Editing Walker County, Alabama

{{short description|County in Alabama, United States}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Walker County
 | state                = Alabama
 | seal                 = Seal of Walker County, Alabama.png
 | founded year         = 1823<ref name=aces/>
 | founded date         = December 26
 | seat wl              = Jasper
 | largest city wl      = Jasper
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 805
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 791
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 14
 | area percentage      = 1.7
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 65342
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 64728 {{decrease}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | ex image             = Walker County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Walker County Courthouse in Jasper
 | district             = 4th
 | named for            = [[John Williams Walker]]
 | footnotes            = 
*County Number '''64''' on Alabama Licence Plates
}}

'''Walker County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[Central Alabama|central]] portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alabama]].<ref name="aces">"ACES Walker County Office" (links/history), [[Alabama Cooperative Extension System]] (ACES), 2007, webpage: [http://www.aces.edu/counties/Walker/ ACES-Walker].</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 65,342.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/walkercountyalabama/PST045222|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 14, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Jasper, Alabama|Jasper]].<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 [[John Williams Walker]], the first U.S. [[United States Senate|senator]] elected from Alabama.<ref name=aces/>

Walker County comprises the entirety of the [[Jasper, Alabama|Jasper]], AL [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Walker County was established on December 26, 1823, and formed from sections of Marion and Tuscaloosa counties.<ref name=aces/>
It was named after Senator John Walker, who represented Alabama in the [[U.S. Senate]] from 1819 to 1822.<ref name=aces/> The county was greatly reduced in size on February 12, 1850, when its northern half became the county of Winston.
Jasper is the county seat, and was named after [[William Jasper]], a [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] hero from [[South Carolina]].<ref name=aces/>

===National Register of Historic Places===
Walker County has sites listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. They include the [[Bankhead House (Jasper, Alabama)|Bankhead House]], [[Boshell's Mill]], the [[First United Methodist Church (Jasper, Alabama)|First United Methodist Church of Jasper]], the [[Gilchrist House (Cordova, Alabama)|Gilchrist House]], the [[Jasper Downtown Historic District]], the [[Stephenson House (Oakman, Alabama)|Stephenson House]], and [[Walker County Hospital]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|805|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|791|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|14|sqmi}} (1.7%) 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> The county is located in the [[Cumberland Plateau]] region, with many plateaus and valleys, along with many forested areas, covering the county.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1185 | title=Walker County }}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Winston County, Alabama|Winston County]] (north)
*[[Cullman County, Alabama|Cullman County]] (northeast)
*[[Blount County, Alabama|Blount County]] (east)
*[[Jefferson County, Alabama|Jefferson County]] (southeast)
*[[Tuscaloosa County, Alabama|Tuscaloosa County]] (southwest)
*[[Fayette County, Alabama|Fayette County]] (west)
*[[Marion County, Alabama|Marion County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 2202
|1840= 4032
|1850= 5124
|1860= 7980
|1870= 6543
|1880= 9479
|1890= 16078
|1900= 25162
|1910= 37013
|1920= 50593
|1930= 59445
|1940= 64201
|1950= 63769
|1960= 54211
|1970= 56246
|1980= 68660
|1990= 67670
|2000= 70713
|2010= 67023
|2020= 65342
|estyear=2023
|estimate=64728
|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;"
|+'''Walker 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 – Walker County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=050XX00US01127&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) – Walker County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01127&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) – Walker County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01127&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|64,855
|60,587
|style='background: #ffffe6; |56,394
|91.72%
|90.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |86.31%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|4,323
|3,885
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,889
|6.11%
|5.80%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.95%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|197
|233
|style='background: #ffffe6; |187
|0.28%
|0.35%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.29%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|140
|190
|style='background: #ffffe6; |283
|0.20%
|0.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.43%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|13
|26
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2
|0.02%
|0.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|18
|36
|style='background: #ffffe6; |136
|0.03%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|560
|759
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,299
|0.79%
|1.13%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.52%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|607
|1,307
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,152
|0.86%
|1.95%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.29%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''70,713'''
|'''67,023'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''65,342'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[census]] of 2020, there were 65,342 people, 25,153 households, and 17,410 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 67,023 people, 26,571 households, and 18,741 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|85|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 30,816 housing units at an average density of {{convert|38|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 91.2% White, 5.9% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Nearly 2.0% 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=August 13, 2015|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
There were 26,571 households, 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 52.0% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.8% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49, 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, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% 65 or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

