Chambers County, Alabama

Chambers County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 34,772.[1] Its county seat is LaFayette. Its largest city is Valley. Its name is in honor of Henry H. Chambers,[2] who served as a United States Senator from Alabama.

Chambers County
County
County Courthouse in LaFayette in 2012
County Courthouse in LaFayette in 2012
Map of Alabama highlighting Chambers County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°54′40″N 85°23′38″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 18, 1832
Named forHenry H. Chambers
SeatLaFayette
Largest cityValley
Area
 • Total603 sq mi (1,560 km2)
 • Land597 sq mi (1,550 km2)
 • Water6.6 sq mi (17 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total34,772
 • Estimate 
(2022)
34,088 Decrease
 • Density58/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.chamberscountyal.gov
  • County Number 12 on Alabama Licence Plates

Chambers County is included in the LaGrange, GA-AL Micropolitan Statistical Area and the Atlanta–Athens-Clarke–Sandy Springs Combined Statistical Area.[3]

History

Prior to contact with people of European descent, what is now Chambers County was inhabited by the Creek nation.[4]

Chambers County was established on December 18, 1832.

Pat Garrett, the lawman famed for killing outlaw Billy the Kid, was born near the town of Cusseta in 1850.

Joe Louis "The Brown Bomber", renowned heavyweight boxing champion, was born near LaFayette, on Buckalew Mountain, May 13, 1914.

In 1980, Chambers County joined its four mill villages to make the city of Valley. Today, it is the largest city in the county.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 603 square miles (1,560 km2), of which 597 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km2) (1.1%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
184017,333—
185023,96038.2%
186023,214−3.1%
187017,562−24.3%
188023,44033.5%
189026,31912.3%
190032,55423.7%
191036,05610.8%
192041,20114.3%
193039,313−4.6%
194042,1467.2%
195039,528−6.2%
196037,828−4.3%
197036,356−3.9%
198039,1917.8%
199036,876−5.9%
200036,583−0.8%
201034,215−6.5%
202034,7721.6%
2022 (est.)34,088[6]−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census
Chambers 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[11] Pop 2010[12] Pop 2020[13] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 22,111 19,893 18,616 60.44% 58.14% 53.34%
Black or African American alone (NH) 13,872 13,206 13,441 37.92% 38.60% 38.65%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 49 57 71 0.13% 0.17% 0.20%
Asian alone (NH) 68 166 385 0.19% 0.49% 1.11%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 7 11 0.00% 0.02% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 13 23 115 0.04% 0.07% 0.33%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 190 327 896 0.52% 0.96% 2.58%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 280 536 1,237 0.77% 1.57% 3.56%
Total 36,583 34,215 34,772 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 34,772 people, 13,448 households, and 8,553 families residing in the county.

2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 34,215 people, 13,933 households, and 9,391 families living in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km2). There were 17,004 housing units at an average density of 28 units per square mile (11 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 58.8% White (non-Hispanic), 38.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 1.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[14] Of the 13,933 households 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 29.1% of households were one person and 12.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 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, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% 65 or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median household income was $31,467 and the median family income was $39,475. Males had a median income of $34,176 versus $29,140 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,626. About 16.4% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 36,583 people, 14,522 households, and 10,194 families living in the county. The population density was 61 people per square mile (24 people/km2). There were 16,256 housing units at an average density of 27 units per square mile (10 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 56.88% White (non-Hispanic), 43.11% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 3.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[15] Of the 14,522 households 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.50% were married couples living together, 17.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.00% of households were one person and 12.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution was 24.60% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.30 males.

The median household income was $29,667 and the median family income was $36,598. Males had a median income of $28,771 versus $21,159 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,147. About 14.30% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.50% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Chambers County contains two public school districts. There are approximately 4,350 students in public PK-12 schools in Chambers County.[16]

Districts

School districts include:[17]

Government

Chambers is a Republican-leaning county, although it has a sufficient Black minority to return a respectable Democratic vote. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1980, although Bill Clinton won pluralities in it in both 1992 and 1996.

United States presidential election results for Chambers County, Alabama[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,753 57.27% 6,365 41.64% 166 1.09%
2016 7,843 56.42% 5,784 41.61% 273 1.96%
2012 7,626 52.13% 6,871 46.97% 132 0.90%
2008 8,067 53.94% 6,799 45.46% 90 0.60%
2004 7,622 58.49% 5,347 41.03% 63 0.48%
2000 6,037 51.01% 5,616 47.46% 181 1.53%
1996 4,707 42.42% 5,515 49.70% 875 7.89%
1992 5,682 43.40% 5,938 45.36% 1,471 11.24%
1988 7,694 59.39% 5,103 39.39% 159 1.23%
1984 8,024 59.60% 5,302 39.38% 137 1.02%
1980 4,864 40.88% 6,649 55.88% 386 3.24%
1976 5,488 46.32% 6,164 52.03% 196 1.65%
1972 8,716 79.21% 2,076 18.87% 211 1.92%
1968 1,082 10.17% 1,358 12.77% 8,196 77.06%
1964 4,630 64.42% 0 0.00% 2,557 35.58%
1960 1,865 26.26% 5,165 72.74% 71 1.00%
1956 1,448 21.49% 5,165 76.67% 124 1.84%
1952 990 13.77% 6,155 85.61% 45 0.63%
1948 218 12.34% 0 0.00% 1,549 87.66%
1944 194 5.30% 3,458 94.43% 10 0.27%
1940 110 2.58% 4,141 97.16% 11 0.26%
1936 112 2.99% 3,626 96.90% 4 0.11%
1932 342 11.78% 2,550 87.84% 11 0.38%
1928 1,732 63.42% 999 36.58% 0 0.00%
1924 146 6.91% 1,922 91.00% 44 2.08%
1920 322 13.82% 1,994 85.58% 14 0.60%
1916 168 8.99% 1,679 89.88% 21 1.12%
1912 28 1.71% 1,486 90.83% 122 7.46%
1908 50 4.53% 1,025 92.84% 29 2.63%
1904 74 4.73% 1,421 90.80% 70 4.47%

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Chambers County has been the backdrop of several movies including Mississippi Burning.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  2. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 74.
  3. https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/metroarea/us_wall/Mar2020/CSA_WallMap_Mar2020.pdf
  4. The Reason for the Tears: A History of Chambers County, Alabama, 1832-1900 page 2
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  11. "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Chambers County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  12. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Chambers County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  13. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Chambers County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. "Search for Public School Districts - Chambers County, AL". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  17. "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Chambers County, AL" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 2, 2022. Text list.
  18. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved February 20, 2021.

32°54′N 85°23′W

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