Henry County, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry County
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Henry County Courthouse in Abbeville
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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 13, 1819 |
| Named for | Patrick Henry |
| Seat | Abbeville |
| Largest city | Headland |
| Area | |
| • Total | 568 sq mi (1,470 km2) |
| • Land | 562 sq mi (1,460 km2) |
| • Water | 6.6 sq mi (17 km2) 1.2% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,146 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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17,899  |
| • Density | 30.187/sq mi (11.655/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
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Henry County is a county in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, its population was 17,146. Its county seat is Abbeville. The county was named for Patrick Henry (1736–1799), famous orator and Governor of Virginia.
Henry County is part of the Dothan, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Between 1763 and 1783, the area that is now Henry County, Alabama was under the jurisdiction of the colony of British West Florida. Henry County was established on December 13, 1819 by the Alabama Territorial Legislature. The area was ceded by the Creek Indian Nation in 1814 under the Treaty of Fort Jackson. Henry County was formed before the State of Alabama was organized. The area that includes Henry County had historically been part of the Lower Creek Confederacy. It was occupied for thousands of years before that by varying cultures of indigenous peoples. Abbeville was designated as the county seat in 1833.
Upon formation, Henry County was the largest county within Alabama, composing all or portions of the present counties of Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Houston, and Pike. When the youngest county of Houston was formed in 1903, Henry became the smallest.
After 1814, the colonial settlers' developed Franklin as the first white settlement in the Creek territory. The former river port served Abbeville on the Chattahoochee River. Much of the original Henry County was part of the original Alabama wiregrass region.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 568 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 562 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km2) (1.2%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Alabama by total area.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 431
State Route 10
State Route 27
State Route 95
State Route 134
State Route 173
Adjacent counties
- Barbour County (north)
- Clay County, Georgia (northeast/EST Border)
- Early County, Georgia (southeast/EST Border)
- Houston County (south)
- Dale County (west)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 2,638 | — | |
| 1830 | 4,020 | 52.4% | |
| 1840 | 5,787 | 44.0% | |
| 1850 | 9,019 | 55.8% | |
| 1860 | 14,918 | 65.4% | |
| 1870 | 14,191 | −4.9% | |
| 1880 | 18,761 | 32.2% | |
| 1890 | 24,847 | 32.4% | |
| 1900 | 36,147 | 45.5% | |
| 1910 | 20,943 | −42.1% | |
| 1920 | 21,547 | 2.9% | |
| 1930 | 22,820 | 5.9% | |
| 1940 | 21,912 | −4.0% | |
| 1950 | 18,674 | −14.8% | |
| 1960 | 15,286 | −18.1% | |
| 1970 | 13,254 | −13.3% | |
| 1980 | 15,302 | 15.5% | |
| 1990 | 15,374 | 0.5% | |
| 2000 | 16,310 | 6.1% | |
| 2010 | 17,302 | 6.1% | |
| 2020 | 17,146 | −0.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 17,899 | 3.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 11,842 | 69.07% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,232 | 24.68% |
| Native American | 50 | 0.29% |
| Asian | 73 | 0.43% |
| Other/Mixed | 615 | 3.59% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 334 | 1.95% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,146 people, 6,630 households, and 4,505 families residing in the county.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 17,302 people, 6,994 households, and 4,975 families living in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (11.8/km2). There were 8,891 housing units at an average density of 15.6 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.6% White, 28.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Nearly 2.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 6,994 households 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. Nearly 25.9% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45, and the average family size was 2.92.
The age distribution was 22.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% 65 or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median household income was $38,379 and the median family income was $46,976. Males had a median income of $37,276 versus $26,771 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,716. About 15.0% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
Multiple churches were already in the southern area of the county, including Ramah Church, when Houston County split. In 1876, Ramah Primitive Baptist Church opened in that southern part.
Communities
Cities
- Abbeville (county seat)
- Dothan (partly in Dale County and Houston County)
- Headland
Towns
Unincorporated communities
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Henry (Alabama) para niños
