Morgan County, Alabama

Morgan County, Alabama
Location in the state of Alabama
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 6[1], 1818[1]
Named for	Daniel Morgan
Seat	Decatur
Largest city	Decatur
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	599.06 sq mi (1,552 km²) 582.21 sq mi (1,508 km²) 16.84 sq mi (44 km²), 2.81%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	119,490 205/sq mi (79/km²)
Congressional districts	4th, 5th
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.co.morgan.al.us

Morgan County is the most populous county in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, and the second most populous county in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area in the U.S. State of Alabama. It was created by the Alabama Territorial legislature on February 6, 1818 from land acquired from the Cherokee Indians in the Treaty of Turkeytown, and was originally called Cotaco County.^[1] In 1821 it was renamed in honor of American Revolutionary War General Daniel Morgan of Virginia.^[2] As of 2010 the population was 119,490. The county seat is Decatur, and it is a prohibition or dry county, though the City of Decatur is wet. Morgan County is also a part of the North, Northwest, and North-Central regions of Alabama.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 599.06 square miles (1,551.6 km²), of which 582.21 square miles (1,507.9 km²) (or 97.19%) is land and 16.84 square miles (43.6 km²) (or 2.81%) is water.^[3]

Major highways

• Interstate 65
• U.S. Route 31
• 
  U.S. Highway 72 Alternate
• U.S. Highway 231
• State Route 20
• State Route 24
• State Route 36
• State Route 67

Rail

• CSX Transportation
• Norfolk Southern Railway

River

• Tennessee River

Adjacent counties

• Madison County (northeast)
• Marshall County (east)
• Cullman County (south)
• Lawrence County (west)
• Limestone County (northwest)

National protected area

• Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	5,263		—
1830	9,062		72.2%
1840	9,841		8.6%
1850	10,125		2.9%
1860	11,335		12.0%
1870	12,187		7.5%
1880	16,428		34.8%
1890	24,089		46.6%
1900	28,820		19.6%
1910	33,781		17.2%
1920	40,196		19.0%
1930	46,176		14.9%
1940	48,148		4.3%
1950	52,924		9.9%
1960	60,454		14.2%
1970	77,306		27.9%
1980	90,231		16.7%
1990	100,043		10.9%
2000	111,064		11.0%
2010	119,490		7.6%
[4][5][6]

As of the census^[7] of 2000, there were 111,064 people, 43,602 households, and 31,437 families residing in the county. The population density was 191 people per square mile (74/km²). There were 47,388 housing units at an average density of 81 per square mile (31/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.07% White, 11.24% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 3.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 43,602 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,803, and the median income for a family was $45,827. Males had a median income of $35,759 versus $21,885 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,223. About 9.70% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Decatur (part of Decatur is in Limestone County)
• Danville
• Eva
• Falkville
• Hartselle
• Lacey's Spring
• Morgan City
• Priceville
• Somerville
• Trinity

Rankings

Rank	City/Town	Population 2006 estimates
1	Decatur	55,778
2	Hartselle	13,479
3	Priceville	2,380
4	Trinity	1,887
5	Falkville	1,185

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Morgan County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Morgan County, Alabama

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Acts Passed at the First Session of the First General Assembly, of the Alabama Territory: In the Forty Second Year of American Independence (1818). St. Stephens, Alabama, printed by Thomas Eastin. Reprinted T.L. Cole, Washington, D.C., July 1912. Pages 8-12. "An Act to establish the counties of Cotaco, Lawrence and Franklin...Approved-6th February, 1818."
2. ^ Acts Passed at the Called Session of the General Assemby of the State of Alabama Begun and Held in the Town of Cahawba, on the First Monday in June, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty One (1821). Cahawba, Alabama: Printed by Allen & Brickell, State Printers. Reprint by Statute Law Book Co., Washington, D.C. Nov. 1913. Page 40. "An Act to change the name of Ococoposa, and for other purposes...Approved, June 14, 1821."
3. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
4. ^ http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/al190090.txt
5. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov
6. ^ http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/
7. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Decatur Morgan County Chamber of Commerce
• Learn more about Decatur-Morgan County
• Alabama Jubilee - Hot Air Balloon Classic

Coordinates: 34°27′06″N 86°51′26″W / 34.45167°N 86.85722°W / 34.45167; -86.85722