Clarke County, Alabama

Clarke County, Alabama
Clarke County Courthouse in Grove Hill, Alabama
Location in the state of Alabama
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 10, 1812
Seat	Grove Hill
Largest city	Jackson
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,252.51 sq mi (3,244 km²) 1,238.38 sq mi (3,207 km²) 14.13 sq mi (37 km²), (1.13%)
Population  - (2010)  - Density	25,833 21/sq mi (8/km²)

Clarke County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. The county was created by the legislature of the Mississippi Territory in 1812. It is named in honor of General John Clarke of Georgia, who was later elected governor of that state.^[1] As of 2010, the population was 25,833. The county seat is Grove Hill. The county museum is housed in the Alston-Cobb House in Grove Hill.

History

Pre-European era

Clarke County was a home of the Choctaw. In 1805, the Treaty of Mount Dexter conveyed large amounts of land in what is now southeastern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama, including much of the western portion of Clarke County from the Choctaw to the United States.^[2]

Modern era

Clarke County was established on December 10, 1812 by the Mississippi Territory. The county had numerous forts, built by settlers for protection, during the Creek War. One of the most notable of these was Fort Sinquefield.^[3]

The first county seat was Clarkesville, founded in 1820. The seat was moved to Macon, later renamed Grove Hill, in 1831. During the American Civil War the county was notable for its salt production.^[1]

Alcohol prohibition

Clarke County became dry county in 1937, when wet-dry counties were established in Alabama following the repeal of prohibition in 1933.^[4] The first decade of the 21st century saw the county's largest communities vote to legalize alcohol sales:Jackson on May 10, 2005, Thomasville on August 14, 2007, and Grove Hill on November 3, 2009.^[4][5][6]

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,252.51 square miles (3,244.0 km²), of which 1,238.38 square miles (3,207.4 km²) (or 98.87%) is land and 14.13 square miles (36.6 km²) (or 1.13%) is water.^[7]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 43
• U.S. Highway 84
• State Route 5
• State Route 69

Adjacent counties

• Marengo County (north)
• Wilcox County (northeast)
• Monroe County (east)
• Baldwin County (south)
• Washington County (southwest)
• Choctaw County (northwest)

Demographics

Clarke County, Alabama
Year	Pop.	±%
1820	5,839	—
1830	7,595	+30.1%
1840	8,640	+13.8%
1850	9,786	+13.3%
1860	15,049	+53.8%
1870	14,663	−2.6%
1880	17,806	+21.4%
1890	22,624	+27.1%
1900	27,790	+22.8%
1910	30,987	+11.5%
1920	26,409	−14.8%
1930	26,016	−1.5%
1940	27,636	+6.2%
1950	26,548	−3.9%
1960	25,738	−3.1%
1970	26,724	+3.8%
1980	27,702	+3.7%
1990	27,240	−1.7%
2000	27,867	+2.3%
2010	25,833	−7.3%
Sources: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml.  through 1960

2010

Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:

• 54.5% White
• 43.9% Black
• 0.4% Native American
• 0.3% Asian
• 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• 0.7% Two or more races
• 1.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2000

As of the census^[8] of 2000, there were 27,867 people, 10,578 households, and 7,700 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 12,631 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 55.94% White, 43.02% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Nearly 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,578 households, out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 53.90% were married couples living together, 15.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. Nearly 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60, and the average family size was 3.13.

In Clarke County, the population was spread out, with 28.00% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,388, and the median income for a family was $34,546. Males had a median income of $34,111 versus $19,075 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,581. About 18.10% of families and 22.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 23.80% of those age 65 or over.

Settlements

Cities

• Jackson
• Thomasville

Towns

• Coffeeville
• Fulton
• Grove Hill

Communities

• Alma
• Bashi
• Campbell
• Carlton
• Dickinson
• Gainestown
• Gosport
• Morvin
• Suggsville
• Tallahatta Springs
• Toddtown
• Walker Springs
• Whatley

Former communities

• Choctaw Corner
• Clarkesville
• Failetown

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Clarke County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Clarke County, Alabama

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Clarke County: A Brief History". Clarke County Historical Museum. http://www.clarkemuseum.com/html/clarke_county.html. Retrieved 3 January 2009. 
2. ^ Finlay, Louis M., Jr. (Summer 2000). "The Mitchell Reserve". Clarke County Historical Society Quarterly 25 (1): 9. 
3. ^ "Fort Sinquefield". Clarke County Historical Museum. http://www.clarkemuseum.com/html/fort_sinquefield.html. Retrieved July 27, 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Evan Carden (May 12, 2005). "‘Yes’ to Jackson alcohol sales". The South Alabamian. http://www.southalabamian.com/news/2005-05-12/Front_Page/001.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
5. ^ Arthur McLean (August 16, 2007). "Thomasville goes wet". The Thomasville Times. http://www.thethomasvilletimes.com/news/2007-08-16/front_page/001.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
6. ^ Connie Baggett (November 3, 2009). "Voters in Grove Hill approve sale of alcohol inside city". Press-Register. http://blog.al.com/live/2009/11/voters_in_grove_hill_approve_s.html. Retrieved July 24, 2011. 
7. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
8. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Clarke County Alabama Official Site
• Clarke County map of roads/towns (map © 2007 Univ. of Alabama).
• Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance
• South Alabama Community Website

Coordinates: 31°40′25″N 87°50′17″W / 31.67361°N 87.83806°W / 31.67361; -87.83806