Henry County, Alabama: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|County in Alabama, United States}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}} |
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}} |
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{{Infobox U.S. county |
{{Infobox U.S. county |
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| county = Henry County |
| county = Henry County |
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| state = Alabama |
| state = Alabama |
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| seal = Seal of Henry County, Alabama.png |
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| seal = |
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| founded year = 1819 |
| founded year = 1819 |
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| founded date = December 13 |
| founded date = December 13 |
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| seat wl = Abbeville |
| seat wl = Abbeville |
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| largest city wl = Headland |
| largest city wl = Headland |
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| area_total_sq_mi = 568 |
| area_total_sq_mi = 568 |
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| area_land_sq_mi = 562 |
| area_land_sq_mi = 562 |
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| area_water_sq_mi = 6.6 |
| area_water_sq_mi = 6.6 |
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| area percentage = 1.2 |
| area percentage = 1.2 |
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| population_as_of = |
| population_as_of = 2020 |
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| population_total = |
| population_total = 17146 |
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| pop_est_as_of = |
| pop_est_as_of = 2023 |
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| population_est = |
| population_est = 17899 {{increase}} |
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| population_density_sq_mi = auto |
| population_density_sq_mi = auto |
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| time zone = Central |
| time zone = Central |
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| ex image = Henry County, Alabama Courthouse.JPG |
| ex image = Henry County, Alabama Courthouse.JPG |
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| ex image cap = Henry County Courthouse in Abbeville |
| ex image cap = Henry County Courthouse in Abbeville |
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| web = http://www.henrycountyal.com/ |
| web = http://www.henrycountyal.com/ |
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| district = 2nd |
| district = 2nd |
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| named for = [[Patrick Henry]] |
| named for = [[Patrick Henry]] |
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| footnotes = |
| footnotes = |
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*County Number '''37''' on Alabama Licence Plates |
*County Number '''37''' on Alabama Licence Plates |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Henry County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the southeastern part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alabama]]. As of the [[ |
'''Henry County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[Southeast Alabama|southeastern]] part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alabama]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 17,146.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/henrycountyalabama/PST045222|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 10, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Abbeville, Alabama|Abbeville]].<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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The county was named for [[Patrick Henry]] (1736–1799), famous [[orator]] and [[Governor of Virginia]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n154 155]}}</ref> |
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Henry County is part of the [[Dothan, Alabama|Dothan]], AL [[Dothan, Alabama metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. |
Henry County is part of the [[Dothan, Alabama|Dothan]], AL [[Dothan, Alabama metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The area that includes Henry County had historically been |
The area that includes Henry County had historically been occupied by people of the Lower Creek Confederacy, who now prefer to be known as the Muscogee. It was occupied for thousands of years before that by varying cultures of [[indigenous peoples]] who settled primarily along the waterways. |
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This area was colonized by various European powers, including France and Spain. After Great Britain defeated France in the [[Seven Years' War]], it took over this area. Between 1763 and 1783, the area that is now Henry County, Alabama was under the jurisdiction of the colony of [[British West Florida]]. |
This area was colonized by various European powers, including France and Spain. After Great Britain defeated France in the [[Seven Years' War]], it took over this area. Between 1763 and 1783, the area that is now Henry County, Alabama was under the jurisdiction of the colony of [[British West Florida]]. The United States acquired it from Britain after gaining independence in the [[American Revolutionary War]]. |
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After 1814, the territorial settlers developed Franklin as the first |
After 1814, the territorial settlers developed Franklin as the first European-American settlement in Muscogee/Creek territory. The former river port served Abbeville on the [[Chattahoochee River]]. Much of Henry County was within the Alabama [[wiregrass region]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Marvin |title=Mrs. |url=http://algw.org/henry/towns/franklin.htm |website=Alabama Genealogy Web |access-date=July 27, 2018}}</ref> |
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Henry County was established on December 13, 1819, by the [[Alabama Territory|Alabama Territorial Legislature]]. The area was ceded by the [[Muscogee people|Creek Indian Nation]] in 1814 under the [[Treaty of Fort Jackson]]. Henry County was formed before [[State of Alabama|Alabama]] was organized as a state. [[Abbeville, Alabama|Abbeville]] was designated as the [[county seat]] in 1833. |
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Henry County was established on December 13, 1819 by the [[Alabama Territory|Alabama Territorial Legislature]]. The area was ceded by the [[Muscogee people|Creek Indian Nation]] in 1814 under the [[Treaty of Fort Jackson]]. Henry County was formed before the [[State of Alabama|Alabama]] was organized as a state. [[Abbeville, Alabama|Abbeville]] was designated as the [[county seat]] in 1833. |
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Henry County has been called "The Cradle of the Wiregrass". She is The Mother of nine other counties. When the county was formed December 1819, it was the largest county by area within Alabama and encompassed a vast land area that now includes the Southeast Alabama Wiregrass Region and beyond. As population increased in the region, areas of it were taken to organize the present counties of [[Barbour County, Alabama|Barbour]], [[Coffee County, Alabama|Coffee]], [[Covington County, Alabama|Covington]], [[Crenshaw County, Alabama|Crenshaw]], [[Dale County, Alabama|Dale]], [[Geneva County, Alabama|Geneva]], [[Houston County, Alabama|Houston]], and [[Pike County, Alabama|Pike]]. |
Henry County has been called "The Cradle of the Wiregrass". She is The Mother of nine other counties. When the county was formed December 1819, it was the largest county by area within Alabama and encompassed a vast land area that now includes the Southeast Alabama Wiregrass Region and beyond. As population increased in the region, areas of it were taken to organize the present counties of [[Barbour County, Alabama|Barbour]], [[Coffee County, Alabama|Coffee]], [[Covington County, Alabama|Covington]], [[Crenshaw County, Alabama|Crenshaw]], [[Dale County, Alabama|Dale]], [[Geneva County, Alabama|Geneva]], [[Houston County, Alabama|Houston]], and [[Pike County, Alabama|Pike]]. |
