Morgan County, Alabama Explained

County:Morgan County
State:Alabama
Founded Year:1818
Founded Date:February 6
Seat Wl:Decatur
Largest City Wl:Decatur
Area Total Sq Mi:599
Area Land Sq Mi:579
Area Water Sq Mi:20
Area Percentage:3.3
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:123421
Pop Est As Of:2023
Population Est:125133
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
District:5th
Time Zone:Central
Web:https://morgancounty-al.gov/
Footnotes:
  • County Number 52 on Alabama Licence Plates
Ex Image:Morgan County, Alabama Courthouse.jpg
Ex Image Cap:Morgan County Courthouse in Decatur

Morgan County is a county in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, its population was 123,421.[1] The county seat is Decatur.[2] On June 14, 1821, it was renamed in honor of American Revolutionary War General Daniel Morgan of Virginia.[3] It is a prohibition or dry county, although alcohol sales are allowed in the cities of Decatur, Hartselle, and Priceville. Morgan County is included in the Decatur, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville, AL Combined Statistical Area. It is a part of the North, Northwest, and North-Central regions of Alabama.

History

The county was created by the Alabama territorial legislature on February 6, 1818, from land acquired from the Cherokee people in the Treaty of Turkeytown, and was originally called Cotaco County.[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which (3.3%) are covered by water.[5]

River

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

2020 census

Morgan County, Alabama – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
!Race / Ethnicity!Pop 2000[6] !Pop 2010[7] ![8] !% 2000!% 2010!
White alone (NH)92,58492,585style='background: #ffffe6; 88,23883.36%77.48%style='background: #ffffe6; 71.49%
Black or African American alone (NH)12,38314,059style='background: #ffffe6; 15,30711.15%11.77%style='background: #ffffe6; 12.40%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)727928style='background: #ffffe6; 6310.65%0.78%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.51%
Asian alone (NH)491665style='background: #ffffe6; 8290.44%0.56%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.67%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)2569style='background: #ffffe6; 790.02%0.06%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.06%
Some Other Race alone (NH)6280style='background: #ffffe6; 3760.06%0.07%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.30%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)1,1471,948style='background: #ffffe6; 5,5841.03%1.63%style='background: #ffffe6; 4.52%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3,6459,156style='background: #ffffe6; 12,3773.28%7.66%style='background: #ffffe6; 10.03%
Total111,064119,490style='background: #ffffe6; 123,421100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 123,421 people, 46,470 households, and 31,752 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 119,490 people, 47,030 households, and 33,135 families living in the county. The population density was 206.4/mi2. There were 51,193 housing units at an average density of 88/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 79.8% White, 11.9% Black or African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.8% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 7.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[9] Of the 47,030 households 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.9% of households were one person and 9.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.

The median household income was $44,349 and the median family income was $54,653. Males had a median income of $43,455 versus $29,270 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,090. About 10.9% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 111,064 people, 43,602 households, and 31,437 families living in the county. The population density was 191/mi2. There were 47,388 housing units at an average density of 81/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 85.07% White, 11.24% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 3.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[10] According to the census[11] of 2000, the largest ancestry groups in Morgan County were English 60.1%, Scots-Irish 12.71%, and African 11.24%

Of the 43,602 households 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 24.80% of households were one person and 9.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median household income was $37,803 and the median family income was $45,827. Males had a median income of $35,759 versus $21,885 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,223. About 9.70% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Former city

Former town

Ghost town

Education

School districts include:[12]

See also

External links

34.4517°N -86.8572°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State & County QuickFacts. United States Census Bureau. September 13, 2023.
  2. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties.
  3. Acts Passed at the Called Session of the General Assembly of the State of Alabama Begun and Held in the Town of Cahawba, on the First Monday in June, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty One (1821). Cahawba, Alabama: Printed by Allen & Brickell, State Printers. Reprint by Statute Law Book Co., Washington, D.C. Nov. 1913. Page 40. "An Act to change the name of Ococoposa, and for other purposes...Approved, June 14, 1821."
  4. Acts Passed at the First Session of the First General Assembly, of the Alabama Territory: In the Forty Second Year of American Independence (1818). St. Stephens, Alabama, printed by Thomas Eastin. Reprinted T.L. Cole, Washington, D.C., July 1912. Pages 8-12. "An Act to establish the counties of Cotaco, Lawrence and Franklin...Approved-6th February, 1818."
  5. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2015. August 22, 2012.
  6. Web site: P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Morgan County, Alabama. United States Census Bureau.
  7. Web site: P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Morgan County, Alabama. United States Census Bureau.
  8. Web site: P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Morgan County, Alabama. United States Census Bureau.
  9. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. August 5, 2015.
  10. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. May 14, 2011.
  11. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  12. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Morgan County, AL. United States Census Bureau. August 1, 2022. - Text list