Editing Pike County, Alabama

{{short description|County in Alabama, United States}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Pike County
 | state                = Alabama
 | seal                 = Seal of Pike County, Alabama.png
 | founded year         = 1821
 | founded date         = December 17
 | seat wl              = Troy
 | largest city wl      = Troy
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 673
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 672
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.9
 | area percentage      = 0.1
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 33009
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 33137 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = https://www.pikecommission.com/
 | ex image             = Pike County Alabama Courthouse.JPG
 | ex image cap         = Pike County Courthouse in Troy
 | district             = 2nd
 | named for            = [[Zebulon Pike]]
 | footnotes            = 
*County Number '''55''' on Alabama Licence Plates
}}

'''Pike County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alabama]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] the population was 33,009.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/pikecountyalabama/PST045221|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 13, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Troy, Alabama|Troy]].<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}}</ref> Its name is in honor of General [[Zebulon Pike]], of [[New Jersey]], who led an expedition to southern [[Colorado]] and encountered [[Pikes Peak]] in 1806.

Pike County comprises the Troy, AL [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
The area of present-day Pike County was [[History of Alabama#Indigenous peoples, early history|inhabited by Native Americans]] from prehistoric times. Spain, France, and Great Britain all claimed the area, but except for scattered military outposts like [[Fort Toulouse]] near present-day [[Wetumpka, Alabama|Wetumpka]], European inhabitants were concentrated along the Gulf Coast, with very few settling inland. In 1763, at the close of the [[French and Indian War]], France ceded all the territories of [[New France]] (including what is now Pike County, Spanish claims notwithstanding) to the victorious British. In the same year, the [[Royal Proclamation of 1763]] prohibited British subjects from settling in this area, which was reserved for the native peoples.

[[Image:West Florida Map 1767.svg|thumb|left|A map from 1767 of [[British West Florida]], including the area of present-day Pike County]]

Between the years of 1767 and 1783, the area that is now Pike County was part of the colony of [[British West Florida]], though still with nearly all whites concentrated in the settlements along the coast or near the [[Mississippi River]].<ref>''The Economy of British West Florida, 1763-1783'' by Robin F. A. Fabel (University of Alabama Press, 2002.)</ref>  After the American victory in the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], the British ceded the territory to Spain, an American ally. However, Spain and the United States both claimed the region fell until Spain gave up its claims to the land north of the 31st parallel (present-day border of Alabama and Florida) in the [[Treaty of Madrid (1795)]]. The United States organized the entire region north of that border and east of Georgia as the [[Mississippi Territory]]. In 1812, following the [[Louisiana Purchase]], the United States unilaterally annexed the [[Mobile District]] from [[Spanish West Florida]], most of the rest of which was acqurired with the [[Adams–Onís Treaty]] of 1819 (ratified 1821).

In 1817, the Mississippi Territory was divided, with the western part admitted to the Union as the [[State of Mississippi]]; the remainder was admitted as the [[State of Alabama]] in 1819, and was soon organized into counties. Pike County is one of the oldest in the state, organized on December 17, 1821. The temporary county seat was established at the house of Andrew Townsend. Pike County comprised a large tract of country, so large that it was called the State of Pike, including a part of what are now Crenshaw, Montgomery, Macon, Bullock, and Barbour counties, and extended to the [[Chattahoochee River]] on the east.<ref>{{cite book |title= History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography|last= Owen|first= Thomas McAdory|volume= II|year= 1921|publisher= [[S. J. Clarke Publishing Company]]|location= Chicago |page= 1126}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|673|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|672|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.9|sqmi}} (0.1%) 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:US 29.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 29 in Alabama|U.S. Highway 29]]
*[[Image:US 231.svg|24px]] [[U.S. Route 231 in Alabama|U.S. Highway 231]]
*[[Image:Alabama 10.svg|20px]] [[State Route 10 (Alabama)|State Route 10]]
*[[Image:Alabama 87.svg|20px]] [[State Route 87 (Alabama)|State Route 87]]
*[[Image:Alabama 93.svg|20px]] [[State Route 93 (Alabama)|State Route 93]]
*[[Image:Alabama 125.svg|20px]] [[State Route 125 (Alabama)|State Route 125]]
*[[Image:Alabama 130.svg|20px]] [[State Route 130 (Alabama)|State Route 130]]
*[[Image:Alabama 167.svg|20px]] [[State Route 167 (Alabama)|State Route 167]]
*[[Image:Alabama 201.svg|20px]] [[State Route 201 (Alabama)|State Route 201]]
*[[Image:Alabama 223.svg|20px]] [[State Route 223 (Alabama)|State Route 223]]

===Transit===
*Pike Area Transit System (PATS) provides [[Demand-responsive transport|demand-response]] service.