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* December 7, 1821 - The first two counties created, in part, from Old Henry were Covington and Pike counties. |
* December 7, 1821 - The first two counties created, in part, from Old Henry were Covington and Pike counties. |
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* December 29, 1824 - The third county was Dale which was carved, in whole, from Old Henry. |
* December 29, 1824 - The third county was Dale which was carved, in whole, from Old Henry. |
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* December 18, 1832 - The fourth county to be created |
* December 18, 1832 - The fourth county to be created was Barbour County which was formed, in part, from Pike County. When Barbour County was created, Henry County gained a small parcel of land from the White Oak Creek area. |
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* December 29, 1841 - The fifth county to be created |
* December 29, 1841 - The fifth county to be created was Coffee County, which was formed in part from Dale County. |
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* December 6, 1866 - The sixth was Bullock County which was created with the southern tip of the county indirectly coming from Old Henry. |
* December 6, 1866 - The sixth was Bullock County, which was created with the southern tip of the county indirectly coming from Old Henry. |
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* December 24, 1866 - The seventh county to be created |
* December 24, 1866 - The seventh county to be created was Crenshaw County which was formed, in part, from Coffee, Covington and Pike counties. |
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* December 28, 1868 - The eighth county to be created |
* December 28, 1868 - The eighth county to be created was Geneva County which was formed, in part, from Henry, Dale and Coffee counties. |
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* February 9, 1903 - The last county was Houston County |
* February 9, 1903 - The last county was Houston County; 72% of its land area was carved from Henry. The balance came from Dale and Geneva counties. |
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[[File:Henry county timeline.gif|alt=timeline of henry county, |
[[File:Henry county timeline.gif|alt=timeline of henry county, Alabama map|thumb]] |
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After Houston County was formed in 1903, Henry County had become the smallest in geographic area. |
After Houston County was formed in 1903, Henry County had become the smallest in geographic area. |
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This rural county was developed for agriculture and planters |
This rural county was developed for agriculture, and planters held many slaves. After Reconstruction, conservative Democratic Party whites regained power in the state legislature and passed [[Jim Crow]] laws to suppress African Americans. They also used intimidation and violence to discourage voting, as the [[freedmen]] allied with the Republican Party, which they credited with achieving their emancipation and granting of the franchise. |
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From 1877 to 1950, whites lynched 13 African Americans in the county, most in the decades on either side of the turn of the 20th century.<ref name="lynching">[https://eji.org/sites/default/files/lynching-in-america-third-edition-summary.pdf ''Lynching in America''/ ''Supplement: Lynchings by County, 3rd edition''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023063004/https://eji.org/sites/default/files/lynching-in-america-third-edition-summary.pdf |date=October 23, 2017 }}, Montgomery, Alabama: Equal Justice Initiative, 2015, p. 2</ref> Henry County is among the 805 counties where lynchings took place that is memorialized in the new [[National Memorial for Peace and Justice]], which opened in April 2018 in [[Montgomery, Alabama]].<ref name="cbs">[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/inside-the-memorial-to-victims-of-lynching-60-minutes-oprah-winfrey/ Oprah Winfrey, "Inside the memorial to victims of lynching"], ''[[60 Minutes]]'', April 8, 2018; accessed April 11, 2018</ref> |
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Mechanization and other changes resulted in population losses, especially from 1940 to 1970, as many African Americans left in the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]], seeking to escape the oppression of Jim Crow and gain work in northern, midwestern and western industrial cities. |
Mechanization and other changes resulted in population losses, especially from 1940 to 1970, as many African Americans left in the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]], seeking to escape the oppression of Jim Crow and gain work in northern, midwestern and western industrial cities. |
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==Geography== |
==Geography== |
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According to the [[ |
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|568|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|562|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.6|sqmi}} (1.2%) 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> The county is located in the [[Wiregrass Region|Wiregrass region]] of southeast Alabama. |
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It is the fourth-smallest county in Alabama by total area. |
It is the fourth-smallest county in Alabama by total area. |
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|2000= 16310 |
|2000= 16310 |
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|2010= 17302 |
|2010= 17302 |
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|2020= 17146 |
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|estyear=2018 |
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|estyear=2023 |
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|estimate=17209 |
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|estimate=17899 |
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|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2018.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|accessdate=May 17, 2019}}</ref> |
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|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> |
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|align-fn=center |
|align-fn=center |
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|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/ |
|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|df=mdy-all}}</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"/> |
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}} |
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===2020 Census=== |
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As of the census<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=May 14, 2011|title=American FactFinder}}</ref> of 2000, there were 16,310 people, 6,525 households, and 4,730 families living in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 8,037 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (6/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the county was 65.67% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 32.30% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.21% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.00% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.74% from two or more races. Nearly 1.53% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. |
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
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|+'''Henry 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> |
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!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small> |
