Crenshaw County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located immediately south of the Montgomery metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,194.[1] Its county seat is Luverne.[2] Its name is in honor of an Alabama judge, Anderson Crenshaw.
Crenshaw County | |
|---|---|
 Crenshaw County courthouse in Luverne | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Alabama | |
 Alabama's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 31°43′41″N 86°18′36″W / 31.728055555556°N 86.31°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alabama |
| Founded | November 30, 1866 |
| Named for | Anderson Crenshaw |
| Seat | Luverne |
| Largest city | Luverne |
| Area | |
| • Total | 611 sq mi (1,580 km2) |
| • Land | 609 sq mi (1,580 km2) |
| • Water | 2.1 sq mi (5 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 13,194 |
| • Estimate (2023) | 13,101  |
| • Density | 22/sq mi (8.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | crenshawcountyalonline.com |
| |
History
editCrenshaw County was established after the American Civil War on November 30, 1866, by the Reconstruction era legislature. It was formed from parts of Butler, Coffee, Covington, Pike and Lowndes counties. While part of the coastal area, this county had relatively infertile soils, limiting cotton and other agriculture. Its planters used enslaved African Americans for all needed types of labor. Many of their descendants stayed in the area, and nearly one-quarter of the county population is African American.
Crenshaw County became a center of timbering in the Piney Wood region, especially after the Montgomery and Florida Railroad Company constructed a line through the county in 1886. This provided transport to markets for timber. It connected with Sprague Junction in Montgomery County, Alabama. The timber camps were rough work areas where racial tensions sometimes flared.
Geography
editAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 611 square miles (1,580 km2), of which 609 square miles (1,580 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (0.3%) is water.[3] The county is located in the Gulf Coastal Plain region of the state. Much of the land is also covered by forests that are used for logging.
Major highways
edit
U.S. Highway 29
U.S. Highway 331
State Route 10
State Route 97
State Route 106
State Route 141
State Route 189
Adjacent counties
edit- Montgomery County (north)
- Pike County (east)
- Coffee County (southeast)
- Covington County (south)
- Butler County (west)
- Lowndes County (northwest)
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 11,156 | — | |
| 1880 | 11,726 | 5.1% | |
| 1890 | 15,425 | 31.5% | |
| 1900 | 19,668 | 27.5% | |
| 1910 | 23,313 | 18.5% | |
| 1920 | 23,017 | −1.3% | |
| 1930 | 23,656 | 2.8% | |
| 1940 | 23,631 | −0.1% | |
| 1950 | 18,981 | −19.7% | |
| 1960 | 14,909 | −21.5% | |
| 1970 | 13,188 | −11.5% | |
| 1980 | 14,110 | 7.0% | |
| 1990 | 13,635 | −3.4% | |
| 2000 | 13,665 | 0.2% | |
| 2010 | 13,906 | 1.8% | |
| 2020 | 13,194 | −5.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 13,101 | [4] | −0.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7] 1990–2000[8] 2010–2020[1] | |||
2020 Census
edit| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[9] | Pop 2010[10] | Pop 2020[11] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 10,042 | 10,020 | 9,333 | 73.49% | 72.06% | 70.74% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3,369 | 3,241 | 3,085 | 24.65% | 23.31% | 23.38% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 51 | 56 | 48 | 0.37% | 0.40% | 0.36% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 15 | 189 | 83 | 0.11% | 1.36% | 0.63% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 11 | 2 | 27 | 0.08% | 0.01% | 0.20% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 89 | 193 | 429 | 0.65% | 1.39% | 3.25% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 87 | 204 | 187 | 0.64% | 1.47% | 1.42% |
| Total | 13,665 | 13,906 | 13,194 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,194 people, 4,943 households, and 3,384 families residing in the county.
