Escambia County, Alabama

Escambia County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 38,319.[1] Its county seat is Brewton.[2]

Escambia County
U.S. county
Escambia County, Alabama Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°07′36″N 87°09′44″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 10, 1868
SeatBrewton
Largest cityAtmore
Area
 • Total953 sq mi (2,470 km2)
 • Land945 sq mi (2,450 km2)
 • Water8.1 sq mi (21 km2)  0.8%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total38,319
 • Estimate 
(2019)
36,633
 • Density40/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.escambia.al.us
 
  • County Number 30 on Alabama Licence Plates
There is also an Escambia County, Florida.

The county is the base of the state's only federally recognized Native American tribe, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. They have developed gaming casinos and a hotel on their reservation here, but also a much larger business extending to locations in other states and the Caribbean.

Etymology

The name "Escambia" may have been derived from the Creek name Shambia, meaning "clearwater",[3] or the Choctaw word for "cane-brake" or "reed-brake".[4]

History

Historic American Indian tribes in the area included the Muskogean-speaking Creek, Choctaw, and Alabama, who had inhabited the lands for centuries and had many settlements. The former two tribes were among those in the Southeast whom the European-American settlers called the Five Civilized Tribes, as they adopted some European-American cultural ways. Many of their members had close working relationships with traders and settlers moving into the area in the early 19th century. Most of these nations were forced to cede their lands to the United States and to remove in the 1830s to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.

Escambia County was organized and established after the American Civil War, on December 10, 1868 during the Reconstruction era. The state legislature created it from parts of Baldwin and Conecuh counties, to the west and north, respectively. The area was part of the coastal plain. It was largely agricultural into the 20th century.

The county is subject to heavy winds and rains due to seasonal hurricanes. In September 1979, the county was declared a disaster area due to damage from Hurricane Frederic. It was declared a disaster area again in September 2004 due to damage from Hurricane Ivan.

In the 20th century, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians organized to gain recognition as a tribe, and established a government under a written constitution. It had control of some lands that were taken into trust on their behalf by the federal government as part of the federal recognition process. It is the only federally recognized tribe in the state. Since the late 20th century, they have developed three gaming resorts to generate revenues for tribal health and welfare.

In addition, Alabama has recognized nine tribes, generally descendants of Choctaw, Creek, and Cherokee Native Americans who had historically lived here.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 953 square miles (2,470 km2), of which 945 square miles (2,450 km2) is land and 8.1 square miles (21 km2) (0.8%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Escambia County in Alabama and Escambia County in Florida are two of 22 counties or parishes in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines.

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18704,041—
18805,71941.5%
18908,66651.5%
190011,32030.6%
191018,88966.9%
192022,46418.9%
193027,96324.5%
194030,6719.7%
195031,4432.5%
196033,5116.6%
197034,9124.2%
198038,44010.1%
199035,518−7.6%
200038,4408.2%
201038,319−0.3%
2019 (est.)36,633[6]−4.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2018[1]

2010

According to the 2010 United States Census:

As of 2012 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Escambia County were:

2000

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 38,440 people, 14,297 households, and 10,093 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16/km2). There were 16,544 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 64.40% White, 30.79% Black or African American, 3.01% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,297 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.70% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,319, and the median income for a family was $36,086. Males had a median income of $30,632 versus $18,091 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,396. About 15.20% of families and 20.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The Holman Correctional Facility of the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is in unincorporated southwestern Escambia County, 9 miles (14 km) north of Atmore.[12][13] Holman has a male death row and the State of Alabama execution chamber.[13] In addition the ADOC Fountain Correctional Facility is about 7 miles (11 km) north of Atmore.[14]

Presidential elections results
Escambia County vote
by party in presidential elections [15]
Year GOP Dem Others
2020 68.3% 10,869 30.9% 4,918 0.8% 123
2016 66.9% 9,935 31.0% 4,605 2.1% 305
2012 62.4% 9,287 36.9% 5,489 0.8% 118
2008 63.9% 9,375 35.4% 5,188 0.8% 111
2004 68.7% 8,513 30.8% 3,814 0.6% 68
2000 59.8% 6,975 38.8% 4,523 1.4% 162
1996 47.0% 5,214 41.9% 4,651 11.2% 1,239
1992 46.4% 5,955 37.5% 4,809 16.1% 2,060
1988 62.1% 6,807 36.7% 4,020 1.2% 127
1984 68.3% 8,694 30.3% 3,853 1.4% 177
1980 54.0% 6,513 42.7% 5,148 3.3% 392
1976 44.2% 4,934 53.4% 5,957 2.4% 266
1972 82.2% 7,883 16.7% 1,598 1.2% 110
1968 6.3% 680 13.9% 1,492 79.8% 8,593
1964 74.5% 5,623 25.5% 1,928
1960 30.7% 1,810 67.6% 3,990 1.8% 105
1956 28.9% 1,529 64.9% 3,437 6.3% 333
1952 25.9% 1,187 73.9% 3,385 0.2% 11
1948 10.0% 188 90.0% 1,694
1944 11.3% 266 88.2% 2,077 0.5% 12
1940 4.7% 137 95.0% 2,772 0.3% 8
1936 3.8% 103 95.8% 2,585 0.4% 10
1932 7.2% 157 92.7% 2,024 0.1% 3
1928 61.9% 1,754 38.0% 1,077 0.0% 1
1924 10.7% 152 85.7% 1,217 3.6% 51
1920 10.9% 178 88.9% 1,455 0.2% 4
1916 9.9% 108 89.8% 982 0.3% 3
1912 5.4% 52 85.6% 829 9.0% 87
1908 14.3% 113 80.9% 641 4.8% 38
1904 11.5% 83 87.2% 627 1.3% 9

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Former town

Indian reservation

Historic sites

Escambia County has two sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Brewton Historic Commercial District and the Commercial Hotel-Hart Hotel.[16]

Secession proposal

Perdido County, Alabama would contain northern Baldwin County, divided by a straight line extending westward from the northwestern tip of Florida, and western Escambia County, west of Big Escambia Creek. (The Flomaton area is excluded via a prominent power line easement, from Big Escambia Creek to the Florida state line.) The southwestern tip of Conecuh County, also west of Big Escambia Creek, may be included as well. The headwaters of the Perdido River rise near the center of this proposed county. The Perdido County seat would be Atmore. The county has been proposed by city of Atmore backers, who believe that their growing city of over 10,000 residents should be a county seat. Furthermore, county backers believe that Atmore belongs in the Mobile-Daphne-Fairhope metropolitan combined statistical area, which would become much more likely within its own exurban-leaning county. Brewton would remain the county seat of rural-leaning Escambia County. In addition to the incorporated city of Atmore, Perdido County would include the unincorporated communities of Blacksher, Canoe, Freemanville, Huxford, Nokomis, Perdido and Tensaw.

Notable residents

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Escambia County Alabama History - accessed August 18, 2009
  4. Alabama Department of Archives and History - accessed August 18, 2009
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  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. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. "Holman Correctional Facility Archived 2010-08-08 at the Wayback Machine." Alabama Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  13. "Annual Report Fiscal Year 2003." Alabama Department of Corrections. 33/84. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  14. "Fountain / JO Davis Correctional Facility Archived 2011-06-16 at the Wayback Machine." Alabama Department of Corrections. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.
  15. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  16. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.

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