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!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Henry County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=050XX00US01067&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> |
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!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) – Henry County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01067&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> |
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!{{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) – Henry County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US01067&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> |
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!% 2000 |
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!% 2010 |
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!{{partial|% 2020}} |
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|- |
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|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH) |
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|10,647 |
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|11,731 |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |11,842 |
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|65.28% |
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|67.80% |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |69.07% |
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|- |
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|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH) |
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|5,247 |
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|4,915 |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,232 |
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|32.17% |
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|28.41% |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |24.68% |
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|- |
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|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH) |
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|33 |
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|54 |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |50 |
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|0.20% |
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|0.31% |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.29% |
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|- |
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|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH) |
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|10 |
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|45 |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |73 |
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|0.06% |
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|0.26% |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.43% |
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|- |
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|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH) |
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|1 |
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|2 |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |
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|0.01% |
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|0.01% |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |
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|- |
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|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH) |
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|4 |
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|5 |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |49 |
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|0.02% |
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|0.03% |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.29% |
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|- |
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|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH) |
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|119 |
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|161 |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |566 |
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|0.73% |
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|0.93% |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.30% |
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|- |
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|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race) |
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|249 |
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|389 |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |334 |
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|1.53% |
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|2.25% |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.95% |
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|- |
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|'''Total''' |
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|'''16,310''' |
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|'''17,302''' |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''17,146''' |
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|'''100.00%''' |
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|'''100.00%''' |
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|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |
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|} |
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As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 17,146 people, 6,630 households, and 4,505 families residing in the county. |
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There were 6,525 households out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. Nearly 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47, and the average family size was 2.95. |
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===2010 census=== |
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In the county, the population was spread out with 24.10% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.20 males. |
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As of the census<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 24, 2015|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 17,302 people, 6,994 households, and 4,975 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|31|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 8,891 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|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. |
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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. |
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The median income for a household in the county was $30,353, and the median income for a family was $36,555. Males had a median income of $29,189 versus $20,827 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,681. About 14.50% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.00% of those under age 18 and 20.60% of those age 65 or over. |
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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. |
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===2010 census=== |
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As of the census<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2015-07-24|title=American FactFinder}}</ref> 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/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 8,891 housing units at an average density of 15.6 per square mile (6/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the county was 68.6% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 28.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.2% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.0% from two or more races. Nearly 2.2% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. |