2010 census
editAs of the census[12] of 2010, there were 13,906 people, 5,652 households, and 3,882 families living in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). There were 6,735 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 72.6% White, 23.4% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 1.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,652 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,140, and the median income for a family was $47,685. Males had a median income of $35,598 versus $22,410 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,793. About 13.7% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.5% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
The largest self-reported ancestry groups in Crenshaw County were English (64.5%), German (12.1%), Irish (11.2%), Italian (3.9%), "American" (3.1%), Scottish (2.9%) and Portuguese (1.8%).
2000 census
editAs of the census[13] of 2000, there were 13,665 people, 5,577 households, and 3,892 families living in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km2). There were 6,644 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.82% White, 24.79% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,577 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% were married couples living together, 15.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,054, and the median income for a family was $31,724. Males had a median income of $27,286 versus $17,703 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,565. About 18.60% of families and 22.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.30% of those under age 18 and 23.50% of those age 65 or over.
Government
editCrenshaw County is reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election is Bill Clinton, who won it by a plurality in 1996.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 4,864 | 73.51% | 1,700 | 25.69% | 53 | 0.80% |
| 2016 | 4,513 | 72.01% | 1,664 | 26.55% | 90 | 1.44% |
| 2012 | 4,331 | 67.42% | 2,050 | 31.91% | 43 | 0.67% |
| 2008 | 4,319 | 68.65% | 1,938 | 30.81% | 34 | 0.54% |
| 2004 | 3,777 | 68.67% | 1,698 | 30.87% | 25 | 0.45% |
| 2000 | 2,793 | 58.25% | 1,934 | 40.33% | 68 | 1.42% |
| 1996 | 1,939 | 43.60% | 2,172 | 48.84% | 336 | 7.56% |
| 1992 | 2,339 | 44.22% | 2,404 | 45.44% | 547 | 10.34% |
| 1988 | 2,617 | 58.44% | 1,836 | 41.00% | 25 | 0.56% |
| 1984 | 3,261 | 61.86% | 1,904 | 36.12% | 107 | 2.03% |
| 1980 | 2,478 | 47.15% | 2,704 | 51.45% | 74 | 1.41% |
| 1976 | 1,801 | 34.20% | 3,372 | 64.03% | 93 | 1.77% |
| 1972 | 3,129 | 72.87% | 1,085 | 25.27% | 80 | 1.86% |
| 1968 | 209 | 3.81% | 726 | 13.25% | 4,545 | 82.94% |
| 1964 | 3,008 | 78.66% | 0 | 0.00% | 816 | 21.34% |
| 1960 | 573 | 16.37% | 2,923 | 83.49% | 5 | 0.14% |
| 1956 | 567 | 19.06% | 2,252 | 75.70% | 156 | 5.24% |
| 1952 | 544 | 17.94% | 2,485 | 81.96% | 3 | 0.10% |
| 1948 | 38 | 2.65% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,394 | 97.35% |
| 1944 | 118 | 5.61% | 1,980 | 94.06% | 7 | 0.33% |
| 1940 | 84 | 3.03% | 2,680 | 96.65% | 9 | 0.32% |
| 1936 | 96 | 3.89% | 2,371 | 95.95% | 4 | 0.16% |
| 1932 | 127 | 5.32% | 2,200 | 92.13% | 61 | 2.55% |
| 1928 | 978 | 42.67% | 1,314 | 57.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 117 | 9.41% | 1,107 | 89.06% | 19 | 1.53% |
| 1920 | 310 | 17.93% | 1,411 | 81.61% | 8 | 0.46% |
| 1916 | 139 | 8.81% | 1,427 | 90.43% | 12 | 0.76% |
| 1912 | 47 | 4.03% | 986 | 84.49% | 134 | 11.48% |
| 1908 | 311 | 20.94% | 1,100 | 74.07% | 74 | 4.98% |
| 1904 | 180 | 13.25% | 1,077 | 79.25% | 102 | 7.51% |
Communities
editCity
edit- Luverne (county seat)
Towns
editUnincorporated communities
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Crenshaw County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Crenshaw County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Crenshaw County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 16, 2016.