Editing Calhoun County, Alabama

{{short description|County in Alabama, United States}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Calhoun County
 | state                = Alabama
 | seal                 = Seal of Calhoun County, Alabama.png
 | founded year         = 1832<br /> as Benton County
 | founded date         = December 18
 | seat wl              = Anniston
 | largest city wl      = Oxford
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 612
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 606
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 6.4
 | area percentage      = 1.0
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 116441
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 116429 {{decrease}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.calhouncounty.org
 | ex image             = Calhoun County, Alabama Courthouse.JPG
 | ex image cap         = Calhoun County Courthouse in Anniston
 | district             = 3rd
 | named for            = [[John C. Calhoun]]
 | footnotes            = 
*County Number '''11''' on Alabama License Plates
}}

'''Calhoun County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the east central part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alabama]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 116,441.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/calhouncountyalabama/PST045222|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 14, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Anniston, Alabama|Anniston]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> It is named in honor of [[John C. Calhoun]], a [[United States Senate|US Senator]] from [[South Carolina]].

Calhoun County comprises the [[Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Area|Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
'''Benton County''' was established on December 18, 1832, named for [[Thomas Hart Benton (senator)|Thomas Hart Benton]], a member of the [[United States Senate]] from [[Missouri]]. Its [[county seat]] was [[Jacksonville, Alabama|Jacksonville]]. Benton, an enslaver, was a political ally of [[John C. Calhoun]], a U.S. senator from [[South Carolina]], and also a slaveholder and planter. Through the 1820s-1840s, however, Benton's and Calhoun's political interests diverged. Calhoun was increasingly interested in using the threat of [[secession in the United States#Confederate States of America|secession]] as a weapon to maintain and expand [[slavery in the United States|slavery]] throughout the United States. Benton, on the other hand, was slowly concluding that slavery was wrong and that the preservation of the union was paramount. On January 29, 1858,<ref>{{cite book |title=Acts of the Sixth Biennial Session of the General Assembly of Alabama held in the City of Montgomery, Commencing on the Second Monday in November, 1857. |date=November 1857 |publisher=N. B. Cloud, State Printer |location=Montgomery, Alabama |page=318 |url=https://archive.org/details/alabama-acts-1857-1858/Acts_1857_1858/page/n317/mode/1up |access-date=November 23, 2021 |quote=No. 306. - AN ACT - To change the name of Benton county to Calhoun.}}</ref> Alabama supporters of slavery, objecting to Benton's change of heart, renamed Benton County as '''Calhoun County.'''

During the [[Reconstruction era]] and widespread violence by whites to suppress black and white Republican voting in the state during the campaign for the 1870 gubernatorial election, four blacks and one white were [[Lynching in the United States|lynched]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Shapiro|first=Herbert|title=White Violence and Black Response: From Reconstruction to Montgomery|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SXGn2uPGJ6EC&pg=PA12|year=1988|publisher=U of Massachusetts P|isbn=9780870235788|page=12}}</ref>

After years of controversy and a State Supreme Court ruling in June 1900, the county seat was moved to Anniston. <!-- What were the grounds and issues of the case? -->

The county was hit by an F4 tornado during the [[1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak]] on March 27, 1994. Twelve minutes after the [[National Weather Service]] of [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] issued a tornado warning for northern Calhoun, southeastern Etowah, and southern Cherokee counties, the tornado destroyed [[Piedmont, Alabama|Piedmont]]'s Goshen United Methodist Church.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|612|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|606|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.4|sqmi}} (1.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 22, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Cherokee County, Alabama|Cherokee County]] - northeast
*[[Cleburne County, Alabama|Cleburne County]] - east
*[[Talladega County, Alabama|Talladega County]] - south
*[[St. Clair County, Alabama|St. Clair County]] - west
*[[Etowah County, Alabama|Etowah County]] - northwest

=== National protected areas ===
* [[Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Talladega National Forest]] (part)