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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. |
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There were 6,994 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45, and the average family size was 2.92. |
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===2000 census=== |
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In the county, the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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. |
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As of the census<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> of 2000, there were 16,310 people, 6,525 households, and 4,730 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|29|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 8,037 housing units at an average density of {{convert|14|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 65.67% White, 32.30% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Nearly 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. |
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Of the 6,525 households 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. Nearly 25.30% of households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47, and the average family size was 2.95. |
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The median income for a household in the county was $38,379, and the median income for a family 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. |
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The age distribution was 24.10% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.20 males. |
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The median household income was $30,353 and the median family income was $36,555. Males had a median income of $29,189 versus $20,827 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,681. About 14.50% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.00% of those under age 18 and 20.60% of those age 65 or over. |
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==Government== |
==Government== |
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Henry is |
Henry County is a predominately Republican county. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was favorite son [[Jimmy Carter]] of Georgia in [[1980 United States presidential election in Alabama|1980]]. [[Bill Clinton]] came within 63 votes of carrying the county in [[1996 United States presidential election in Alabama|1996]]. The electorate has become more polarized in recent times, with [[Joe Biden]] winning less than thirty percent in [[2020 United States presidential election in Alabama|2020]]. |
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Rural conservative whites had left the Democratic Party following its support of civil rights laws and the movement in the 1960s; many disagreed with its socially liberal positions. Through the late 20th century, conservative whites shifted to the Republican Party. The political affiliations are strongly associated with ethnicity, as African Americans favor the Democratic Party but are a minority in the county.<ref>Cohn, Nate; [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/upshot/southern-whites-loyalty-to-gop-nearing-that-of-blacks-to-democrats.html 'Demographic Shift: Southern Whites' Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats'], ''[[New York Times]]'', April 24, 2014</ref> |
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Except for giving [[Warren G. Harding]] and [[Herbert Hoover]] over forty percent of the vote in 1920 and 1928, Henry was before the 1960s Civil Rights legislation a typical "[[Solid South]]" county. [[Barry Goldwater]] was the first Republican to carry it in 1964. Nevertheless, in 1968 Henry was fellow Republican [[Richard Nixon]]'s ''worst'' county in the entire nation:<ref>Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/stats.php?year=1968&f=0&off=0&elect=0 1968 Presidential Election Statistics]</ref> indeed Nixon's mere 1.59 percent of the county's vote against Yellowhammer State governor [[George Wallace]] in 1968 has not been undercut in any county by a major party candidate since. |
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During the long period of African-American disenfranchisement in the 20th century, the conservative whites of Henry continued their well-established tradition of voting for Democratic candidates, and kept it as part of the "[[Solid South]]". They did vote for Republicans [[Warren G. Harding]] and [[Herbert Hoover]] in [[1920 United States presidential election in Alabama|1920]] and [[1928 United States presidential election in Alabama|1928]], respectively, giving them more than forty percent of the vote. In [[1964 United States presidential election in Alabama|1964]], [[Barry Goldwater]] was the first Republican candidate to carry the county as whites began to shift their alliances. |
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{{Hidden begin |
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|titlestyle = background:#ccccff; |
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In [[1968 United States presidential election in Alabama|1968]], Henry County voted for the independent candidate, Alabama governor [[George Wallace]], giving Republican [[Richard Nixon]] only 1.59 percent of the county's vote.<ref>Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/stats.php?year=1968&f=0&off=0&elect=0 1968 Presidential Election Statistics]</ref> |
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|title = Presidential elections results |
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}} |
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Henry County elected Democrat [[Dexter Grimsley]] to represent it in the [[Alabama House of Representatives]]. |
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{| class="wikitable" class="toccolours" style="float:right; margin:1em 0 1em 1em; font-size:95%;" |
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|+ '''Henry County vote<br /> by party in presidential elections <ref name="DL">{{cite web|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|accessdate=November 16, 2016}}</ref>''' |
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{{PresHead|place=Henry County, Alabama|whig=no|source1=<ref name="DL">{{cite web|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|access-date=November 16, 2016}}</ref>}} |
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|- |
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<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> |
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! Year |
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{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,607|2,606|85|Alabama}} |
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![[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] |
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{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,632|2,292|148|Alabama}} |
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![[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem]] |
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{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,628|3,083|55|Alabama}} |
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!Others |
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{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,585|3,018|45|Alabama}} |
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|- |
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{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,881|2,452|28|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 2016|2016]]''' |
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{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,054|2,782|96|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''69.8%''' ''5,632'' |
