Marion County
County
Marion County Courthouse in Hamilton
Marion County Courthouse in Hamilton
Map of Alabama highlighting Marion County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°08′11″N 87°53′03″W / 34.136388888889°N 87.884166666667°W / 34.136388888889; -87.884166666667
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedFebruary 13, 1818
Named forFrancis Marion
SeatHamilton
Largest cityHamilton
Area
 • Total744 sq mi (1,930 km2)
 • Land742 sq mi (1,920 km2)
 • Water1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total29,341
 • Estimate 
(2022)
29,156 Decrease
 • Density39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitemarioncountyalabama.org
  • County Number 49 on Alabama Licence Plates

Marion County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 29,341.[1] The county seat is Hamilton.[2] The county was created by an act of the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818. The county seat was originally established in Pikeville in 1820, and moved to Hamilton in 1881. The county was named by planter and US Indian agent John Dabney Terrell, Sr., in recognition of General Francis Marion of South Carolina.[3][4]

Marion County is located in the northwestern part of the state, bounded on the west by the state of Mississippi. It encompasses 743 square miles (1,920 km2). The county is a prohibition or dry county, however, the sale of alcohol is permitted within the cities of Guin, Hamilton, and Winfield.

History

The county was created by the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818, preceding Alabama's statehood by almost two years. It was created from land acquired from the Chickasaw Indians by the Treaty of 1816. Marion County included all of its current territory and parts of what are now Winston, Walker, Fayette, and Lamar counties in Alabama as well as portions of present-day Lowndes, Monroe, and Itawamba counties in Mississippi. The county was named in honor of General Francis Marion (1732–1795), an American Revolutionary War hero from South Carolina who was known as "The Swamp Fox." Many early settlers of Marion County came from Kentucky and Tennessee after General Andrew Jackson established the Military Road. The first towns in the area were Pikeville, Hamilton (formerly named Toll Gate), Winfield, and Guin.

The county's first seat was settled in 1818 at Cotton Gin Port, near present-day Amory, Mississippi. It was moved in 1819 to the home of Henry Greer along the Buttahatchee River, in 1820, the first permanent county seat was established at Pikeville, now a ghost town, located between present day Hamilton and Guin, along U.S. Highway 43. Pikeville served as the county seat of Marion County until 1882. Although the town is now abandoned, the home of Judge John Dabney Terrell Sr., which served as the third county courthouse, still stands. In 1882, Hamilton became the county seat. The first courthouse in Hamilton was destroyed by fire on March 30, 1887, and the second courthouse, constructed in the same place, also burned. A new courthouse, constructed of local sandstone opened in 1901. In 1959, the building was significantly remodeled to give the structure its current 1950's "international style" design theme.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 744 square miles (1,930 km2), of which 742 square miles (1,920 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18304,058—
18405,84744.1%
18507,83334.0%
186011,18242.8%
18706,059−45.8%
18809,36454.5%
189011,34721.2%
190014,49427.7%
191017,49520.7%
192022,00825.8%
193025,96718.0%
194028,77610.8%
195027,264−5.3%
196021,837−19.9%
197023,7888.9%
198030,04126.3%
199029,830−0.7%
200031,2144.6%
201030,776−1.4%
202029,341−4.7%
2022 (est.)29,156[6]−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

Marion 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) 29,387 28,509 26,093 94.15% 92.63% 88.93%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,131 1,178 1,094 3.62% 3.83% 3.73%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 90 94 82 0.29% 0.31% 0.28%
Asian alone (NH) 45 53 75 0.14% 0.17% 0.26%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 7 14 0.01% 0.02% 0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 7 24 43 0.02% 0.08% 0.15%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 190 279 1,077 0.61% 0.91% 3.67%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 360 632 863 1.15% 2.05% 2.94%
Total 31,214 30,776 29,341 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 29,341 people, 11,997 households, and 8,030 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 30,776 people, 12,651 households, and 8,676 families living in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16 people/km2). There were 14,737 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.6% White, 3.8% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[14] Of the 12,651 households 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.4% of households were one person and 13.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% 65 or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.