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
*[[Image:I-20 (AL).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 20]]
*[[Image:US 78.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 78]]
*[[Image:US 278.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 278]]
*[[Image:US 431.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 431]]
*[[Image:Alabama 9.svg|20px]] [[State Route 9 (Alabama)|State Route 9]]
*[[Image:Alabama 21.svg|20px]] [[State Route 21 (Alabama)|State Route 21]]
*[[Image:Alabama 144.svg|20px]] [[State Route 144 (Alabama)|State Route 144]]
*[[Image:Alabama 200.svg|20px]] [[State Route 200 (Alabama)|State Route 200]]
*[[Image:Alabama 202.svg|21px]] [[State Route 202 (Alabama)|State Route 202]]
*[[Image:Alabama 204.svg|21px]] [[State Route 204 (Alabama)|State Route 204]]
*[[Image:Alabama 301.svg|21px]] [[State Route 301 (Alabama)|State Route 301]]
{{div col end}}

===Rail===
*[[Alabama and Tennessee River Railway]]
*[[Norfolk Southern Railway]]
*[[Amtrak]] (''[[Crescent (train)|Crescent]]'')

===Transit===
*[[Areawide Community Transportation System]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 14260
|1850= 17163
|1860= 21539
|1870= 13980
|1880= 19591
|1890= 33835
|1900= 34874
|1910= 39115
|1920= 47822
|1930= 55611
|1940= 63319
|1950= 79539
|1960= 95878
|1970= 103092
|1980= 119761
|1990= 116034
|2000= 112249
|2010= 118572
|2020= 116441
|estyear=2023
|estimate=116429
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 27, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/al190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 24, 1995|access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Calhoun County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Calhoun County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=050XX00US01015&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Calhoun County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01015&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Calhoun County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01015&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|87,598
|87,285
|style='background: #ffffe6; |79,519
|78.04%
|73.61%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |68.29%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|20,725
|24,177
|style='background: #ffffe6; |23,365
|18.46%
|20.39%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |21.78%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|427
|480
|style='background: #ffffe6; |386
|0.38%
|0.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.33%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|625
|830
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,164
|0.56%
|0.70%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.00%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|74
|94
|style='background: #ffffe6; |112
|0.07%
|0.08%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.10%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|85
|109
|style='background: #ffffe6; |317
|0.08%
|0.09%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|862
|1,704
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,568
|0.86%
|1.44%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.92%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,753
|3,893
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,010
|1.56%
|3.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.30%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''112,249'''
|'''118,572'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''116,441'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 116,441 people, 44,636 households, and 28,975 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=July 9, 2015 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2010, there were 118,572 people, 47,331 households, and 31,609 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|194|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 53,289 housing units at an average density of {{convert|87|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 74.9% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 20.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.7% from two or more races. 3.3% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 47,331 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.2 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,407, and the median income for a family was $49,532. Males had a median income of $41,599 versus $29,756 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $20,574. About 15.2% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Calhoun County contains five [[Public education|public school]] districts. There are approximately 17,000 students in public K-12 schools in Calhoun County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search for Public School Districts - Calhoun County, AL |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_list.asp?Search=1&State=01&County=Calhoun+County |access-date=August 27, 2022 |website=[[National Center for Education Statistics]] |publisher=[[Institute of Education Sciences]]}}</ref> Public school districts are not conterminous with the county boundary.

The county contains two public [[higher education]] institutions. [[Gadsden State Community College]] operates a campus located in [[Anniston, Alabama|Anniston]], and [[Jacksonville State University]], founded in 1883 and with an enrollment of over 9,000 students, is located in [[Jacksonville, Alabama|Jacksonville]].

===Districts===
School districts include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Calhoun County, AL |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01015_calhoun/DC20SD_C01015.pdf |access-date=August 27, 2022 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] }} [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01015_calhoun/DC20SD_C01015_SD2MS.txt Text list].</ref>

* [[Anniston City Schools|Anniston City School District]]
* [[Calhoun County Schools|Calhoun County School District]]
* [[Jacksonville City Schools|Jacksonville City School District]]
* [[Oxford City Schools|Oxford City School District]]
* [[Piedmont City School District]]

==Politics==
The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was [[Jimmy Carter]] in [[1976 United States presidential election in Alabama|1976]]. In [[2016 United States presidential election in Alabama|2016]] and [[2020 United States presidential election in Alabama|2020]], Republican [[Donald Trump]] won more than two-thirds of the county's vote.

