Editing Winston County, Alabama

{{Short description|County in Alabama, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Winston County
 | state                = Alabama
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1850<ref name=aces/>
 | founded date         = February 12
 | seat wl              = Double Springs
 | largest city wl      = Haleyville
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 632
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 613
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 19
 | area percentage      = 3.0
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 23540
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 23611 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = http://www.winstoncountyalabama.org/
 | ex image             = Winston County Alabama Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Winston County Courthouse in Double Springs
 | district             = 4th
 | named for            = [[John A. Winston]]
 | footnotes            = 
*County number '''67''' on Alabama license plates
*Highest county number in Alabama
*Widely known as "The Free State of Winston."
}}

'''Winston County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alabama]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 23,540.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/winstoncountyalabama/PST045222|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 10, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Double Springs, Alabama|Double Springs]].<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> Known as Hancock County before 1858,<ref name="aces">
   "ACES Winston County Office" (links/history),
   [[Alabama Cooperative Extension System]] (ACES), 2007, webpage: 
   [http://www.aces.edu/counties/Winston/ ACES-Winston].
</ref> the county is named in honor of [[John A. Winston]], the fifteenth [[Governor of Alabama]].

==History==
Winston County was established under the name Hancock County on February 12, 1850, from territory that was formerly part of Walker County (a county directly to the south of Winston County).<ref name=aces/> It was originally named for [[John Hancock]], [[Governor of Massachusetts]] and famous signer of the [[American Declaration of Independence]], with its county seat at Houston. On January 22, 1858, the county was renamed Winston County to honor Alabama Gov. [[John A. Winston]].

During the [[American Civil War]], Winston County gained attention for its opposition to [[secession]], a sentiment so strong that the county is sometimes referred to as the [[Free State of Winston]].<ref>Andrews, Evan; [http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/6-unionist-strongholds-in-the-south-during-the-civil-war ‘6 Unionist Strongholds in the South during the Civil War’]</ref> This area had few slaves and saw little benefit to secession.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coates|first=Ta-Nehisi|date=December 23, 2010|title=The Republic of Winston|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/12/the-republic-of-winston/68457/|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=The Atlantic|language=en}}</ref> The county today plays on its reputation as the "Free State of Winston" to attract tourists. The county's opposition to the Confederacy is briefly mentioned in the novels ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'' and ''[[Addie Pray]].''

In 1883, the county seat was moved from Houston to Double Springs to be near the center of the county, since [[Cullman County, Alabama|Cullman County]] was created from the eastern part of Winston County.<ref>Owen, Thomas McAdory. History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1921</ref>

The [[civil rights|civil-rights]] judge [[Frank Minis Johnson]] of the [[U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit]] was born in [[Delmar, Alabama|Delmar]], in Winston County.

===National Register of Historic Places===
Winston County has four sites listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]: [[Archeological Site No. 1WI50]], [[Feldman's Department Store]], the [[Houston Jail]], and the [[Winston County Courthouse]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|631|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|613|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.9|sqmi}} (3.0%) 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===
*[[Lawrence County, Alabama|Lawrence County]] (north)
*[[Cullman County, Alabama|Cullman County]] (east)
*[[Walker County, Alabama|Walker County]] (south)
*[[Marion County, Alabama|Marion County]] (west)
*[[Franklin County, Alabama|Franklin County]] (northwest)