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Bullock County, Alabama|Bullock County]] (northeast)
*[[Barbour County, Alabama|Barbour County]] (east)
*[[Dale County, Alabama|Dale County]] (southeast)
*[[Coffee County, Alabama|Coffee County]] (south)
*[[Crenshaw County, Alabama|Crenshaw County]] (west)
*[[Montgomery County, Alabama|Montgomery County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 7108
|1840= 10108
|1850= 15920
|1860= 24435
|1870= 17423
|1880= 20640
|1890= 24423
|1900= 29172
|1910= 30815
|1920= 31631
|1930= 32240
|1940= 32493
|1950= 30608
|1960= 25987
|1970= 25038
|1980= 28050
|1990= 27595
|2000= 29605
|2010= 32899
|2020= 33009
|estyear=2023
|estimate=33137
|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;"
|+'''Pike 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 – Pike County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=050XX00US01109&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) – Pike County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01109&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) – Pike County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01109&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|17,790
|18,887
|style='background: #ffffe6; |18,036
|60.09%
|57.41%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |54.64%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|10,766
|11,990
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,068
|36.37%
|36.44%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |36.56%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|190
|185
|style='background: #ffffe6; |169
|0.64%
|0.56%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.51%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|105
|645
|style='background: #ffffe6; |577
|0.35%
|1.96%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.75%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|5
|6
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9
|0.02%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|25
|14
|style='background: #ffffe6; |117
|0.08%
|0.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|359
|442
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,128
|1.21%
|1.34%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.42%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|365
|730
|style='background: #ffffe6; |905
|1.23%
|2.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.74%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''29,605'''
|'''32,899'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''33,009'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 33,009 people, 11,601 households, and 6,422 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 6, 2015|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 32,899 people, 13,210 households, and 7,759 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|49|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 15,267 housing units at an average density of {{convert|22.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 58.2% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 36.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 2.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.0% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.5% from two or more races. 2.2% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 13,210 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.3% under the age of 18, 21.2% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,181, and the median income for a family was $41,570. Males had a median income of $38,605 versus $26,495 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $19,013. About 20.5% of families and 28.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.8% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<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 2000, there were 29,605 people, 11,933 households, and 7,649 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|44|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 13,981 housing units at an average density of {{convert|21|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 60.77% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 36.60% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.66% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.35% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.26% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.35% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 11,933 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.90% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 15.80% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,551, and the median income for a family was $34,132. Males had a median income of $27,094 versus $18,758 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,904. About 18.50% of families and 23.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.90% of those under age 18 and 21.90% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Pike County is a strongly Republican county. The last Democrat to win the county was [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976.
{{PresHead|place=Pike 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 21, 2016}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,224|4,899|111|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|8,042|5,636|163|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|7,693|5,056|419|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|7,963|6,035|125|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|8,004|5,879|72|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|7,483|4,334|66|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,058|4,357|129|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|5,281|4,514|546|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,423|4,688|1,082|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,897|3,813|111|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,231|3,541|181|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,220|4,417|354|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,363|5,387|139|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,690|1,624|108|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|658|1,565|6,118|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|4,373|0|803|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,006|3,421|21|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|997|2,631|211|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|965|2,546|3|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|87|0|1,747|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|90|2,328|61|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|121|3,049|8|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|55|3,100|2|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|52|2,545|2|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|552|1,819|4|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|30|1,832|20|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|204|1,586|12|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|50|1,789|17|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|13|1,293|53|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|39|1,507|19|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|29|1,544|41|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|498|1,413|44|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|862|2,077|335|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|42|2,298|1,455|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|890|2,623|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|783|2,494|25|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|741|2,327|3|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|464|2,111|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1872|Democratic|553|1,841|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|256|1,813|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1860|Southern Democratic|0|84|2,808|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1856|Democratic|0|1,262|1,178|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1852|Democratic|379|703|71|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1848|Whig|935|663|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1844|Whig|862|768|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1840|Whig|653|627|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1836|Whig|313|304|0|Alabama}}
{{PresFoot|1824|Democratic|14|72|12|Alabama}}

==Communities==

===Cities===
*[[Brundidge, Alabama|Brundidge]]
*[[Troy, Alabama|Troy]] (county seat)

===Towns===
*[[Banks, Alabama|Banks]]
*[[Goshen, Alabama|Goshen]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[China Grove, Alabama|China Grove]]
* [[Curry, Pike County, Alabama|Curry]]
* [[Henderson, Alabama|Henderson]]
* [[Jonesville, Alabama|Jonesville]]
* [[Josie, Alabama|Josie]]
* [[Kent, Pike County, Alabama|Kent]]
* [[Needmore, Alabama|Needmore]]
* [[Orion, Alabama|Orion]]
* [[Pronto, Alabama|Pronto]]
* [[Saco, Alabama|Saco]]
* [[Shady Grove, Alabama|Shady Grove]]
* [[Shiloh, Pike County, Alabama|Shiloh]]
* [[Spring Hill, Pike County, Alabama|Spring Hill]]
* [[Tennille, Alabama|Tennille]]

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
*[[Littleton Prince]] (?-1833), white man executed for helping a runaway slave
*[[John Lewis]] (1940–2020), [[African-American]] civil rights leader and U.S. Congressman (1987–2020)

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

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.pikecountychamberofcommerce.memberlodge.com/ Pike County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.pikecountyalsheriff.com/ Pike County Sheriff's Office]
{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Pike County, Alabama
|North     = 
|Northeast = [[Bullock County, Alabama|Bullock County]]
|East      = [[Barbour County, Alabama|Barbour County]]
|Southeast = [[Dale County, Alabama|Dale County]]
|South     = [[Coffee County, Alabama|Coffee County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Crenshaw County, Alabama|Crenshaw County]]
|Northwest = [[Montgomery County, Alabama|Montgomery County]]
}} 
{{Pike County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama}}

{{coord|31|47|57|N|85|56|19|W|region:US-AL_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Pike County, Alabama| ]]
[[Category:1821 establishments in Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1821]]