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{{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,082|3,019|536|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|28.4% ''2,292'' |
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{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,970|2,804|725|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.8% ''148'' |
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{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,613|2,206|25|Alabama}} |
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|- |
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{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,952|2,231|56|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 2012|2012]]''' |
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{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|2,813|2,973|93|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.2%''' ''5,628'' |
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{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,052|3,144|38|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.2% ''3,083'' |
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{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,414|853|24|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.6% ''55'' |
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{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|84|955|4,253|Alabama}} |
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|- |
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{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,896|0|589|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 2008|2008]]''' |
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{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|588|2,115|11|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.6%''' ''5,585'' |
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{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|429|2,127|157|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.9% ''3,018'' |
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{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|421|1,966|5|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.5% ''45'' |
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{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|47|0|1,041|Alabama}} |
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|- |
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{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|46|1,635|2|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 2004|2004]]''' |
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{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|69|1,960|2|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''66.3%''' ''4,881'' |
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{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|35|1,925|3|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.3% ''2,452'' |
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{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|42|1,741|4|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.4% ''28'' |
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{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|796|815|2|Alabama}} |
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|- |
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{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|179|816|40|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 2000|2000]]''' |
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{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|489|715|1|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.5%''' ''4,054'' |
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{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|141|860|32|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.1% ''2,782'' |
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{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|47|711|179|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.4% ''96'' |
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{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|79|723|88|Alabama}} |
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|- |
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{{PresFoot|1904|Democratic|104|701|106|Alabama}} |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1996|1996]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''46.4%''' ''3,082'' |
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==Religion== |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.5% ''3,019'' |
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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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=T. Larry|title=Cottonwood's Ramah Baptist Church Est. in Henry|newspaper=[[The Abbeville Herald]]|date=2008-07-24|page=7}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92238908/for-henry-county/ Clipping] from [[Newspapers.com]].</ref> |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|8.1% ''536'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1992|1992]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''45.7%''' ''2,970'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.2% ''2,804'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|11.2% ''725'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1988|1988]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''61.8%''' ''3,613'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.8% ''2,206'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.4% ''25'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1984|1984]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''63.3%''' ''3,952'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.8% ''2,231'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.9% ''56'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1980|1980]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.9% ''2,813'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.6%''' ''2,973'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.6% ''93'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1976|1976]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.2% ''2,052'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''60.1%''' ''3,144'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.7% ''38'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1972|1972]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''79.6%''' ''3,414'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|19.9% ''853'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.6% ''24'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/American Independent}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1968|1968]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1.6% ''84'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|18.1% ''955'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|'''80.4%''' ''4,253'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1964|1964]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''83.1%''' ''2,896'' |
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| |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|16.9% ''589'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1960|1960]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|21.7% ''588'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''77.9%''' ''2,115'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.4% ''11'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1956|1956]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|15.8% ''429'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''78.4%''' ''2,127'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|5.8% ''157'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1952 United States presidential election|1952]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|17.6% ''421'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''82.2%''' ''1,966'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.2% ''5'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Dixiecrat}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1948|1948]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|4.3% ''47'' |