{{PresHead|place=Calhoun County, Alabama|source=<ref name="DL">{{cite web|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|access-date=November 15, 2016}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|34,912|13,194|547|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|35,101|15,216|666|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|32,865|13,242|1,757|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|30,278|15,511|575|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|32,348|16,334|560|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|29,814|15,083|352|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|22,306|15,781|822|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|18,088|15,725|3,098|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|20,623|16,453|5,724|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|19,806|12,451|1,711|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|23,291|12,752|2,039|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|17,475|17,017|1,049|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|11,763|20,466|471|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|20,364|5,832|275|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|3,061|4,146|19,568|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|10,635|0|6,210|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|4,821|9,590|125|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|4,473|9,069|358|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|3,064|8,023|106|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|856|0|3,325|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|694|4,308|28|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|645|4,408|18|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|581|4,322|58|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|684|4,392|31|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,537|2,117|1|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|766|1,907|146|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,139|3,423|39|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|442|2,231|54|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|238|1,666|460|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|570|1,438|113|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|287|1,556|90|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|567|1,835|282|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,222|2,788|286|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|218|3,249|1,617|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|938|2,680|10|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|1,066|2,035|5|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|509|1,984|12|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|421|2,040|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1872|Democratic|400|1,764|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|600|1,274|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1860|Southern Democratic|0|54|2,711|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1856|Democratic|0|1,687|443|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1852|Democratic|74|918|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1848|Democratic|566|1,272|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1844|Democratic|373|1,382|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1840|Democratic|482|1,248|0|Alabama}}
{{PresFoot|1836|Democratic|287|637|0|Alabama}}

Calhoun is part of [[Alabama's 3rd congressional district]], which is held by Republican [[Mike D. Rogers]].

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{col div}}
* [[Anniston, Alabama|Anniston]] (County Seat)
* [[Glencoe, Alabama|Glencoe]] (partly in [[Etowah County]])
* [[Jacksonville, Alabama|Jacksonville]]
* [[Oxford, Alabama|Oxford]] (partly in [[Talladega County]] and [[Cleburne County, Alabama|Cleburne County]])
* [[Piedmont, Alabama|Piedmont]] (partly in [[Cherokee County, Alabama|Cherokee County]])
* [[Southside, Alabama|Southside]] (partly in [[Etowah County]])
* [[Weaver, Alabama|Weaver]]{{col div end}}

===Towns===
{{col div}}
* [[Hobson City, Alabama|Hobson City]]
* [[Ohatchee, Alabama|Ohatchee]]{{col div end}}

===Census-designated places===
{{col div}}
* [[Alexandria, Alabama|Alexandria]]
* [[Choccolocco, Alabama|Choccolocco]]
* [[Nances Creek, Alabama|Nances Creek]]
* [[Saks, Alabama|Saks]]
* [[West End-Cobb Town, Alabama|West End-Cobb Town]]
* [[White Plains, Calhoun County, Alabama|White Plains]]{{col div end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Bynum, Alabama|Bynum]]
* [[Chosea Springs, Alabama|Chosea Springs]]
* [[DeArmanville, Alabama|DeArmanville]]
* [[Eastaboga, Alabama|Eastaboga]] (partly in [[Talladega County]])
* [[Iron City, Alabama|Iron City]]
* [[Macon, Alabama|Macon]]
* [[Merrellton, Alabama|Merrellton]]
* [[Peaceburg, Alabama|Peaceburg]]
* [[Possum Trot, Alabama|Possum Trot]]
* [[Wellington, Alabama|Wellington]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
{{col div}}
* [[Minden, Alabama|Minden]]
* [[Tooktocaugee, Alabama|Tooktocaugee]]{{col div end}}

==Places of interest==
Calhoun County is home to [[Jacksonville State University]], the [[Anniston Museum of Natural History]], the Berman Museum of World History, and the [[Coldwater Covered Bridge]]. It also contains a portion of the [[Talladega National Forest]].

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Calhoun County, Alabama]]
*[[Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage by county (Autauga–Choctaw)#Calhoun County|Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Calhoun County, Alabama]]
*[[German Italian Memorial Cemetery]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Calhoun County, Alabama
|North     = 
|Northeast = [[Cherokee County, Alabama|Cherokee County]]
|East      = [[Cleburne County, Alabama|Cleburne County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Talladega County, Alabama|Talladega County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[St. Clair County, Alabama|St. Clair County]]
|Northwest = [[Etowah County, Alabama|Etowah County]]
}} 
{{Calhoun County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama}}

{{coord|33|46|10|N|85|49|15|W|region:US-AL_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Calhoun County, Alabama| ]]
[[Category:1832 establishments in Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1832]]