Walker County, Alabama Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Walker County

U.S. county

Walker County Courthouse in Jasper

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Alabama

Alabama's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Alabama

Founded

December 26, 1823

Named for

John Williams Walker

Seat

Jasper

Largest city

Jasper

Area

• Total

805 sq mi (2,080 km²)

• Land

791 sq mi (2,050 km²)

• Water

14 sq mi (40 km²) 1.7%

Population

(2020)

• Total

65,342

• Estimate

(2023)

64,728

• Density

81.17/sq mi (31.340/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional district

4th

County Number 64 on Alabama Licence Plates

Walker County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,342. Its county seat is Jasper. Its name is in honor of John Williams Walker, the first U.S. senator elected from Alabama.

Walker County comprises the entirety of the Jasper, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
- National Register of Historic Places
Geography
- Adjacent counties
Demographics
- 2020 census
- 2010 census
Economy
Transportation
- Major highways
- Rail
Communities
Places of interest
See also

History

Walker County was established on December 26, 1823, and formed from sections of Marion and Tuscaloosa counties. It was named after Senator John Walker, who represented Alabama in the U.S. Senate from 1819 to 1822. The county was greatly reduced in size on February 12, 1850, when its northern half became the county of Winston. Jasper is the county seat, and was named after William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero from South Carolina.

National Register of Historic Places

Walker County has sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They include the Bankhead House, Boshell's Mill, the First United Methodist Church of Jasper, the Gilchrist House, the Jasper Downtown Historic District, the Stephenson House, and Walker County Hospital.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 805 square miles (2,080 km²), of which 791 square miles (2,050 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (1.7%) is water. The county is located in the Cumberland Plateau region, with many plateaus and valleys, along with many forested areas, covering the county.

Adjacent counties

Winston County (north)
Cullman County (northeast)
Blount County (east)
Jefferson County (southeast)
Tuscaloosa County (southwest)
Fayette County (west)
Marion County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1830	2,202	—
1840	4,032	83.1%
1850	5,124	27.1%
1860	7,980	55.7%
1870	6,543	−18.0%
1880	9,479	44.9%
1890	16,078	69.6%
1900	25,162	56.5%
1910	37,013	47.1%
1920	50,593	36.7%
1930	59,445	17.5%
1940	64,201	8.0%
1950	63,769	−0.7%
1960	54,211	−15.0%
1970	56,246	3.8%
1980	68,660	22.1%
1990	67,670	−1.4%
2000	70,713	4.5%
2010	67,023	−5.2%
2020	65,342	−2.5%
2023 (est.)	64,728	−3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

**Walker County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition**
*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 (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	64,855	60,587	56,394	91.72%	90.40%	86.31%
Black or African American alone (NH)	4,323	3,885	3,889	6.11%	5.80%	5.95%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	197	233	187	0.28%	0.35%	0.29%
Asian alone (NH)	140	190	283	0.20%	0.28%	0.43%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	13	26	2	0.02%	0.04%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	18	36	136	0.03%	0.05%	0.21%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	560	759	2,299	0.79%	1.13%	3.52%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	607	1,307	2,152	0.86%	1.95%	3.29%
Total	70,713	67,023	65,342	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 65,342 people, 25,153 households, and 17,410 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 67,023 people, 26,571 households, and 18,741 families living in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile (33 people/km²). There were 30,816 housing units at an average density of 38 units per square mile (15 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.2% White, 5.9% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Nearly 2.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 26,571 households, 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 52.0% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.8% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% 65 or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

The median household income was $37,191 and the median family income was $45,788. Males had a median income of $43,671 versus $27,662 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,516. About 14.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.