Washington County, Alabama facts for kids

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Washington County

U.S. county

The Washington County Courthouse in September 2007

Flag

Location within the U.S. state of Alabama

Alabama's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Alabama

Founded

June 4, 1801

Largest town

Chatom

Area

• Total

1,089 sq mi (2,820 km²)

• Land

1,080 sq mi (2,800 km²)

• Water

8.4 sq mi (22 km²) 0.8%

Population

(2020)

• Total

15,388

• Estimate

(2023)

15,022

• Density

14.130/sq mi (5.4558/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional district

1st

County Number 65 on Alabama Licence Plates

Washington County is a county in the southwestern part of Alabama. In 2020, about 15,388 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Chatom. The county is named after George Washington, who was the first President of the United States.

The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians is a Native American tribe that is officially recognized by the state of Alabama. This tribe is based in Washington County. Some members also live in Mobile County, Alabama. Since 1979, nine tribes have been recognized by the state.

Exploring Washington County's Past

The land that is now Washington County was home to many Native American groups for a very long time. When Europeans first arrived, they met the Choctaw and later the Creek Indians. These tribes lived on the land before settlers from Europe moved in.

How Washington County Began

Washington County was created on June 4, 1800. It was formed from the Tombigbee District of the Mississippi Territory. This makes it the very first county organized in what would later become Alabama! Settlers were moving west after the American Revolutionary War. St. Stephens, located in Washington County, was even the first capital of the Alabama Territory.

In 1807, Aaron Burr, a former U.S. Vice President, was arrested in Washington County. He was accused of treason but was later found innocent.

Native American History and Changes

In the 1830s, the U.S. government moved most Choctaw and Creek people to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). This was part of a process called Indian removal. However, some members of these tribes stayed behind. They hid in the forests and swamps of southwest Alabama. Even though they were citizens, they faced a lot of unfair treatment.

Farms, Slavery, and the Civil War

During the 1800s, many large cotton farms, called plantations, were built in the county. Thousands of enslaved African Americans were forced to work on these farms. They were brought to the Deep South by slave traders.

During the American Civil War, many white men from the county joined the Confederate Army. By 1863, over three-quarters of the adult white men were fighting. Children in the county even asked the government not to draft more men. They wanted men to stay and protect against a possible slave uprising. However, no such uprising happened.

Life After the Civil War

Even after the Civil War, farming was still very important. But a tiny insect called the boll weevil destroyed many cotton crops. New machines also meant fewer workers were needed on farms. Because of this, thousands of African Americans moved north. This movement is known as the Great Migration. They looked for better jobs and to escape unfair laws and violence in the South.

In the early 1900s, people started to cut down and process the many pine trees in the area. This became an important industry.

Recognizing Native American Culture

Native Americans in Alabama worked hard to keep their traditions alive. For a long time, the state only recognized people as white or "all other people of color." This made it hard for Native Americans to be seen as Choctaw.

In the 1930s, the Choctaw people finally got schools that supported their culture. These schools were in Mobile and Washington counties. In 1979, the Alabama government officially recognized the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. Later, a commission was set up to help Native American interests. Now, nine tribes have state recognition.

Modern Industries and Challenges

The timber industry is still important today. But Washington County has also developed other businesses. Petrochemical industries, which deal with oil and gas products, have grown. In 1979, Hurricane Frederic caused a lot of damage, and the county was declared a disaster area.

Washington County's Landscape

Washington County covers about 1,089 square miles. Most of this (1,080 square miles) is land, and a small part (8.4 square miles) is water. It's actually bigger than the state of Rhode Island in terms of land area! The county is about 60 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. A huge amount of the land, about 88 percent, is covered by forests and pine tree farms.

The Tombigbee River forms the eastern border of Washington County. The county's borders also connect with the state of Mississippi to the west.

Neighboring Counties

Washington County shares its borders with these counties:

Getting Around Washington County

Main Roads

U.S. Highway 43
U.S. Highway 45
State Route 17
State Route 56

Railroad Connections

The Norfolk Southern Railroad runs through the eastern part of Washington County. It carries raw materials from the Port of Mobile to chemical and electrical plants along the Tombigbee River.

People of Washington County

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	1,250	—
1810	2,920	133.6%
1820	4,118	41.0%
1830	3,474	−15.6%
1840	5,300	52.6%
1850	2,713	−48.8%
1860	4,669	72.1%
1870	3,912	−16.2%
1880	4,538	16.0%
1890	7,935	74.9%
1900	11,134	40.3%
1910	14,454	29.8%
1920	14,279	−1.2%
1930	16,365	14.6%
1940	16,188	−1.1%
1950	15,612	−3.6%
1960	15,372	−1.5%
1970	16,241	5.7%
1980	16,821	3.6%
1990	16,694	−0.8%
2000	18,097	8.4%
2010	17,581	−2.9%
2020	15,388	−12.5%
2023 (est.)	15,022	−14.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

In 2020, there were 15,388 people living in Washington County. The population is made up of different groups. About 66.7% of people were White, 21.6% were Black or African American, and 7.2% were Native American. A small percentage were Asian, Pacific Islander, or other races. About 3.4% were of mixed race.

Population Changes Over Time

Like many rural areas, Washington County has seen its population decrease since 2000. This is because younger people often move to bigger cities for more job opportunities. Cities usually offer more services and better-paying jobs, which attracts people from rural areas.

Learning in Washington County

The Washington County School system runs the public schools. Here are some of the high schools:

Fruitdale High School
Leroy High School
McIntosh High School
Millry High School
Washington County High School

Towns and Communities

Main Towns

Chatom (the county seat)
McIntosh
Millry

Other Communities

Small Villages and Areas

Historic Places

Wakefield (a former town)

Places to Visit

Washington County has several interesting places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are important sites that are protected for their history:

Andrews Chapel in McIntosh
Old Washington County Courthouse
Old St. Stephens Site in St. Stephens

You can also visit the Washington County Museum, which is located in the courthouse in Chatom.

Famous People from Washington County

Wilmer Mizell (1930–1999) was born in Vinegar Bend. He was a professional baseball pitcher. After his sports career, he became a Republican congressman for North Carolina.
Beverly Jo Scott, a singer-songwriter who now lives in Belgium, was born in Deer Park in 1959.
Shawna Thompson, a singer in the country music duo Thompson Square, is from Chatom.