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Sumter County, Alabama

Coordinates: 32°35′30″N 88°12′15″W / 32.59167°N 88.20417°W / 32.59167; -88.20417
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Sumter County
County
Sumter County Courthouse in Livingston
Sumter County Courthouse in Livingston
Map of Alabama highlighting Sumter County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°35′30″N 88°12′15″W / 32.591666666667°N 88.204166666667°W / 32.591666666667; -88.204166666667
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 18, 1832[1]
Named forThomas Sumter
SeatLivingston
Largest cityLivingston
Area
 • Total
913 sq mi (2,360 km2)
 • Land904 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Water9.4 sq mi (24 km2)  1.0%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2015)
13,103
 • Density15/sq mi (6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitesumtercountyal.com
 
  • County Number 60 on Alabama Licence Plates

Sumter County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.[1] As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,763.[2] Its county seat is Livingston.[3] Its name is in honor of General Thomas Sumter of South Carolina.[1]

History

Sumter County was established on December 18, 1832. From 1797 to 1832, Sumter County was part of the Choctaw Nation, which was made up of four main villages.[1] The first settlers in Sumter County were French explorers who had come north from Mobile. They built and settled at Fort Tombecbee, near the modern-day town of Epes. In 1830, with the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the Choctaw Indians ceded the land that is now Sumter County to the government.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 913 square miles (2,360 km2), of which 904 square miles (2,340 km2) is land and 9.4 square miles (24 km2) (1.0%) is water.[4] It is intersected by the Noxubee River.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
184029,937—
185022,250−25.7%
186024,0358.0%
187024,1090.3%
188028,72819.2%
189029,5742.9%
190032,71010.6%
191028,699−12.3%
192025,569−10.9%
193026,9295.3%
194027,3211.5%
195023,610−13.6%
196020,041−15.1%
197016,974−15.3%
198016,908−0.4%
199016,174−4.3%
200014,798−8.5%
201013,763−7.0%
2015 (est.)13,103[6]−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2015[2]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 13,763 people residing in the county. 75.0% were Black or African American, 24.2% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% of some other race and 0.3% of two or more races. 0.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 14,798 people, 5,708 households, and 3,664 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6/km2). There were 6,953 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 25.92% White, 73.17% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Nearly 1.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,708 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.70% were married couples living together, 23.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.80% were non-families. Nearly 31.20% 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 2.55, and the average family size was 3.26.

In the county, the population was spread out with 29.10% under the age of 18, 12.20% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 19.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $18,911, and the median income for a family was $23,176. Males had a median income of $28,059 versus $17,574 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,491. About 32.90% of families and 38.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.40% of those under age 18 and 36.10% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Sumter County is part of the so-called Black Belt region of central Alabama. The region has suffered significant economic depression in recent years. But in April 2008, United States Steel announced plans to build at $150 million alloy plant near the community of Epes about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The plant will require 250 workers to construct in a town of only 206. Up to 235 full-time jobs will be created when completed with jobs paying about $50 thousand annually. The state of Alabama offered $28 million in incentives to get the plant located in Sumter County.[12] The plant will make use of a new technology that produces a carbon alloy for use in steel making at the U.S. Steel plant in Fairfield, Alabama near Birmingham.[13] At the time of the announcement, the unemployment rate in Sumter County was 6.1 percent.[13]

From 2009 to 2013, the county had a median household income of just $22,186 compared to a state figure of $45,253 making it the poorest county in the state.[14]

Government

Sumter County vote
by party in presidential elections [15]
Year GOP DNC Others
2016 24.7% 1,581 74.0% 4,739 1.3% 84
2012 22.6% 1,585 77.1% 5,420 0.3% 20
2008 24.6% 1,731 75.0% 5,264 0.4% 25
2004 29.2% 1,880 70.4% 4,527 0.4% 26
2000 26.8% 1,629 72.5% 4,415 0.7% 44

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Places of interest

Sumter County is home to the University of West Alabama Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition and the Coleman Center for the Arts. The historic Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge is also located on the University of West Alabama campus.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "ACES Winston County Office" (links/history), Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), 2007, webpage: ACES-Sumter.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  5. ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Sumter, the name of four counties in the United States. IV. A W. county of Alabama" . The American Cyclopædia.
  6. ^ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  11. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. ^ Johnson, Bob (2008-04-19). "U.S. Steel announces plant for Alabama's Black Belt region". Press-Register (Mobile). pp. 6B. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  13. ^ a b Kent, Dawn. "U.S. Steel to invest in Alabama Black Belt with first-of-its-kind coke alternative plant". The Birmingham News. The Birmingham News. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
  14. ^ The Poorest County in Each State; by Thomas C. Frohlich, 7 January 2015, 247Wallstreet.com accessed 11 January 2014
  15. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.

32°35′30″N 88°12′15″W / 32.59167°N 88.20417°W / 32.59167; -88.20417

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