Fayette County, Alabama
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,321.[1] Its county seat is Fayette. Its name is in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette[2] (or de la Fayette), who aided General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War.
History
[edit | edit source]Fayette County was established on December 20, 1824, during Lafayette's historic tour of the 24 United States
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 629 square miles (1,630 km2), of which 628 square miles (1,630 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.3%) is water.[3]
Sheriffs Department
[edit | edit source]Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Marion County (north)
- Walker County (east)
- Tuscaloosa County (southeast)
- Pickens County (southwest)
- Lamar County (west)
Demographics
[edit | edit source]2020 census
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[4] | Pop 2010[5] | Pop 2020[6] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 15,994 | 14,832 | 13,552 | 86.48% | 86.03% | 83.03% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,199 | 1,958 | 1,720 | 11.89% | 11.36% | 10.54% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 35 | 47 | 43 | 0.19% | 0.27% | 0.26% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 28 | 37 | 49 | 0.15% | 0.21% | 0.30% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1 | 11 | 29 | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.18% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 86 | 152 | 531 | 0.46% | 0.88% | 3.25% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 152 | 204 | 396 | 0.82% | 1.18% | 2.43% |
| Total | 18,495 | 17,241 | 16,321 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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.[7][8]
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.[8]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[9]
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.[7]
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%.[7]
2010 census
[edit | edit source]As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 17,241 people, 7,493 households, and 5,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 8,472 housing units at an average density of 14 units per square mile (5.4 units/km2). 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
[edit | edit source]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.[11]
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.[12]
Education
[edit | edit source]- Berry High School
- Berry Elementary School
- Fayette County High School
- Fayette Middle School
- Fayette Elementary School
- Hubbertville School
Transportation
[edit | edit source]Major highways
[edit | edit source]- File:US 43.svg U.S. Highway 43
- File:Alabama 13.svg State Route 13
- File:Alabama 18.svg State Route 18
- File:Alabama 96.svg State Route 96
- File:Alabama 102.svg State Route 102
- File:Alabama 107.svg State Route 107
- File:Alabama 129.svg State Route 129
- File:Alabama 171.svg State Route 171
- File:Alabama 233.svg State Route 233
Airport
[edit | edit source]Richard Arthur Field (Municipal)- A 5,000 ft (1,500 m) paved runway with JET A and 100LL fuel service. Located about 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of the city center.
Rail
[edit | edit source]Government
[edit | edit source]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.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1904 | 599 | 39.43% | 712 | 46.87% | 208 | 13.69% |
| 1908 | 678 | 43.80% | 731 | 47.22% | 139 | 8.98% |
| 1912 | 434 | 28.52% | 762 | 50.07% | 326 | 21.42% |
| 1916 | 697 | 39.69% | 1,026 | 58.43% | 33 | 1.88% |
| 1920 | 1,865 | 56.36% | 1,413 | 42.70% | 31 | 0.94% |
| 1924 | 977 | 41.26% | 1,358 | 57.35% | 33 | 1.39% |
| 1928 | 1,686 | 59.83% | 1,131 | 40.13% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1932 | 733 | 26.47% | 2,013 | 72.70% | 23 | 0.83% |
| 1936 | 732 | 24.41% | 2,244 | 74.82% | 23 | 0.77% |
| 1940 | 737 | 25.88% | 2,091 | 73.42% | 20 | 0.70% |
| 1944 | 913 | 35.51% | 1,648 | 64.10% | 10 | 0.39% |
| "text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Dixiecrat |1948 | 580 | 35.76% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,042 | 64.24% |
| 1952 | 1,481 | 39.19% | 2,287 | 60.52% | 11 | 0.29% |
| 1956 | 1,948 | 49.59% | 1,956 | 49.80% | 24 | 0.61% |
| 1960 | 1,923 | 45.73% | 2,274 | 54.08% | 8 | 0.19% |
| 1964 | 3,203 | 71.34% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,287 | 28.66% |
| "text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/American Independent |1968 | 827 | 13.26% | 676 | 10.84% | 4,735 | 75.91% |
| 1972 | 4,240 | 83.53% | 836 | 16.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 2,165 | 34.44% | 4,076 | 64.83% | 46 | 0.73% |
| 1980 | 3,315 | 48.83% | 3,389 | 49.92% | 85 | 1.25% |
| 1984 | 4,654 | 64.63% | 2,533 | 35.18% | 14 | 0.19% |
| 1988 | 4,338 | 57.40% | 3,186 | 42.16% | 33 | 0.44% |
| 1992 | 3,604 | 42.55% | 3,830 | 45.22% | 1,036 | 12.23% |
| 1996 | 3,191 | 44.26% | 3,381 | 46.90% | 637 | 8.84% |
| 2000 | 4,582 | 58.68% | 3,064 | 39.24% | 162 | 2.07% |
| 2004 | 5,534 | 69.16% | 2,408 | 30.09% | 60 | 0.75% |
| 2008 | 5,883 | 73.93% | 1,994 | 25.06% | 80 | 1.01% |
| 2012 | 6,054 | 76.07% | 1,817 | 22.83% | 87 | 1.09% |
| 2016 | 6,712 | 81.37% | 1,362 | 16.51% | 175 | 2.12% |
| 2020 | 7,300 | 83.28% | 1,395 | 15.91% | 71 | 0.81% |
| 2024 | 7,158 | 85.53% | 1,142 | 13.65% | 69 | 0.82% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Template:A.L. GovHead Template:A.L. GovRow Template:A.L. GovFoot
Communities
[edit | edit source]Cities
[edit | edit source]- Fayette (county seat)
- Winfield (partly in Marion County)
Towns
[edit | edit source]- Belk
- Berry
- Glen Allen (partly in Marion County)
- Gu-Win (partly in Marion County)
Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]- Bankston
- Bazemore
- Bluff
- Boley Springs
- Covin
- Flatwoods
- Howard
- Hubbertville
- Newtonville
- Studdards Crossroads
See also
[edit | edit source]- National Register of Historic Places listings in Fayette County, Alabama
- Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Fayette County, Alabama
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 124.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ↑ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fayette County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fayette County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fayette County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ↑ "Fayette County, Alabama", http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/county_profiles/US/County_Report_Fayette_County_Alabama.pdf Archived April 14, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, accessed October 12, 2016
- ↑ Wang et al, "Population Health Metrics", 2013, 11:8, http://www.pophealthmetrics.com/content/11/1/8, accessed October 13, 2016
- ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 16, 2016.
External links
[edit | edit source]Template:Geographic Location Template:Fayette County, Alabama Template:Alabama Coordinates: 33°43′12″N 87°44′19″W / 33.72000°N 87.73861°W