Coosa County, Alabama

Coosa County, Alabama
County courthouse in Rockford
Location in the state of Alabama
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 18, 1832
Seat	Rockford
Largest city	Goodwater
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	666.36 sq mi (1,726 km²) 652.44 sq mi (1,690 km²) 13.91 sq mi (36 km²), 2.09%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	11,539 18/sq mi (6.8/km²)

Coosa County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name derives from a town of the Creek tribe. As of 2010 the population was 11,539, but since that time it has lost the most population by percentage of any Alabama county. Its county seat is Rockford.

Coosa is part of the Alexander City micropolitan area.

History

It was established on December 18, 1832.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 666.36 square miles (1,725.9 km²), of which 652.44 square miles (1,689.8 km²) (or 97.91%) is land and 13.91 square miles (36.0 km²) (or 2.09%) is water.^[1]

Major Highways

• U.S. Highway 231
• U.S. Highway 280
• Alabama State Route 9
• Alabama State Route 22

Adjacent Counties

• Talladega County (north)
• Clay County (northeast)
• Tallapoosa County (east)
• Elmore County (south)
• Chilton County (west)
• Shelby County (northwest)

Demographics

Coosa County, Alabama
Year	Pop.	±%
1840	6,995	—
1850	14,543	+107.9%
1860	19,273	+32.5%
1870	11,945	−38.0%
1880	15,113	+26.5%
1890	15,906	+5.2%
1900	16,144	+1.5%
1910	16,634	+3.0%
1920	14,839	−10.8%
1930	12,460	−16.0%
1940	13,460	+8.0%
1950	11,766	−12.6%
1960	10,726	−8.8%
1970	10,662	−0.6%
1980	11,377	+6.7%
1990	11,063	−2.8%
2000	12,202	+10.3%
2010	11,539	−5.4%
Sources: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml.  through 1960

From 2000 to 2003, Coosa County's growth rate of -5.8% made it the biggest percentage population loser among the state's 67 counties.^[2] Annette Jones Watters of the University of Alabama's Alabama State Data Center cited Coosa as one of eight counties to lose greater than 6% of its population from 2000 to early 2007.^[3] As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 12,202 people, 4,682 households, and 3,408 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 6,142 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.94% White, 34.19% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 1.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,682 households out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,873, and the median income for a family was $36,082. Males had a median income of $25,390 versus $18,171 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,875. About 11.80% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Equality (part of Equality is in Elmore County)
• Goodwater
• Kellyton
• Rockford

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Coosa County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Coosa 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. ^ "Population growth - Alabama counties". U.S. Census Bureau, ePodunk. http://www.epodunk.com/top10/countyPop/coPop1.html. Retrieved 2007-05-15. 
3. ^ "Shelby County Continues to Set the Pace for County Growth; Black Belt Counties Lose Population, According to UA’s State Data Center". University of Alabama. 2007-03-21. http://uanews.ua.edu/anews2007/mar07/growth032107.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-15. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

Coordinates: 32°56′11″N 86°14′47″W / 32.93639°N 86.24639°W / 32.93639; -86.24639