Butler County, Alabama

History

Butler County was formed from Conecuh County, Alabama, and Monroe County, Alabama, by an act passed December 13, 1819, by the Legislature while in session at Huntsville. This was the first session of the Legislature of Alabama as a State. The name of Fairfield was first proposed for this county, but was changed on the passage of the bill to Butler, in honor of Captain William Butler.

The precise date of the first settlement made by whites in Butler County is unclear. Some have it as early as 1814, but the earliest settler of no dispute is James K. Benson, who settled in the Flat in 1815, where he built a log house near the current location of Pine Flat Methodist Church. He was soon followed by William Ogly and John Dickerson and their families, who settled on the Federal Road, some 3 mi south of where later Fort Dale was built. In the fall of 1816, a group of people from Georgia settled in a tent camp in Pine Flat, and the year after, another group settled near Fort Dale.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 778 sqmi, of which 777 sqmi is land and 1.1 sqmi (0.1%) is water. It is located in the Gulf Coastal Plain region of the state.

Major highways

• [[Image:I-65 (AL).svg|20px]] Interstate 65
• [[Image:US 31.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 31
• [[Image:Alabama 10.svg|20px]] State Route 10
• [[Image:Alabama 106.svg|20px]] State Route 106
• [[Image:Alabama 185.svg|20px]] State Route 185
• [[Image:Alabama 245.svg|20px]] State Route 245
• [[Image:Alabama 263.svg|20px]] State Route 263

Adjacent counties

• Lowndes County (north)
• Crenshaw County (east)
• Covington County (southeast)
• Conecuh County (southwest)
• Monroe County (west)
• Wilcox County (northwest)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 19,051. The median age was 43.5 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 82.9 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 51.2% White, 44.2% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population.

30.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 69.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 8,170 households in the county, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 39.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 9,806 housing units, of which 16.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.4% were owner-occupied and 35.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.6%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 20,947 people living in the county. 54.4% were White, 43.4% Black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% of some other race and 0.8% of two or more races. 0.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,399 people, 8,398 households, and 5,870 families living in the county. The population density was 28 /mi2. There were 9,957 housing units at an average density of 13 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 58.38% White, 40.81% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,398 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% were married couples living together, 18.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% 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 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.90 males age 18 and over.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,791, and the median income for a family was $30,915. Males had a median income of $28,968 versus $18,644 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,715. About 20.40% of families and 24.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.30% of those under age 18 and 28.60% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Butler County contains one public school district. There are approximately 3,000 students in public PK-12 schools in Butler County.

Districts

School districts include:

• Butler County School District

Government

The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election is Bill Clinton, who won it by a plurality in 1996.

Communities

City

• Greenville (county seat)

Towns

• Georgiana
• McKenzie

Unincorporated communities

• Bolling
• Chapman
• Forest Home
• Garland
• Industry
• Pine Flat
• Saucer
• Spring Hill
• Wald

Notable people

• William Butler, militiaman during the Creek War
• Hilary A. Herbert, Secretary of the Navy under President Grover Cleveland
• William Lee, politician, judge, and militia officer
• Warren A. Thompson, explorer
• Hank Williams, country singer
• Earnie Shavers, hardest hitting heavyweight boxer
• Janie Shores, Alabama Supreme Court justice

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. Latte, John Buckner. (1971). "History of Butler County, Alabama, 1815 to 1885".
3. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
4. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
7. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
8. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
9. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Butler County, Alabama".
10. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Butler County, Alabama".
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Butler County, Alabama".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
15. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. "Search for Public School Districts - Butler County, AL". [[Institute of Education Sciences]].
17. "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Butler County, AL". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".