Coffee County, Alabama

Coffee County, Alabama
Location in the state of Alabama
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded	Formed from western Dale County 1841
Seat	Elba
Largest city	Enterprise
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	680.48 sq mi (1,762 km²) 678.99 sq mi (1,759 km²) 1.49 sq mi (4 km²), (0.22%)
Population  - (2010)  - Density	49,948 73/sq mi (28.3/km²)
Website	www.coffeecounty.us

Coffee County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General John Coffee. As of 2010 the population was 49,948. Its county seats are Elba and Enterprise.

Coffee County is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The land in Coffee County was originally part of Dale County, which was incorporated in 1824. Coffee County was formed from the western part of Dale County in 1841. It was named after John R. Coffee, a hero in the Creek War of 1813—14. The first county seat was in Wellborn. After the courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1851, the county seat was moved to Elba.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 680.48 square miles (1,762.4 km²), of which 678.99 square miles (1,758.6 km²) (or 99.78%) is land and 1.49 square miles (3.9 km²) (or 0.22%) is water.^[1]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 84
• State Route 27
• State Route 51
• State Route 87
• State Route 88
• State Route 92
• State Route 134

Adjacent counties

• Pike County (north)
• Dale County (east)
• Geneva County (south)
• Covington County (west)
• Crenshaw County (northwest)

Demographics

Coffee County, Alabama
Year	Pop.	±%
1850	5,940	—
1860	9,623	+62.0%
1870	6,171	−35.9%
1880	8,119	+31.6%
1890	12,170	+49.9%
1900	20,972	+72.3%
1910	26,119	+24.5%
1920	30,070	+15.1%
1930	32,556	+8.3%
1940	31,987	−1.7%
1950	30,720	−4.0%
1960	30,583	−0.4%
1970	34,872	+14.0%
1980	38,533	+10.5%
1990	40,240	+4.4%
2000	43,615	+8.4%
2010	49,948	+14.5%
Sources: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml.  through 1960

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 43,615 people, 17,421 households, and 12,490 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile (25/km²). There were 19,837 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 77.11% White, 18.37% Black or African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.89% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 2.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,421 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,664, and the median income for a family was $39,664. Males had a median income of $31,468 versus $20,234 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,321. About 11.30% of families and 14.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Elba
• Enterprise (part - part of Enterprise is in Dale County)
• Kinston
• New Brockton

Unincorporated communities

• Alberton
• Basin
• Battens Crossroads
• Bluff Springs
• Brooklyn
• Central City
• Chesnut Grove
• Clintonville
• Clowers Crossroads
• Coppinville
• Curtis
• Damascus
• Danleys Crossroads
• Frisco
• Goodman
• Ino
• Jack
• Java
• Keyton
• Lowry Mill
• Newby
• Perry Store
• Pine Level
• Rhoades
• Richburg
• Roeton
• Shady Grove
• Tabernacle
• Turner Crossroads
• Victoria
• Wilkinstown
• Zoar

Notable people

• Coffee County is home to "The Dancing Ghost" of Grancer Harrison, featured in the book 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.

In popular culture

The county is referred to in Joe David Brown's 1971 novel Addie Pray, which inspired the movie Paper Moon.

See also

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

References

1. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
2. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Official Website of Coffee County Government

Coordinates: 31°24′12″N 85°59′12″W / 31.40333°N 85.98667°W / 31.40333; -85.98667