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Montgomery County, Alabama facts for kids

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Montgomery County
County
Montgomery County Courthouse in Montgomery
Montgomery County Courthouse in Montgomery
Map of Alabama highlighting Montgomery County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Alabama
Founded December 6, 1816
Named for Lemuel P. Montgomery
Seat Montgomery
Largest city Montgomery
Area
 • Total 800 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Land 784 sq mi (2,030 km2)
 • Water 16 sq mi (40 km2)  2.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 228,954
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 224,980 Decrease
 • Density 286/sq mi (110/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 2nd, 7th
  • County Number 03 on Alabama License Plates
  • One of three counties shuffled to the top 3 numbers because of population size
  • Largest County by population not shuffled to top 07 on Alabama License Plates

Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, its population was 228,954, making it the seventh-most populous county in Alabama. Its county seat is Montgomery, the state capital. Montgomery County is included in the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Montgomery County was established by dividing Monroe County on December 6, 1816, by the Mississippi Territorial Legislature. It is named for Lemuel P. Montgomery, a young U.S. Army officer killed at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, the final battle of the Creek Indian war, which was waged concurrently with the War of 1812.

The city of Montgomery, which is the county seat, is named for Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada.

Over much of the 19th century great wealth was derived from the cotton crop, with the Civil War producing a temporary setback. More lasting trouble came in 1914 with the arrival of the boll weevil, which became very destructive to the cotton harvest from 1915 on. By the 1940s county farms earned more from cattle than cotton.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 800 square miles (2,100 km2), of which 784 square miles (2,030 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (2.0%) is water.

Major highways

  • I-65 (AL).svg Interstate 65
  • I-85 (AL).svg Interstate 85
  • I-685 (AL).svg Interstate 685 (future)
  • US 31.svg U.S. Highway 31
  • US 80.svg U.S. Highway 80
  • US 82.svg U.S. Highway 82
  • US 231.svg U.S. Highway 231
  • US 331.svg U.S. Highway 331
  • Alabama 21.svg State Route 21
  • Alabama 94.svg State Route 94
  • Alabama 108.svg State Route 108
  • Alabama 110.svg State Route 110
  • Alabama 126.svg State Route 126
  • Alabama 152.svg State Route 152
  • Alabama 271.svg State Route 271
  • Alabama 293.svg State Route 293

Transit

  • Montgomery Area Transit System

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1820 6,604 —
1830 12,695 92.2%
1840 24,574 93.6%
1850 29,711 20.9%
1860 35,904 20.8%
1870 43,704 21.7%
1880 52,356 19.8%
1890 56,172 7.3%
1900 72,047 28.3%
1910 82,178 14.1%
1920 80,853 −1.6%
1930 98,671 22.0%
1940 114,420 16.0%
1950 138,965 21.5%
1960 169,210 21.8%
1970 167,790 −0.8%
1980 197,038 17.4%
1990 209,085 6.1%
2000 223,510 6.9%
2010 229,363 2.6%
2020 228,954 −0.2%
2023 (est.) 224,980 −1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 Census

Montgomery County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition
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.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 107,858 88,099 73,354 48.26% 38.41% 32.04%
Black or African American alone (NH) 108,146 124,928 129,801 48.39% 54.47% 56.69%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 530 520 364 0.24% 0.23% 0.16%
Asian alone (NH) 2,189 4,792 7,952 0.98% 2.09% 3.47%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 67 84 119 0.03% 0.04% 0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 178 187 722 0.08% 0.08% 0.32%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) 1,877 2,439 5,958 0.84% 1.06% 2.60%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,665 8,314 10,684 1.19% 3.62% 4.67%
Total 223,510 229,363 228,954 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, there were 228,954 people, 93,223 households, and 56,961 families residing in the county. The population density was 291.5 inhabitants per square mile (112.5/km2) There were 105,293 housing units.

2010 census

The 2010 census reported the following county population:

Education

Montgomery Public Schools Headquarters
The Montgomery Public Schools headquarters and Montgomery County Board of Education is located at 307 S. Decatur Street in Montgomery.

Montgomery Public Schools operates public schools serving most of the county. However, Pike Road City School District operates public schools in Pike Road. Additionally Maxwell Air Force Base is zoned to Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools. The DoDEA operates Maxwell Air Force Base Elementary/Middle School. For high school Maxwell AFB residents are zoned to Montgomery Public Schools facilities.

The Montgomery City-County Public Library operates public libraries.

Universities/Colleges include:

  • Huntingdon College
  • Faulkner University
  • Alabama State University
  • Auburn University Montgomery
  • Virginia College
  • Amridge University
  • H. Council Trenholm Tech
  • United States Air War College
  • Troy University Montgomery

Cultural sites

Montgomery County is home to many cultural and historic sites including:

Communities

City

  • Montgomery (county seat and largest municipality)

Town

Unincorporated communities

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Montgomery (Alabama) para niños

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