwest

Protected Natural Areas

Part of the Talladega National Forest is located within Talladega County. This is a large area of protected forest land.

People of Talladega County

The population of Talladega County has changed over time. In 1840, there were about 12,587 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 82,149.

Population in 2020

In 2020, there were 82,149 people living in Talladega County. These people lived in 30,602 households. About 20,515 of these households were families.

The population includes people from different backgrounds.

• About 61.76% of people were White (not Hispanic or Latino).
• About 32.06% were Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino).
• About 3.03% were of two or more races (not Hispanic or Latino).
• About 2.17% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

Population in 2010

In 2010, the county had 82,291 people. There were 31,890 households. About 27.8% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.48 people. The average family had 2.98 people.

The median age in the county was 39.3 years. This means half the people were younger than 39.3, and half were older. For every 100 females, there were about 94.9 males.

The median income for a household was $36,948. This is the middle income for all households. About 18.4% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 27.1% of children under 18.

Education in Talladega County

The main school system in the area is Talladega County Schools. They manage the public schools for children in the county.

There is also a special school for Japanese children. It is called the Birmingham Supplementary School Inc. This school helps Japanese children living in Alabama keep up with their studies in Japanese. Its office is near Lincoln, at the Honda Manufacturing of Alabama facility. Classes are held at Jefferson State Community College in Hoover. The school started in 2001.

Transportation in Talladega County

Talladega County has several important roads and railways.

Major Roads

Railways

Several railway companies operate in Talladega County. These include CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Eastern Alabama Railway. Amtrak also has services here.

Cities and Towns

Talladega County has several cities and towns where people live.

Cities

• Childersburg
• Lincoln
• Oxford (partly in Calhoun County)
• Sylacauga
• Talladega (the county seat)

Towns

• Bon Air
• Munford
• Oak Grove
• Talladega Springs
• Vincent (partly in Shelby County and St. Clair County)
• Waldo

Other Communities

• Fayetteville (a census-designated place)
• Mignon (a census-designated place)

Small Communities

Ghost Town

• Gantts Quarry is a former community.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Talladega para niños