===National protected area===
* [[William B. Bankhead National Forest]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 1542
|1860= 3576
|1870= 4155
|1880= 4253
|1890= 6552
|1900= 9554
|1910= 12855
|1920= 14378
|1930= 15596
|1940= 18746
|1950= 18250
|1960= 14858
|1970= 16654
|1980= 21953
|1990= 22053
|2000= 24843
|2010= 24484
|2020= 23540
|estyear=2023
|estimate=23611
|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;"
|+'''Winston 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 – Winston County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=050XX00US01133&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) – Winston County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01133&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) – Winston County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01133&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|24,055
|23,237
|style='background: #ffffe6; |21,598
|96.83%
|94.91%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |91.75%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|93
|115
|style='background: #ffffe6; |131
|0.37%
|0.47%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.56%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|107
|139
|style='background: #ffffe6; |83
|0.43%
|0.57%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|30
|59
|style='background: #ffffe6; |58
|0.12%
|0.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.25%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|2
|8
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9
|0.01%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|8
|4
|style='background: #ffffe6; |39
|0.03%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.17%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|176
|283
|style='background: #ffffe6; |807
|0.71%
|1.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.43%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|372
|639
|style='background: #ffffe6; |815
|1.50%
|2.61%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.46%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''24,843'''
|'''24,484'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''23,540'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 23,540 people, 9,592 households, and 6,268 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] there were 24,484 people, 10,163 households, and 7,074 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|40|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 13,469 housing units at an average density of {{convert|22|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 95.6% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Nearly 2.6% 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=August 19, 2015|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
There were 10,163 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. Nearly 27.1% of households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 2.86.

The age distribution was 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.

The median household income was $33,685 and the median family income was $39,784. Males had a median income of $38,074 versus $23,301 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,055. 15.4% of the population and 20.6% of families were below the [[poverty line]]. 31.4% of those under the age of 18 and 14.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

===2000 Census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]] there were 24,843 people, 10,107 households, and 7,287 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|40|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 12,502 housing units at an average density of {{convert|20|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 97.32% White, 0.038% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Nearly 1.5% 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>
There were 10,107 households, 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. Nearly 25.6% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median household income was $28,435 and the median family income was $32,628. Males had a median income of $26,206 versus $17,760 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,738. 17.1% of the population and 12.9% of families were below the [[poverty line]].   21.8% of those under the age of 18 and 23% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

===Religion===
At the [[Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies|2010 US Religion Census]]:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/c/01/rcms2010_01133_county_adh_2010.asp|title=Winston County, Alabama|publisher=The Association of Religion|access-date=March 22, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Southern Baptist Convention]] (11,113)
* [[The United Methodist Church]] (1,117)
* [[Churches of Christ]] (978)
* [[Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)|Church of God]] (Cleveland) (784)
* [[Assemblies of God]] (295)
* [[Catholic Church]] (223)

==Politics==
Unlike nearly every other county in the [[Deep South]], and in keeping with [[Republic of Winston|its history]] during the [[American Civil War]], Winston County has always been a bastion of support for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], even as the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] utterly dominated Alabama state politics from the end of [[Reconstruction Era|Reconstruction]] until the passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. For example, in four consecutive presidential elections from [[1936 United States presidential election|1936]] to [[1948 United States presidential election in Alabama|1948]], Winston County was the only county in the state to vote for the Republican ticket, and one of just 2 in the Deep South to vote Republican in all four of those elections, that county being [[Fannin County, Georgia|Fannin County]] in Georgia.<ref>See [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/1936prescountymap2.PNG 1936 election map by county.]</ref> In 1932, the county backed Democrat [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] by just a single vote, even while Roosevelt carried the state as a whole overwhelmingly. And in 1912, Winston County joined just three other Alabama counties in voting for the [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Bull Moose Party]] candidacy of [[Theodore Roosevelt]].<ref>[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/1912prescountymap.PNG 1912 election map by county.]</ref> The county also voted for Populist candidate [[James B. Weaver]] in 1892.<ref name="Political">The Political Graveyard; [http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/AL/WI-votes.html Winston County, Alabama]</ref>

The only Democrat to win the county since 1936 (or to get a majority in it since 1880) has been [[Jimmy Carter]] in [[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1976|1976]], and in recent times Winston County has become comparably Republican to the [[Texas Panhandle]].<ref name="Political"/> Winston County did vote for George Wallace in 1968, who was the Democratic candidate in the state. Winston was the only county in Alabama to give a majority of its votes to Republican candidate [[Thomas E. Dewey]] in [[1948 United States presidential election in Alabama|1948]] over Dixiecrat [[Strom Thurmond]]. In [[United States presidential election in Alabama, 2020|2020]], Republican [[Donald Trump]] won just over 90% of the vote in Winston County, the best for any candidate in the county's history.

