Morgan County, Alabama

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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.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Decatur.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> On June 14, 1821, it was renamed in honor of American Revolutionary War General Daniel Morgan of Virginia.<ref name="AL-1821-Renamed-Morgan-Co">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." Template:Webarchive</ref> 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.<ref name="AL-1818-Est-Cotaco-Co">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." Template:Webarchive</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (3.3%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

**Morgan County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	92,584	92,585	88,238	83.36%	77.48%	71.49%
Black or African American alone (NH)	12,383	14,059	15,307	11.15%	11.77%	12.40%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	727	928	631	0.65%	0.78%	0.51%
Asian alone (NH)	491	665	829	0.44%	0.56%	0.67%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	25	69	79	0.02%	0.06%	0.06%
Other race alone (NH)	62	80	376	0.06%	0.07%	0.30%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)	1,147	1,948	5,584	1.03%	1.63%	4.52%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,645	9,156	12,377	3.28%	7.66%	10.03%
Total	111,064	119,490	123,421	100.00%	100.00%	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 Template:Convert. There were 51,193 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.<ref name="2010 census">Template:Cite web</ref> 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 Template:Convert. There were 47,388 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> According to the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.

Politics

Transportation

Major highways

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Rail

Communities

Cities

Decatur (county seat; part of Decatur is in Limestone County)
Hartselle
Huntsville, (has land within Morgan County, but most of its population is in Madison County)