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| |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|'''95.7%''' ''1,041'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1944 United States presidential election|1944]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|2.7% ''46'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''97.2%''' ''1,635'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.1% ''2'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1940 United States presidential election|1940]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|3.4% ''69'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''96.5%''' ''1,960'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.1% ''2'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1936 United States presidential election|1936]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1.8% ''35'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''98.1%''' ''1,925'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.2% ''3'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1932 United States presidential election|1932]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|2.4% ''42'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''97.4%''' ''1,741'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.2% ''4'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1928|1928]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|49.4% ''796'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.5%''' ''815'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.1% ''2'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1924 United States presidential election|1924]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|17.3% ''179'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''78.8%''' ''816'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|3.9% ''40'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Alabama, 1920|1920]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.6% ''489'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.3%''' ''715'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.1% ''1'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1916 United States presidential election|1916]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|13.7% ''141'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''83.3%''' ''860'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|3.1% ''32'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1912 United States presidential election|1912]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|5.0% ''47'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''75.9%''' ''711'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|19.1% ''179'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1908 United States presidential election|1908]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|8.9% ''79'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''81.2%''' ''723'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|9.9% ''88'' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1904 United States presidential election|1904]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|11.4% ''104'' |
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| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''77.0%''' ''701'' |
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| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|11.6% ''106'' |
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|} |
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{{Hidden end}} |
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==Communities== |
==Communities== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{ |
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://hchg.org/ Henry County Historical Group] |
* [http://hchg.org/ Henry County Historical Group] |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060621091340/http://www.rootsweb.com/~alhenry2/historyhenry.html History of Henry County, Alabama], hosted at Rootsweb. |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060621091340/http://www.rootsweb.com/~alhenry2/historyhenry.html History of Henry County, Alabama], hosted at Rootsweb. |
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* Henry County [http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/alabama/counties/henry.jpg map of roads/towns] (map |
* Henry County [http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/alabama/counties/henry.jpg map of roads/towns] (map 2007 [[University of Alabama|Univ. of Alabama]]). |
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{{Geographic Location |
{{Geographic Location |
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{{Henry County, Alabama}} |
{{Henry County, Alabama}} |
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{{Alabama}} |
{{Alabama}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{ |
{{Coord|31|30|46|N|85|14|04|W|region:US-AL_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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[[Category:Henry County, Alabama| ]] |
[[Category:Henry County, Alabama| ]] |
Latest revision as of 22:18, 29 August 2024
Henry County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 31°30′46″N 85°14′04″W / 31.512777777778°N 85.234444444444°W | |
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) | |
• Total | 17,146 |
• Estimate (2023) | 17,899 |
• Density | 30/sq mi (12/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 2nd |
Website | www |
|
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.[1] Its county seat is Abbeville.[2] The county was named for Patrick Henry (1736–1799), famous orator and Governor of Virginia.[3]
Henry County is part of the Dothan, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
[edit]The area that includes Henry County had historically been occupied by people of the Lower Creek Confederacy, who now prefer to be known as the Muscogee. It was occupied for thousands of years before that by varying cultures of indigenous peoples who settled primarily along the waterways.
This area was colonized by various European powers, including France and Spain. After Great Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War, it took over this area. Between 1763 and 1783, the area that is now Henry County, Alabama was under the jurisdiction of the colony of British West Florida. The United States acquired it from Britain after gaining independence in the American Revolutionary War.
After 1814, the territorial settlers developed Franklin as the first European-American settlement in Muscogee/Creek territory. The former river port served Abbeville on the Chattahoochee River. Much of Henry County was within the Alabama wiregrass region.[4]
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 Alabama was organized as a state. Abbeville was designated as the county seat in 1833.
Henry County has been called "The Cradle of the Wiregrass". She is The Mother of nine other counties. When the county was formed December 1819, it was the largest county by area within Alabama and encompassed a vast land area that now includes the Southeast Alabama Wiregrass Region and beyond. As population increased in the region, areas of it were taken to organize the present counties of Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Houston, and Pike.
Timeline:
- December 7, 1821 - The first two counties created, in part, from Old Henry were Covington and Pike counties.
- December 29, 1824 - The third county was Dale which was carved, in whole, from Old Henry.
- December 18, 1832 - The fourth county to be created was Barbour County which was formed, in part, from Pike County. When Barbour County was created, Henry County gained a small parcel of land from the White Oak Creek area.
- December 29, 1841 - The fifth county to be created was Coffee County, which was formed in part from Dale County.
