Randolph County
County
County courthouse in Wedowee
County courthouse in Wedowee
Official seal of Randolph County
Seal
Map of Alabama highlighting Randolph County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°17′21″N 85°27′37″W / 33.289166666667°N 85.460277777778°W / 33.289166666667; -85.460277777778
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 18, 1832[1]
Named forJohn Randolph of Roanoke
SeatWedowee
Largest cityRoanoke
Area
 • Total584 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land581 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water3.6 sq mi (9 km2)  0.56%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total21,967
 • Estimate 
(2022)
22,479 Increase
 • Density38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websiterandolphcountyalabama.gov
  • County Number 56 on Alabama License Plates

Randolph County is a county on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Alabama.[1] As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,967.[2] Its county seat is Wedowee.[1][3] Its name is in honor of John Randolph, a member of the United States Senate from Virginia.[1] Randolph County was a prohibition or dry county until 2012, when the citizens of Randolph County voted to repeal prohibition.

History

Randolph County was established by the Alabama Legislature on December 18, 1832,[1] following Indian Removal of the Creek people. It was named in honor of John Randolph, a well-known Virginia congressman. Randolph County was one of several counties created out of the last Creek cession formulated by the Treaty of Cusseta, on March 24, 1832. It lies within the Piedmont region, which extends from Alabama to Pennsylvania.[1]

The first white settlers said the county had an abundance of the "purest and coldest freestone water in the world." The area was also noted for its gentle rolling hills.[4] The first county seat for Randolph County was established in 1833 at Hedgeman Triplett's Ferry on the west bank of the Big Tallapoosa River, about 10 miles (16 km) west of Wedowee, Alabama.[1]

In 1835 (2 years later), the county seat was moved by the commissioners to nearby Wedowee. This city lies in the center of Randolph County, on a fork of the Little Tallapoosa River. Wedowee was named after a Creek tribal chief "Wah-wah-nee" (or "Wah-dow-wee") of a village here. The European-American town was developed near that site after the Creek were forced out.[1]

The county was developed for agriculture, specifically cotton plantations, which were worked by African-American slaves brought by migrants to the region or transported from the Upper South during the domestic slave trade. It was adjacent to what became known as the Black Belt of Alabama, an area of plantation development in the uplands, where short-staple cotton was cultivated. Many African Americans stayed in the area as sharecroppers and tenant farmers after the Civil War, but left for other opportunities during the first half of the 20th century. The table below shows population declines from 1920 to 1970, reflecting this demographic change. In 2010 some 20 percent of the population was African American, reflecting this history of cotton agriculture.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 581 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18404,973—
185011,581132.9%
186020,05973.2%
187012,006−40.1%
188016,57538.1%
189017,2193.9%
190021,64725.7%
191024,65913.9%
192027,0649.8%
193026,861−0.8%
194025,516−5.0%
195022,513−11.8%
196019,477−13.5%
197018,331−5.9%
198020,0759.5%
199019,881−1.0%
200022,38012.6%
201022,9132.4%
202021,967−4.1%
2022 (est.)22,479[6]2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[2]

2020 Census

Randolph 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) 16,940 17,280 16,629 75.69% 75.42% 75.70%
Black or African American alone (NH) 4,949 4,604 3,814 22.11% 20.09% 17.36%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 41 84 50 0.18% 0.37% 0.23%
Asian alone (NH) 50 54 86 0.22% 0.24% 0.39%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 5 1 0.00% 0.02% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 9 8 51 0.04% 0.03% 0.23%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 118 229 731 0.53% 1.00% 3.33%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 272 649 605 1.22% 2.83% 2.75%
Total 22,380 22,913 21,967 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 21,967 people, 8,702 households, and 5,720 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 22,913 people, 9,164 households, and 6,357 families living in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 11,982 housing units at an average density of 20.6 units per square mile (8.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.5% White (non-Hispanic), 20.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,164 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 51.0% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. Nearly 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46, and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,593, and the median income for a family was $43,528. Males had a median income of $31,305 versus $27,908 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,844. About 14.7% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000,[15] there were 22,380 people, 8,642 households, and 6,222 families living in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 10,285 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.38% White (non-Hispanic), 22.24% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. 3.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,642 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 56.20% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. Nearly 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52, and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,675, and the median income for a family was $34,684. Males had a median income of $27,069 versus $20,323 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,147. About 12.60% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.10% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

United States presidential election results for Randolph County, Alabama[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,559 78.98% 2,203 20.33% 75 0.69%
2016 7,705 75.64% 2,291 22.49% 191 1.87%
2012 7,224 69.32% 3,078 29.54% 119 1.14%
2008 7,175 69.10% 3,064 29.51% 145 1.40%
2004 6,127 68.07% 2,817 31.30% 57 0.63%
2000 4,666 58.92% 3,094 39.07% 159 2.01%
1996 3,304 47.41% 3,023 43.38% 642 9.21%
1992 3,813 46.77% 3,318 40.70% 1,021 12.52%
1988 4,625 64.02% 2,462 34.08% 137 1.90%
1984 4,940 65.74% 2,439 32.46% 136 1.81%
1980 3,279 46.22% 3,378 47.62% 437 6.16%
1976 2,286 37.82% 3,539 58.55% 219 3.62%
1972 4,427 75.14% 1,330 22.57% 135 2.29%
1968 839 12.33% 666 9.79% 5,299 77.88%
1964 3,127 62.65% 0 0.00% 1,864 37.35%
1960 1,697 34.60% 3,175 64.73% 33 0.67%
1956 1,584 33.27% 3,151 66.18% 26 0.55%
1952 1,047 26.06% 2,964 73.77% 7 0.17%
1948 469 27.11% 0 0.00% 1,261 72.89%
1944 702 27.95% 1,785 71.06% 25 1.00%
1940 670 21.69% 2,407 77.92% 12 0.39%
1936 793 22.19% 2,766 77.39% 15 0.42%
1932 767 25.52% 2,226 74.08% 12 0.40%
1928 1,815 59.04% 1,257 40.89% 2 0.07%
1924 669 33.43% 1,307 65.32% 25 1.25%
1920 1,113 44.90% 1,357 54.74% 9 0.36%
1916 652 32.85% 1,324 66.70% 9 0.45%
1912 268 14.80% 1,177 64.99% 366 20.21%
1908 395 32.73% 799 66.20% 13 1.08%
1904 695 30.48% 1,518 66.58% 67 2.94%

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Places of interest

Randolph County is home to Lake Wedowee, a section of the Tallapoosa River.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "ACES Randolph County Office" (links/history), Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), 2007, webpage: ACES-Randolph.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Lois Walls George, Paula Burson Lambert, Wyner S. Phillips, Randolph County, page 113
  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 10, 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 – Randolph 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) – Randolph 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) – Randolph County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.

33°17′21″N 85°27′37″W / 33.28917°N 85.46028°W / 33.28917; -85.46028

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