The median household income was $37,191 and the median family income was $45,788. Males had a median income of $43,671 versus $27,662 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,516. About 14.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 70,713 people, 28,364 households, and 20,478 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|89|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 32,417 housing units at an average density of {{convert|41|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 92.15% White, 6.17% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Nearly 0.86% 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>
In 2000 the largest reported ancestry groups in Walker County, AL were:
* [[American ethnicity|American]] 27.7%
* [[Irish American|Irish]] 8.8%
* [[English American|English]] 6.8%
* [[African American]] 6.17%
* [[German American|German]] 3.9%
* [[Scottish American|Scottish]] 1.4%
* [[Scotch-Irish American|Scotch-Irish]] 1.4%

There were 28,364 households, 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 56.30% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 25.30% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46, and the average family size was 2.93.

The age distribution was 23.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.80 males.

The median household income was $29,076 and the median family income was $35,221. Males had a median income of $31,242 versus $20,089 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,546. About 13.20% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Local officials have described coal mining as "literally at the core" of the county's economy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ross |first1=Sean |title=Reed, South spearhead bill into law providing critical support for Alabama's coal counties |url=https://yellowhammernews.com/tuberville-bidens-infrastructure-tax-proposal-really-the-green-new-deal-in-disguise/ |access-date=April 3, 2021 |publisher=Yellowhammer News |date=April 2, 2021}}</ref>

==Politics==
Walker County is a strongly Republican county. The last Democrat to win the county was [[Bill Clinton]] in 1996.
{{PresHead|place=Walker 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|25,464|4,102|220|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|26,002|4,834|334|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|24,266|4,497|709|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|21,651|6,557|377|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|20,722|7,420|510|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|19,167|9,016|184|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|13,486|11,621|534|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|9,837|12,929|2,173|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|11,301|14,831|3,402|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|11,011|11,338|351|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,852|10,591|310|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|8,795|13,616|417|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|7,389|16,232|89|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|14,581|3,724|202|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|2,628|1,971|14,786|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|8,582|0|6,110|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|5,463|8,109|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|5,179|7,661|79|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|3,490|6,862|80|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|1,852|0|4,176|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,241|4,619|47|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,007|5,940|24|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,699|5,697|88|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,583|4,734|54|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|3,635|4,228|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,446|3,351|341|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|4,488|4,703|208|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,860|2,314|127|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|881|2,063|631|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,367|1,632|62|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|1,024|1,639|39|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,699|1,250|43|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,101|1,248|44|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|4|1,583|1,476|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|1,047|1,126|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|643|670|13|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|220|539|53|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|505|799|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1872|Republican|450|420|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|282|289|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1860|Southern Democratic|0|303|549|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1856|Democratic|0|449|146|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1852|Democratic|54|217|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1848|Democratic|231|383|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1844|Democratic|170|442|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1840|Democratic|244|367|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1836|Democratic|76|110|0|Alabama}}
{{PresFoot|1828|Democratic|0|31|0|Alabama}}

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
*[[Image:I-22 (AL).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 22]]
*[[Image:US 78.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 78]]
*[[Image:Alabama 5.svg|20px]] [[State Route 5 (Alabama)|State Route 5]]
*[[Image:Alabama 13.svg|20px]] [[State Route 13 (Alabama)|State Route 13]]
*[[Image:Alabama 18.svg|20px]] [[State Route 18 (Alabama)|State Route 18]]
*[[Image:Alabama 69.svg|20px]] [[State Route 69 (Alabama)|State Route 69]]
*[[Image:Alabama 102.svg|20px]] [[State Route 102 (Alabama)|State Route 102]]
*[[Image:Alabama 118.svg|20px]] [[State Route 118 (Alabama)|State Route 118]]
*[[Image:Alabama 124.svg|20px]] [[State Route 124 (Alabama)|State Route 124]]
*[[Image:Alabama 195.svg|20px]] [[State Route 195 (Alabama)|State Route 195]]
*[[Image:Alabama 257.svg|20px]] [[State Route 257 (Alabama)|State Route 257]]
*[[Image:Alabama 269.svg|20px]] [[State Route 269 (Alabama)|State Route 269]]
{{div col end}}