- December 6, 1866 - The sixth was Bullock County, which was created with the southern tip of the county indirectly coming from Old Henry.
- December 24, 1866 - The seventh county to be created was Crenshaw County which was formed, in part, from Coffee, Covington and Pike counties.
- December 28, 1868 - The eighth county to be created was Geneva County which was formed, in part, from Henry, Dale and Coffee counties.
- February 9, 1903 - The last county was Houston County; 72% of its land area was carved from Henry. The balance came from Dale and Geneva counties.
After Houston County was formed in 1903, Henry County had become the smallest in geographic area.
This rural county was developed for agriculture, and planters held many slaves. After Reconstruction, conservative Democratic Party whites regained power in the state legislature and passed Jim Crow laws to suppress African Americans. They also used intimidation and violence to discourage voting, as the freedmen allied with the Republican Party, which they credited with achieving their emancipation and granting of the franchise.
From 1877 to 1950, whites lynched 13 African Americans in the county, most in the decades on either side of the turn of the 20th century.[5] Henry County is among the 805 counties where lynchings took place that is memorialized in the new National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which opened in April 2018 in Montgomery, Alabama.[6]
Mechanization and other changes resulted in population losses, especially from 1940 to 1970, as many African Americans left in the Great Migration, seeking to escape the oppression of Jim Crow and gain work in northern, midwestern and western industrial cities.
Geography
[edit]According to the United States 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.[7] The county is located in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama.
It is the fourth-smallest county in Alabama by total area.
Major highways
[edit]Adjacent counties
[edit]- Barbour County (north)
- Clay County, Georgia (northeast/EST Border)
- Early County, Georgia (southeast/EST Border)
- Houston County (south)
- Dale County (west)
Demographics
[edit]Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
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 | [8] | 4.4% |
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1] |
2020 Census
[edit]Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[13] | Pop 2010[14] | Pop 2020[15] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 10,647 | 11,731 | 11,842 | 65.28% | 67.80% | 69.07% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 5,247 | 4,915 | 4,232 | 32.17% | 28.41% | 24.68% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 33 | 54 | 50 | 0.20% | 0.31% | 0.29% |
Asian alone (NH) | 10 | 45 | 73 | 0.06% | 0.26% | 0.43% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 4 | 5 | 49 | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.29% |
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 119 | 161 | 566 | 0.73% | 0.93% | 3.30% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 249 | 389 | 334 | 1.53% | 2.25% | 1.95% |
Total | 16,310 | 17,302 | 17,146 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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
[edit]As of the census[16] 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 (12 people/km2). There were 8,891 housing units at an average density of 15.6 units per square mile (6.0 units/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.
2000 census
[edit]As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 16,310 people, 6,525 households, and 4,730 families living in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11 people/km2). There were 8,037 housing units at an average density of 14 units per square mile (5.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.67% White, 32.30% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Nearly 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 6,525 households 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. Nearly 25.30% of households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47, and the average family size was 2.95.
The age distribution was 24.10% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.20 males.
The median household income was $30,353 and the median family income was $36,555. Males had a median income of $29,189 versus $20,827 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,681. About 14.50% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.00% of those under age 18 and 20.60% of those age 65 or over.
Government
[edit]Henry County is a predominately Republican county. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was favorite son Jimmy Carter of Georgia in 1980. Bill Clinton came within 63 votes of carrying the county in 1996. The electorate has become more polarized in recent times, with Joe Biden winning less than thirty percent in 2020.
Rural conservative whites had left the Democratic Party following its support of civil rights laws and the movement in the 1960s; many disagreed with its socially liberal positions. Through the late 20th century, conservative whites shifted to the Republican Party. The political affiliations are strongly associated with ethnicity, as African Americans favor the Democratic Party but are a minority in the county.[18]
During the long period of African-American disenfranchisement in the 20th century, the conservative whites of Henry continued their well-established tradition of voting for Democratic candidates, and kept it as part of the "Solid South". They did vote for Republicans Warren G. Harding and Herbert Hoover in 1920 and 1928, respectively, giving them more than forty percent of the vote. In 1964, Barry Goldwater was the first Republican candidate to carry the county as whites began to shift their alliances.
