Fayette County, Alabama

History

Fayette County was established on December 20, 1824, during Lafayette's historic tour of the 24 United States

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 629 sqmi, of which 628 sqmi is land and 1.7 sqmi (0.3%) is water.

Sheriffs Department

Sheriff-Byron Yerby

Adjacent counties

• Marion County (north)
• Walker County (east)
• Tuscaloosa County (southeast)
• Pickens County (southwest)
• Lamar County (west)

Demographics

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,321. The median age was 44.3 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 83.7% White, 10.6% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.4% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 6,653 households in the county, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 7,760 housing units, of which 14.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.3% were owner-occupied and 24.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 17,241 people, 7,493 households, and 5,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 /mi2. There were 8,472 housing units at an average density of 14 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 86.92% White, 11.93% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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

• 44.9% English
• 16.9% "American"
• 4.1% Irish

There were 7,493 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 26.60% 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 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,539, and the median income for a family was $34,560. Males had a median income of $29,239 versus $20,606 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,439. About 13.10% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.

Life expectancy

Of 3,143 counties in the United States in 2013, Fayette County ranked 2,882 in the longevity of male residents and 3,091 of female residents. Males in Fayette County lived an average of 71.2 years and females lived an average of 75.3 years compared to the national average for longevity of 76.5 for males and 81.2 for females. The average longevity of men in Fayette County increased by 2.0 years from 1985 to 2013 compared to a national average for the same period of an increased life span for men of 5.5 years. The average longevity, however, for females in Fayette County declined by 4.2 years between 1985 and 2013 compared to the national average for the same period of an increased life span of 3.1 years for women. High rates of smoking and obesity and a low rate of physical activity appear to be contributing factors to the low level of longevity for both sexes.

One study concluded that Fayette County between 1985 and 2010 was one of the few U.S. counties which saw a decline in the longevity of women and that the decline in female longevity in Fayette Country was the largest of any county in the nation.

Education

• Berry High School
• Berry Elementary School
• Fayette County High School
• Fayette Middle School
• Fayette Elementary School
• Hubbertville School

Transportation

Major highways

• [[Image:US 43.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 43
• [[Image:Alabama 13.svg|20px]] State Route 13
• [[Image:Alabama 18.svg|20px]] State Route 18
• [[Image:Alabama 96.svg|20px]] State Route 96
• [[Image:Alabama 102.svg|20px]] State Route 102
• [[Image:Alabama 107.svg|20px]] State Route 107
• [[Image:Alabama 129.svg|20px]] State Route 129
• [[Image:Alabama 171.svg|20px]] State Route 171
• [[Image:Alabama 233.svg|20px]] State Route 233

Airport

Richard Arthur Field (Municipal)- A 5000 ft paved runway with JET A and 100LL fuel service. Located about 3 mi northeast of the city center.

Rail

• BNSF Railway
• Norfolk Southern Railway
• Luxapalila Valley Railroad

Government

Fayette 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.

Communities

Cities

• Fayette (county seat)
• Winfield (partly in Marion County)

Towns

• Belk
• Berry
• Glen Allen (partly in Marion County)
• Gu-Win (partly in Marion County)

Unincorporated communities

• Bankston
• Bazemore
• Bluff
• Boley Springs
• Covin
• Flatwoods
• Howard
• Hubbertville
• Newtonville
• Studdards Crossroads

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
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 – Fayette County, Alabama".
10. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fayette County, Alabama".
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fayette 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. "Fayette County, Alabama", http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/county_profiles/US/County_Report_Fayette_County_Alabama.pdf {{Webarchive. link. (April 14, 2016 , accessed October 12, 2016)
17. Wang et al, "Population Health Metrics", 2013, 11:8, http://www.pophealthmetrics.com/content/11/1/8, accessed October 13, 2016
18. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".