Colbert County, Alabama

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

File:Colbert County Courthouse Square District Marker.JPG

Colbert County Courthouse Square District Historic Marker, September 2007

Colbert County (Template:IPAc-en)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the county's population was 57,227.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Tuscumbia.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The largest city is Muscle Shoals.

The county is named in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, who were Chickasaw chiefs in the early 19th century in this territory.<ref name="ccweb">Template:Cite web</ref> Ultimately the federal government forced the removal of most of the Chickasaw and other historic tribes from the Southeast.

Colbert County is part of the Florence–Muscle Shoals, AL metropolitan statistical area, also known as "The Shoals".

History

The Chickasaw and Cherokee peoples are the earliest known inhabitants of Colbert County, an area that was part of their territories for hundreds of years. Before they emerged, there were earlier cultures of indigenous peoples who established settlements and seasonal villages for thousands of years in the area.

In the 1810s, settlers began to settle in an area at a crossroads that developed as Leighton, Alabama. Colbert County was originally established during the Reconstruction era after the American Civil War on February 6, 1867. The state legislature split it from Franklin County over political issues. It was abolished eight months later on November 29, 1867<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> by an Alabama constitutional convention. The general assembly on December 29, 1869 authorized an election to determine if the former county residents wanted their county restored. A vote then took place on January 6, 1870. The county was then reestablished by the legislature on February 24, 1870.<ref>Clements, John (1991). Alabama Facts: A Comprehensive Look at Alabama Today County by County. Dallas, Texas: Clements Research H, Inc. p. 303.</ref>

In 1890, the eastern boundary of Colbert County was changed from County Line Road to Town Creek; this resulted in all of the town of Leighton placed within Colbert County.<ref name="ccweb"/>

Colbert County is the location of Ivy Green, the birthplace of noted author and activist Helen Keller.<ref name="ccweb" /> Colbert County includes the cities of Sheffield and Muscle Shoals, where many popular American and British musicians, such as Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones, respectively, recorded music.

Also located in Colbert County is the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard established in 1937.<ref name="hsvt140819">Template:Cite news</ref> Coon dogs were bred and trained for hunting in this region.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (4.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> The county's elevation ranges from 410 feet at the Tennessee River in northwestern Colbert County to 980 feet in southeastern Colbert County at the broadcast facility's tower of WQPR-FM/WFIQ-TV.

National protected area

Natchez Trace Parkway (part)

River

Tennessee River

Major creeks

Bear Creek
Cane Creek
Mulberry Creek
Spring Creek
Town Creek

Waterfalls

Cane Creek Canyon Waterfall
Rainbow Branch Waterfall
Wilson Dam Waterfall

Notable springs

Big Spring at Tuscumbia
Buzzard Roost Spring at Margerum
Chalybeate Spring at Littleville
Milk Springs at Colbert Heights
Shegog Spring at Ford City

Notable mountains

Bald Knob
Coburn Mountain
Colbert Mountain
Hawk Pride Mountain
LaGrange Mountain
Mountain Mills Ridge
Sand Mountain
Underwood Mountain
Wagnon Mountain
Wheeler Mountain

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

Norfolk Southern Railway - freight lines going South, East, and West.<ref name="AL-Railway-Map-2008">Alabama Railway Map Template:Webarchive. 2008. Alabama Department of Transportation. Accessed March 15, 2012.</ref>

Airports

Big River Airpark
Northwest Alabama Regional Airport

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

**Colbert County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	44,470	43,334	43,241	80.88%	79.62%	75.56%
Black or African American alone (NH)	9,096	8,702	9,222	16.54%	15.99%	16.11%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	195	262	222	0.35%	0.48%	0.39%
Asian alone (NH)	127	224	432	0.23%	0.41%	0.75%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	11	14	9	0.02%	0.03%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	30	35	135	0.05%	0.06%	0.24%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	437	764	2,233	0.79%	1.40%	3.90%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	618	1,093	1,732	1.12%	2.01%	3.03%
Total	54,984	54,428	57,227	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 57,227 people, 21,880 households, and 14,797 families residing in the county.

2010 census

According to the 2010 United States census Bureau:

There were 22,461 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,954, and the median income for a family was $39,294. Males had a median income of $32,112 versus $20,107 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,533. About 11.10% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.40% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 54,984 people, 22,461 households, and 16,037 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 24,980 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 78.52% White or European American (non-Hispanic), 16.62% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 1.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Politics

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Education

Colleges

Northwest Shoals Community College

School districts

The following school districts are in the county:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

Colbert County School System

Cherokee Elementary School
Cherokee High School
Colbert County High School
Colbert Heights Elementary School
Colbert Heights High School
Hatton Elementary School
Leighton Elementary School
New Bethel Elementary School

Muscle Shoals City School System

Muscle Shoals High School
Muscle Shoals Middle School
Muscle Shoals Career Academy
Highland Park Elementary School
Howell Graves Preschool
McBride Elementary School
Webster Elementary School

Sheffield City School System

Sheffield High School
Sheffield Junior High School
L.E. Wilson Elementary School
W.A. Threadgill Primary School

Tuscumbia City School System

Deshler High School
Deshler Middle School
Deshler Career Technical Center
G.W. Trenholm Primary School
R.E. Thompson Intermediate School

Parks and Recreation

Alabama Wildlife Refuge Area at Pleasant Site
Avalon Park, Tuscumbia
Buzzard Roost Park, Margerum
Colbert County Park, Pride and Margerum
Highland Park, Tuscumbia
John W. Gattman Park, Muscle Shoals
Colbert Ferry Park, Cherokee
North Alabama State Fair Park, Tuscumbia
Park West, Tuscumbia
Rivermont Park on the Tennessee River, Tuscumbia
Rosetrail Park, Margerum
Spring Park, Tuscumbia
Tenth Avenue Park, Sheffield
Thomas State Wildlife Refuge, Barton
York Terrace Park, Sheffield

Historical Sites and Attractions

Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Tuscumbia
Barton Hall, Cherokee - National Historic Landmarks
Belle Mont Mansion/Plantation
Cane Creek Canyon and Natural Preserve
Colbert County Courthouse Square Historic District, Tuscumbia
Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard of Key-Underwood, Cherokee
F.A.M.E. Recording Studios, Muscle Shoals
Ivy Green - Birthplace of Helen Keller, Tuscumbia
LaGrange College Site and Monument, Leighton
Natchez Trace Parkway
Nitrate Village Number 1 Historic District, Sheffield
Old Railroad Bridge of 1839 on the Tennessee River
Rosenwald School site, Cherokee
Tennessee Valley Art Museum, Tuscumbia
Tuscumbia Railroad Depot Museum
TVA Walking Trails and Recreation Area
Wilson Lock and Dam, Muscle Shoals

Annual Events

Belle Mont Celtic Fest - May
Muscle Shoals Area Street Rods Car Show Festival - May
Recall LaGrange Commemorations - May
North Alabama African Heritage Festival - June
Leighton Juneteenth Celebration - June
Helen Keller Festival - June
W.C. Handy Music Festival - July
Coon Dog Labor Day Celebration - September
"Oka Kapassa" – Return to Cold Water American Indian Festival - September
Annual Christmas Parades of Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Sheffield - December

In popular culture

Colbert County was featured in a three-part comedy feature on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report from November 28–30, 2006.
Colbert County is the setting for the Drive-by Truckers song, "Putting People on the Moon"

Notable People

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Geographic Location Template:Colbert County, Alabama Template:Alabama Template:Authority control Template:Coord