Geneva County, Alabama

History

Geneva County was established on December 26, 1868 from Coffee, Dale, and Henry counties. The county was named after its county seat, which in turn was named after Geneva, New York, which was named after Geneva, Switzerland, by Walter H. Yonge, an early town resident and Swiss native.

The county was declared a disaster area in September 1979 due to damage from Hurricane Frederic.

On March 10, 2009, a gunman, identified as Michael McLendon, went on a shooting spree at nine locations in Geneva County from the town of Samson to the city of Geneva, killing ten people and wounding six others. McLendon entered his former place of employment, Reliable Metal Products on the northeastern side of Geneva, where he killed himself.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 579 sqmi, of which 574 sqmi is land and 4.5 sqmi (0.8%) is water. The county is located in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama.

It is the fifth-smallest county in Alabama by total area.

Major highways

• [[Image:Alabama 27.svg|20px]] State Route 27
• [[Image:Alabama 52.svg|20px]] State Route 52
• [[Image:Alabama 54.svg|20px]] State Route 54
• [[Image:Alabama 85.svg|20px]] State Route 85
• [[Image:Alabama 87.svg|20px]] State Route 87
• [[Image:Alabama 103.svg|20px]] State Route 103
• [[Image:Alabama 123.svg|20px]] State Route 123
• [[Image:Alabama 153.svg|20px]] State Route 153
• [[Image:Alabama 167.svg|20px]] State Route 167
• [[Image:Alabama 196.svg|20px]] State Route 196

Adjacent counties

• Dale County (north-northeast)
• Houston County (east)
• Jackson County, Florida (southeast)
• Holmes County, Florida (south)
• Walton County, Florida (southwest)
• Covington County (west)
• Coffee County (north-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 26,659. The median age was 43.8 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.8 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 82.8% White, 8.4% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.0% from some other race, and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.9% of the population.

0.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 99.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 10,874 households in the county, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 12,452 housing units, of which 12.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.1% were owner-occupied and 26.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.

2010

The 2010 United States census has the breakdown as:

• 86.3% White
• 9.5% Black
• 0.8% Native American
• 0.3% Asian
• 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• 1.6% Two or more races
• 3.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,764 people, 10,477 households, and 7,459 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 /mi2. There were 12,115 housing units at an average density of 21 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 87.11% White, 10.65% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,477 households, out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.70 males. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 90.00 men.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,448, and the median income for a family was $32,563. Males had a median income of $26,018 versus $19,341 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,620. About 15.90% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.20% of those under age 18 and 21.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Geneva (county seat)
• Hartford
• Samson
• Slocomb

Towns

• Black
• Coffee Springs
• Malvern
• Taylor (partly in Houston County)

Census-designated place

• Eunola

Unincorporated communities

• Bellwood
• Chancellor
• Dundee
• Earlytown
• Fadette
• Hacoda
• High Bluff
• Highfalls
• Highnote

Government and politics

Much like the state and the rest of the Deep South, Geneva County was locked for the Democrats before 1964, until Herbert Hoover won against Democrat nominee Al Smith in 1928 by 48 votes. However, ever since 1980, Geneva County has been a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry the county was Deep South native Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Geneva is also noteworthy for being the best county in the country for Alabama native George Wallace in the 1968 election, where his main support was from the Deep South and was strongest in the Wiregrass and Piney Woods regions.

Education

There are two school districts including parts of the county: Geneva City School District and Geneva County School District.

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Gurspan, Mike. (2022-07-27). "Hartford votes to allow alcohol sales for the first time ever". WDHN - wdhn.com.
4. Clements, John (1991). ''Alabama Facts: A Comprehensive Look at Alabama Today County by County''. Dallas, Texas: Clements Research H, Inc. p. 304.
5. (June 4, 2009). "Geneva County". Alabama Department of Archives and History.
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
11. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
12. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Geneva County, Alabama".
13. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Geneva County, Alabama".
14. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Geneva County, Alabama".
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
17. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
18. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. "1968 Presidential Election Statistics". Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas.
20. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
21. "Our Campaigns".
22. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Geneva County, AL". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].