The median household income was $32,769 and the median family income was $44,223. Males had a median income of $34,089 versus $24,481 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,030. About 13.3% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,214 people, 12,697 households, and 9,040 families living in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile (16 people/km2). There were 14,416 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.76% White, 3.3% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[15]

Of the 12,697 households 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 26.50% of households were one person and 12.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 22.50% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median household income was $27,475 and the median family income was $34,359. Males had a median income of $26,913 versus $19,022 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,321. About 12.00% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Two public school systems, Marion County Schools and Winfield City Schools, operate in the county. Hamilton is home to a campus of Bevill State Community College. Marion County School System

Winfield City School System

  • Winfield Elementary School
  • Winfield Middle School
  • Winfield High School

Events

  • Jerry Brown Arts Festival - Hamilton (March)
  • Neighbor Day - Hackleburg (Last Saturday in April)
  • MayFest - Guin (Second Saturday in May)
  • CoalFest - Brilliant (Memorial Day)
  • Mule Day - Winfield (September)
  • Buttahatchee River Fall Fest - Hamilton (October)

Media

Newspapers

The Court House at Hamilton burned in March 1887.[16] All newspapers before that date were lost in the flames as the Court House was the repository for them. The newspapers that we have record of after the fire are:

  • The Marion County Herald - (1885–1890) The first newspaper available for The Marion Herald is April 5, 1887 due to the Court House Fire. The original date of beginning and editors have been lost with the Court House fire, but seems to have been started around April 1885. The Lamar News states that A. A. Wall had been with the Marion Herald before he started The Vernon Courier which was in 1886.[17] No earlier publishers of the paper have been found. The newspaper passed through several hands before closing its doors. Some of the notable editors include W. F. Green, James S. Clements, W. T. Gast, L. J. Clark, and others. The first editors were listed under the name The Herald Publishing Company.
  • The Guin Dispatch (1888–1889) The Guin Dispatch was started around November 1888 by James S. Clements. It did not last long - only 13 issues. It closed its doors with the last issue of Feb 23, 1889.
  • The Hamilton Times (1890–1893)
  • The Hamilton Free Press (1893–1894)
  • The Hamilton News Press (1895)
  • The Hamilton Appeal (1896)
  • The Guin Gazette (1897)
  • The Gazette Appeal (1897)
  • The Winfield Enterprise (1899–1900)
  • The Marion County Democrat (1900–1904)
  • The Marion County Republican (1908–1909)
  • The Marion County News (1894, 1896 - 1959?)
  • New Hope Record (1920)
  • The Winfield Journal (1930–1959)
  • The Hackleburg Sentinel (1937–1955)
  • The Marion County Journal (1975)
  • The Guin Gazette (1987)
  • The Gazette Appeal (1987)
  • The Journal Record (1976–present)

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

Air

Politics

United States presidential election results for Marion County, Alabama[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 12,205 88.40% 1,463 10.60% 139 1.01%
2016 11,274 86.83% 1,432 11.03% 278 2.14%
2012 9,697 79.95% 2,249 18.54% 183 1.51%
2008 9,536 77.18% 2,600 21.04% 219 1.77%
2004 8,983 69.77% 3,808 29.58% 84 0.65%
2000 6,910 58.78% 4,600 39.13% 246 2.09%
1996 4,742 43.79% 5,049 46.62% 1,039 9.59%
1992 5,692 42.89% 6,167 46.47% 1,411 10.63%
1988 5,955 56.73% 4,505 42.92% 37 0.35%
1984 6,771 63.20% 3,918 36.57% 24 0.22%
1980 5,182 48.26% 5,450 50.75% 106 0.99%
1976 3,036 32.63% 6,244 67.12% 23 0.25%
1972 5,927 85.38% 986 14.20% 29 0.42%
1968 1,492 17.76% 365 4.34% 6,546 77.90%
1964 3,966 69.42% 0 0.00% 1,747 30.58%
1960 2,938 48.53% 3,099 51.19% 17 0.28%
1956 2,536 46.88% 2,849 52.67% 24 0.44%
1952 1,489 34.25% 2,850 65.55% 9 0.21%
1948 813 32.84% 0 0.00% 1,663 67.16%
1944 1,260 40.17% 1,866 59.48% 11 0.35%
1940 1,081 28.37% 2,654 69.64% 76 1.99%
1936 911 25.24% 2,655 73.57% 43 1.19%
1932 545 18.71% 2,325 79.81% 43 1.48%
1928 1,488 49.13% 1,541 50.87% 0 0.00%
1924 0 0.00% 1,359 99.05% 13 0.95%
1920 1,865 43.08% 2,461 56.85% 3 0.07%
1916 807 37.69% 1,325 61.89% 9 0.42%
1912 378 22.39% 1,098 65.05% 212 12.56%
1908 589 34.65% 1,100 64.71% 11 0.65%
1904 635 34.07% 1,224 65.67% 5 0.27%

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ The Heritage of Marion County, Alabama (2 ed.). Clanton, Al.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, County Heritage, & The Marion County Heritage. 2000. p. 1. ISBN 1-891647-28-8.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 200.
  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 12, 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 – Marion 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) – Marion 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) – Marion County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ↑ Marion Herald April 5, 1887 pg 8
  17. ↑ The Lamar News of May 20, 1886
  18. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.
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