Editing Chambers County, Alabama

{{short description|County in Alabama, United States}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Chambers County
 | state                = Alabama
 | seal                 = 
 | logo                 = Logo of Chambers County, Alabama.png
 | founded year         = 1832
 | founded date         = December 18
 | seat wl              = LaFayette
 | largest city wl      = Valley
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 603
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 597
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 6.6
 | area percentage      = 1.1
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 34772
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 34079 {{decrease}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | website              = {{URL|https://www.chamberscountyal.gov/|chamberscountyal.gov}}
 | ex image             = Chambers County, AL Courthouse (NRHP).JPG
 | ex image cap         = Chambers County Courthouse in LaFayette, 2012
 | district             = 3rd
 | named for            = [[Henry H. Chambers]]
 | footnotes            = 
*County Number '''12''' on Alabama Licence Plates
}}

'''Chambers County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the east central portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alabama]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] the population was 34,772.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/chamberscountyalabama/PST045222|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 13, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[LaFayette, Alabama|LaFayette]]. Its largest city is [[Valley, Alabama|Valley]]. Its name is in honor of [[Henry H. Chambers]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n73 74]}}</ref> who served as a United States [[United States Senate|Senator]] from Alabama.

Chambers County is included in the [[LaGrange, Georgia|LaGrange]], GA-AL [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]] and the [[Atlanta metropolitan area|Atlanta–Athens-Clarke–Sandy Springs Combined Statistical Area]].<ref name="OMB_20130228">{{Cite web |date=2020-03-01 |title=Combined Statistical Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/metroarea/us_wall/Mar2020/CSA_WallMap_Mar2020.pdf |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=United States Census}}</ref>

==History==
Prior to contact with people of European descent, what is now Chambers County was inhabited by the Creek nation.<ref>The Reason for the Tears: A History of Chambers County, Alabama, 1832-1900 page 2</ref>

Chambers County was established on December 18, 1832.

[[Pat Garrett]], the lawman famed for killing outlaw [[Billy the Kid]], was born near the town of Cusseta in 1850.

[[Joe Louis]] "The Brown Bomber", renowned heavyweight boxing champion, was born near LaFayette, on Buckalew Mountain, May 13, 1914.

In 1980, Chambers County joined its four mill villages to make the city of [[Valley, Alabama|Valley]]. Today, it is the largest city in the county.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|603|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|597|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.6|sqmi}} (1.1%) 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>

===Major highways===
*[[Image:I-85 (AL).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 85 in Alabama|Interstate 85]]
*[[Image:US 29.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 29 in Alabama|U.S. Highway 29]]
*[[Image:US 280.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 280 in Alabama|U.S. Highway 280]]
*[[Image:US 431.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 431 in Alabama|U.S. Highway 431]]
*[[Image:Alabama 50.svg|20px]] [[State Route 50 (Alabama)|State Route 50]]
*[[Image:Alabama 77.svg|20px]] [[State Route 77 (Alabama)|State Route 77]]
*[[Image:Alabama 147.svg|20px]] [[State Route 147 (Alabama)|State Route 147]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Randolph County, Alabama|Randolph County]] (north)
*[[Troup County, Georgia]] (east/EST Border)
*[[Harris County, Georgia]] (southeast/EST Border)
*[[Lee County, Alabama|Lee County]] (south)
*[[Tallapoosa County, Alabama|Tallapoosa County]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 17333
|1850= 23960
|1860= 23214
|1870= 17562
|1880= 23440
|1890= 26319
|1900= 32554
|1910= 36056
|1920= 41201
|1930= 39313
|1940= 42146
|1950= 39528
|1960= 37828
|1970= 36356
|1980= 39191
|1990= 36876
|2000= 36583
|2010= 34215
|2020= 34772
|estyear=2023
|estimate=34079
|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|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</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;"
|+'''Chambers County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br /><small>{{nobold|''Note: the U.S. 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 – Chambers County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=050XX00US01017&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 25, 2024}}</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) – Chambers County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01017&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 25, 2024}}</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) – Chambers County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01017&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|22,111
|19,893
|style='background: #ffffe6; |18,616
|60.44%
|58.14%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |53.34%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|13,872
|13,206
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13,441
|37.92%
|38.60%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |38.65%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|49
|57
|style='background: #ffffe6; |71
|0.13%
|0.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.20%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|68
|166
|style='background: #ffffe6; |385
|0.19%
|0.49%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.11%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0
|7
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11
|0.00%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|13
|23
|style='background: #ffffe6; |115
|0.04%
|0.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.33%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|190
|327
|style='background: #ffffe6; |896
|0.52%
|0.96%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.58%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|280
|536
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,237
|0.77%
|1.57%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.56%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''36,583'''
|'''34,215'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''34,772'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 34,772 people, 13,448 households, and 8,553 families residing in the county.