===Rail===
*[[BNSF Railway]]
*[[Norfolk Southern Railway]]

==Communities==

===Cities===
*[[Carbon Hill, Alabama|Carbon Hill]]
*[[Cordova, Alabama|Cordova]]
*[[Dora, Alabama|Dora]]
*[[Jasper, Alabama|Jasper]] (county seat)
*[[Sumiton, Alabama|Sumiton]] (partly in [[Jefferson County, Alabama|Jefferson County]])

===Towns===
*[[Eldridge, Alabama|Eldridge]]
*[[Kansas, Alabama|Kansas]]
*[[Nauvoo, Alabama|Nauvoo]] (partly in [[Winston County, Alabama|Winston County]])
*[[Oakman, Alabama|Oakman]]
*[[Parrish, Alabama|Parrish]]
*[[Sipsey, Alabama|Sipsey]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
*[[Aldridge, Alabama|Aldridge]]
*[[Argo, Walker County, Alabama|Argo]]
*[[Benoit, Alabama|Benoit]]
*[[Boldo, Alabama|Boldo]]
*[[Burnwell, Alabama|Burnwell]]
*[[Coal Valley, Alabama|Coal Valley]]
*[[Corinth, Walker County, Alabama|Corinth]]
*[[Corona, Alabama|Corona]]
*[[Curry, Walker County, Alabama|Curry]]
*[[Dogtown, Walker County, Alabama|Dogtown]]
*[[Empire, Alabama|Empire]]
*[[Goodsprings, Alabama|Goodsprings]]
*[[Gorgas, Alabama|Gorgas]] (partly in [[Tuscaloosa County, Alabama|Tuscaloosa County]])
*[[Hilliard, Alabama|Hilliard]] 
*[[Lupton, Alabama|Lupton]]
*[[Manchester, Alabama|Manchester]]
*[[McCollum, Alabama|McCollum]]
*[[Mount Hope, Walker County, Alabama|Mount Hope]]
*[[Patton, Alabama|Patton]]
*[[Quinton, Alabama|Quinton]]
*[[Saragossa, Alabama|Saragossa]]
*[[Slicklizzard, Alabama|Slicklizzard]]
*[[Spring Hill, Walker County, Alabama|Spring Hill]]
*[[Townley, Alabama|Townley]]
*[[Union Chapel, Alabama|Union Chapel]]
{{div col end}}

==Places of interest==
Walker County is home to the [[William B. Bankhead National Forest]] and [[Lewis Smith Lake]], in addition to the Alabama Mining Museum.

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

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* Walker County [http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/alabama/counties/walker.jpg map of roads/towns] (map © 2007 [[University of Alabama|Univ. of Alabama]]).

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Walker County, Alabama
|North     = [[Winston County, Alabama|Winston County]]
|Northeast = [[Cullman County, Alabama|Cullman County]]
|East      = [[Blount County, Alabama|Blount County]]
|Southeast = [[Jefferson County, Alabama|Jefferson County]]
|South     = 
|Southwest = [[Tuscaloosa County, Alabama|Tuscaloosa County]]
|West      = [[Fayette County, Alabama|Fayette County]]
|Northwest = [[Marion County, Alabama|Marion County]]
}} 
{{Walker County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama}}

{{coord|33|48|13|N|87|17|52|W|region:US-AL_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Walker County, Alabama| ]]
[[Category:1823 establishments in Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1823]]
[[Category:Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama]]