{{PresHead|place=Winston 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|10,191|884|74|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|10,195|974|115|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|9,228|872|213|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|8,312|1,286|130|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|8,103|1,757|171|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|8,130|2,236|57|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,413|2,692|213|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,728|3,120|779|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,550|3,415|1,124|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|6,235|2,954|36|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,845|2,624|9|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,981|3,368|87|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,710|4,134|24|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,971|779|21|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|2,174|258|3,095|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|3,438|0|1,391|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,421|1,681|3|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,998|1,570|2|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,017|1,390|9|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,588|0|880|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,538|912|10|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,686|1,394|11|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|1,428|1,270|8|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,005|1,006|8|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,085|659|1|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,096|650|50|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,307|1,037|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,107|727|13|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|292|508|900|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|949|443|12|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|789|602|38|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|519|539|29|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|589|349|11|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|2|526|568|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|323|220|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|184|131|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|126|149|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1876|Republican|454|237|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1872|Republican|433|105|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1868|Republican|284|39|0|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1860|Southern Democratic|0|147|243|Alabama}}
{{PresRow|1856|Democratic|0|221|14|Alabama}}
{{PresFoot|1852|Democratic|9|65|0|Alabama}}

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
*[[File:US 278.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 278]]
*[[File:Alabama 5.svg|20px]] [[State Route 5 (Alabama)|State Route 5]]
*[[File:Alabama 13.svg|20px]] [[State Route 13 (Alabama)|State Route 13]]
*[[File:Alabama 33.svg|20px]] [[State Route 33 (Alabama)|State Route 33]]
*[[File:Alabama 129.svg|20px]] [[State Route 129 (Alabama)|State Route 129]]
*[[File:Alabama 195.svg|20px]] [[State Route 195 (Alabama)|State Route 195]]
*[[File:Alabama 243.svg|20px]] [[State Route 243 (Alabama)|State Route 243]]

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

==Communities==

===City===
*[[Haleyville, Alabama|Haleyville]] (partly in [[Marion County, Alabama|Marion County]])

===Towns===
*[[Addison, Alabama|Addison]]
*[[Arley, Alabama|Arley]]
*[[Double Springs, Alabama|Double Springs]] (county seat)
*[[Lynn, Alabama|Lynn]]
*[[Natural Bridge, Alabama|Natural Bridge]]
*[[Nauvoo, Alabama|Nauvoo]] (partly in [[Walker County, Alabama|Walker County]])

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Boar Tush, Alabama|Boar Tush]]
* [[Delmar, Alabama|Delmar]]
* [[Glen Mary, Alabama|Glen Mary]]
* [[Houston, Alabama|Houston]]
* [[Posey Field, Alabama|Posey Field]]

===Ghost towns===
* [[Batts Nest, Alabama|Batts Nest]]
* [[Corinth, Winston County, Alabama|Corinth]]

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Alabama#Winston County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Winston County, Alabama]]
*[[Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage by county (Pickens–Winston)#Winston County|Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Winston County, Alabama]]
*[[Fannin County, Georgia]], a county with a very similar history to Winston County.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Winston County, Alabama}}
* Winston County is covered by the [http://www.mynwapaper.com/ Northwest Alabamian Newspaper].
* Winston County [http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/alabama/counties/winston.jpg map of roads/towns] (map © 2007 [[University of Alabama|Univ. of Alabama]]).
* Winston County, Alabama: The Free State of Winston [http://www.freestateofwinston.org]
* [http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1296 Winston County article in the Encyclopedia of Alabama]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Winston County, Alabama
|North     = [[Lawrence County, Alabama|Lawrence County]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Cullman County, Alabama|Cullman County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Walker County, Alabama|Walker County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Marion County, Alabama|Marion County]]
|Northwest = [[Franklin County, Alabama|Franklin County]]
}} 
{{Winston County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|34|08|57|N|87|22|29|W|region:US-AL_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Winston County, Alabama| ]]
[[Category:1850 establishments in Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1850]]