===2010===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 34,215 people, 13,933 households, and 9,391 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|57|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 17,004 housing units at an average density of {{convert|28|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 58.8% [[Race (United States Census)|White (non-Hispanic)]], 38.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 1.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=July 10, 2015 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
Of the 13,933 households 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 29.1% of households were one person and 12.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% 65 or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median household income was $31,467 and the median family income was $39,475. Males had a median income of $34,176 versus $29,140 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,626. About 16.4% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

===2000===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 36,583 people, 14,522 households, and 10,194 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|61|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 16,256 housing units at an average density of {{convert|27|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 56.88% [[Race (United States Census)|White (non-Hispanic)]], 43.11% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 3.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
Of the 14,522 households 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.50% were married couples living together, 17.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.00% of households were one person and 12.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution was 24.60% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.30 males.

The median household income was $29,667 and the median family income was $36,598. Males had a median income of $28,771 versus $21,159 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,147. About 14.30% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.50% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Chambers County contains two [[Public education|public school]] districts. There are approximately 4,350 students in public [[K–12|PK-12]] schools in Chambers County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search for Public School Districts - Chambers County, AL |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_list.asp?Search=1&State=01&County=Chambers+County |access-date=October 2, 2022 |website=[[National Center for Education Statistics]] |publisher=[[Institute of Education Sciences]]}}</ref>

===Districts===
School districts include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Chambers County, AL |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01017_chambers/DC20SD_C01017.pdf |access-date=October 2, 2022 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] }} [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01017_chambers/DC20SD_C01017_SD2MS.txt Text list].</ref>

* [[Chambers County School District]]
* [[Lanett City School District]]

==Government==
Chambers is a Republican-leaning county, although it has a sufficient Black minority to return a respectable Democratic vote. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was [[Jimmy Carter]] in [[1980 United States presidential election in Alabama|1980]], although [[Bill Clinton]] won pluralities in it in both [[1992 United States presidential election in Alabama|1992]] and [[1996 United States presidential election in Alabama|1996]].

{{PresHead|place=Chambers 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=February 20, 2021}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,711|5,405|129|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|8,753|6,365|166|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|7,843|5,784|273|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|7,626|6,871|132|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|8,067|6,799|90|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|7,622|5,347|63|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,037|5,616|181|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|4,707|5,515|875|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|5,682|5,938|1,471|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|7,694|5,103|159|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|8,024|5,302|137|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|4,864|6,649|386|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|5,488|6,164|196|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|8,716|2,076|211|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,082|1,358|8,196|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|4,630|0|2,557|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,865|5,165|71|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,448|5,165|124|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|990|6,155|45|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|218|0|1,549|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|194|3,458|10|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|110|4,141|11|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|112|3,626|4|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|342|2,550|11|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,732|999|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|146|1,922|44|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|322|1,994|14|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|168|1,679|21|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|28|1,486|122|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|50|1,025|29|Alabama}}
{{PresFoot|1904|Democratic|74|1,421|70|Alabama}}

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{col div}}
* [[LaFayette, Alabama|LaFayette]] (County Seat)
* [[Lanett, Alabama|Lanett]]
* [[Valley, Alabama|Valley]]{{col div end}}

===Towns===
{{col div}}
* [[Cusseta, Alabama|Cusseta]]
* [[Five Points, Alabama|Five Points]]
* [[Waverly, Alabama|Waverly]] (Partly in [[Lee County, Alabama|Lee County]]){{col div end}}

===Census-designated places===
{{col div}}
* [[Abanda, Alabama|Abanda]]
* [[Fredonia, Alabama|Fredonia]]
* [[Huguley, Alabama|Huguley]]
* [[Penton, Alabama|Penton]]
* [[Standing Rock, Alabama|Standing Rock]]{{col div end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{col div}}
* [[Milltown, Alabama|Milltown]]
* [[Oak Bowery, Alabama|Oak Bowery]]
* [[Oakland, Chambers County, Alabama|Oakland]]
* [[Red Level, Chambers County, Alabama|Red Level]]
* [[Stroud, Alabama|Stroud]]
* [[Welch, Alabama|Welch]]
* [[White Plains, Chambers County, Alabama|White Plains]]{{col div end}}

===Ghost town===
* [[Cedric, Alabama|Cedric]]

==In popular culture==
Chambers County has been the backdrop of several movies including ''[[Mississippi Burning]]''.

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

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.chamberscountyal.gov/ Official county website]
*[http://www.greatervalleyarea.com Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Chambers County, Alabama
|North     = [[Randolph County, Alabama|Randolph County]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Troup County, Georgia]]
|Southeast = [[Harris County, Georgia]]
|South     = [[Lee County, Alabama|Lee County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Tallapoosa County, Alabama|Tallapoosa County]]
|Northwest = 
}} 
{{Chambers County, Alabama}}
{{Columbus Auburn Opelika}}
{{Alabama}}

{{coord|32|54|N|85|23|W|region:US-AL_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

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