In 1968, Henry County voted for the independent candidate, Alabama governor George Wallace, giving Republican Richard Nixon only 1.59 percent of the county's vote.[19]
Henry County elected Democrat Dexter Grimsley to represent it in the Alabama House of Representatives.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 6,607 | 71.06% | 2,606 | 28.03% | 85 | 0.91% |
2016 | 5,632 | 69.77% | 2,292 | 28.39% | 148 | 1.83% |
2012 | 5,628 | 64.20% | 3,083 | 35.17% | 55 | 0.63% |
2008 | 5,585 | 64.58% | 3,018 | 34.90% | 45 | 0.52% |
2004 | 4,881 | 66.31% | 2,452 | 33.31% | 28 | 0.38% |
2000 | 4,054 | 58.48% | 2,782 | 40.13% | 96 | 1.38% |
1996 | 3,082 | 46.44% | 3,019 | 45.49% | 536 | 8.08% |
1992 | 2,970 | 45.70% | 2,804 | 43.15% | 725 | 11.16% |
1988 | 3,613 | 61.82% | 2,206 | 37.75% | 25 | 0.43% |
1984 | 3,952 | 63.34% | 2,231 | 35.76% | 56 | 0.90% |
1980 | 2,813 | 47.85% | 2,973 | 50.57% | 93 | 1.58% |
1976 | 2,052 | 39.21% | 3,144 | 60.07% | 38 | 0.73% |
1972 | 3,414 | 79.56% | 853 | 19.88% | 24 | 0.56% |
1968 | 84 | 1.59% | 955 | 18.05% | 4,253 | 80.37% |
1964 | 2,896 | 83.10% | 0 | 0.00% | 589 | 16.90% |
1960 | 588 | 21.67% | 2,115 | 77.93% | 11 | 0.41% |
1956 | 429 | 15.81% | 2,127 | 78.40% | 157 | 5.79% |
1952 | 421 | 17.60% | 1,966 | 82.19% | 5 | 0.21% |
1948 | 47 | 4.32% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,041 | 95.68% |
1944 | 46 | 2.73% | 1,635 | 97.15% | 2 | 0.12% |
1940 | 69 | 3.40% | 1,960 | 96.50% | 2 | 0.10% |
1936 | 35 | 1.78% | 1,925 | 98.06% | 3 | 0.15% |
1932 | 42 | 2.35% | 1,741 | 97.43% | 4 | 0.22% |
1928 | 796 | 49.35% | 815 | 50.53% | 2 | 0.12% |
1924 | 179 | 17.29% | 816 | 78.84% | 40 | 3.86% |
1920 | 489 | 40.58% | 715 | 59.34% | 1 | 0.08% |
1916 | 141 | 13.65% | 860 | 83.25% | 32 | 3.10% |
1912 | 47 | 5.02% | 711 | 75.88% | 179 | 19.10% |
1908 | 79 | 8.88% | 723 | 81.24% | 88 | 9.89% |
1904 | 104 | 11.42% | 701 | 76.95% | 106 | 11.64% |
Religion
[edit]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.[21]
Communities
[edit]Cities
[edit]- Abbeville (county seat)
- Dothan (partly in Dale County and Houston County)
- Headland
Towns
[edit]Unincorporated communities
[edit]See also
[edit]- American Brass Superfund site
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Henry County, Alabama
- Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Henry County, Alabama
References
[edit]- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 155.
- ^ Scott, Marvin. "Mrs". Alabama Genealogy Web. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^ Lynching in America/ Supplement: Lynchings by County, 3rd edition Archived October 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Montgomery, Alabama: Equal Justice Initiative, 2015, p. 2
- ^ Oprah Winfrey, "Inside the memorial to victims of lynching", 60 Minutes, April 8, 2018; accessed April 11, 2018
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Henry County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Henry County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Henry County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ Cohn, Nate; 'Demographic Shift: Southern Whites' Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats', New York Times, April 24, 2014
- ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1968 Presidential Election Statistics
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 16, 2016.
- ^ Smith, T. Larry (July 24, 2008). "Cottonwood's Ramah Baptist Church Est. in Henry". The Abbeville Herald. p. 7. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
External links
[edit]- Henry County Historical Group
- History of Henry County, Alabama, hosted at Rootsweb.
- Henry County map of roads/towns (map 2007 Univ. of Alabama).