Barbour County, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbour County
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Barbour County courthouse in Clayton
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Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
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 Alabama's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alabama |
| Founded | December 18, 1832 |
| Named for | James Barbour |
| Seat | Clayton |
| Largest city | Eufaula |
| Area | |
| • Total | 905 sq mi (2,340 km2) |
| • Land | 885 sq mi (2,290 km2) |
| • Water | 20 sq mi (50 km2) 2.2% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 25,223 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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24,585  |
| • Density | 27.871/sq mi (10.761/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
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Barbour County is a county in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,223. Its county seat is Clayton. Its largest city is Eufaula. Its name is in honor of James Barbour, who served as Governor of Virginia.
Contents
History
Barbour County was established on December 18, 1832, from former Muscogee homelands and a portion of Pike County. Between the years of 1763 and 1783 the area which is now Barbour County was part of the colony of British West Florida. After 1783 the region fell under the jurisdiction of the newly created United States of America. The Muscogee Creek Confederacy was removed to territory west of the Mississippi River. The fertile land was developed by southern migrants as large cotton plantations dependent on slave labor. Due to the number of slaves, the population was soon majority black, a proportion that continued for decades. In the 21st century, the population has a slight white majority, but blacks make up more than 46% of the residents, which results in highly competitive politics.
In 1833, Louisville was chosen as the first county seat for Barbour County. The county seat was moved in 1834, after an eleven-member committee selected Clayton because of its central geographic location. Its boundaries were altered in 1866 and 1868. The Election Riot of 1874 occurred near Comer.
By the 1870s, the city of Eufaula had surpassed Clayton in size, sparking debate about whether the county seat should be moved to the county's commercial center or remain at its geographic center. Reaching a compromise, the legislature passed Act No. 106 on February 12, 1879, to establish county courts in both Eufaula and Clayton. Today, two county courthouses continue to operate in Barbour County.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 905 square miles (2,340 km2), of which 885 square miles (2,290 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (2.2%) is water. The county is located within the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 82
U.S. Highway 431
State Route 10
State Route 30
State Route 51
State Route 95
State Route 130
State Route 131
State Route 165
State Route 198
State Route 239
Adjacent counties
- Russell County - northeast
- Quitman County, Georgia - east
- Stewart County, Georgia - east
- Clay County, Georgia - southeast
- Henry County - south
- Dale County - south
- Pike County - west
- Bullock County - northwest
National protected area
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 12,024 | — | |
| 1850 | 23,632 | 96.5% | |
| 1860 | 30,812 | 30.4% | |
| 1870 | 29,309 | −4.9% | |
| 1880 | 33,979 | 15.9% | |
| 1890 | 34,898 | 2.7% | |
| 1900 | 35,152 | 0.7% | |
| 1910 | 32,728 | −6.9% | |
| 1920 | 32,067 | −2.0% | |
| 1930 | 32,425 | 1.1% | |
| 1940 | 32,722 | 0.9% | |
| 1950 | 28,892 | −11.7% | |
| 1960 | 24,700 | −14.5% | |
| 1970 | 22,543 | −8.7% | |
| 1980 | 24,756 | 9.8% | |
| 1990 | 25,417 | 2.7% | |
| 2000 | 29,038 | 14.2% | |
| 2010 | 27,457 | −5.4% | |
| 2020 | 25,223 | −8.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 24,585 | −10.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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2020 Census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 14,788 | 12,837 | 11,086 | 50.93% | 46.75% | 43.95% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 13,369 | 12,820 | 11,850 | 46.04% | 46.69% | 46.98% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 119 | 60 | 58 | 0.41% | 0.22% | 0.23% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 83 | 107 | 103 | 0.29% | 0.39% | 0.41% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 6 | 24 | 0 | 0.02% | 0.09% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 4 | 13 | 63 | 0.01% | 0.05% | 0.25% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 191 | 209 | 553 | 0.66% | 0.76% | 2.19% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 478 | 1,387 | 1,510 | 1.65% | 5.05% | 5.99% |
| Total | 29,038 | 27,457 | 25,223 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,223 people, 9,345 households, and 6,187 families residing in the county.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 27,457 people living in the county. 48.0% were White, 46.9% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.3% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 5.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
Education
Barbour County contains two public school districts. There are approximately 7,100 students in public K-12 schools in Barbour County.
The county contains one public higher education institution. Wallace Community College operates a campus located in Eufaula.
Districts
School districts include:
- Barbour County School District
- Eufaula City School District
Communities
Cities
Towns
- Bakerhill
- Blue Springs
- Clayton (County Seat)
- Louisville
Unincorporated communities
- Batesville
- Elamville
- Spring Hill
Places of interest
Barbour County is home to Lakepoint Resort State Park, Blue Springs State Park, and the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge.
Notable people
Governors from Barbour County
As a center of the planter elite class, Barbour County has produced more Alabama governors than any other county in the state. Six elected governors as well as two acting governors have lived in the county. In 2000, the Barbour County Governors' Trail was established by an act of the Alabama Legislature to honor the eight distinguished men and women who have served as governor from the county.
Marking changes in 20th-century politics, Chauncey Sparks, the Wallaces, and Jere Beasley were not from the planter elite.
| Alabama governors from Barbour County | ||
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| Name | In Office | Hometown |
| John Gill Shorter | 1861–1863 | Eufaula, AL |
| William Dorsey Jelks | 1901–1907 | Eufaula, AL |
| Braxton Bragg Comer | 1907–1911 | Spring Hill, AL |
| Charles S. McDowell | July 10,11, 1924 | Eufaula, AL |
| Chauncey Sparks | 1943–1947 | Eufaula, AL |
| George Corley Wallace | 1963–1967, 1971–1979, 1983–1987 | Clio, AL |
| Jere Beasley | June 5 – July 7, 1972 | Clayton, AL |
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Barbour (Alabama) para niños
