Cherokee County, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Cherokee County, Alabama is a county
of the U.S. state
of Alabama
. It is named for the Cherokee
tribe. As of 2010 the population was 25,989. Its county seat
is Centre
and it is a prohibition or dry county
.
in the nineteenth century, which had encompassed an area of the southern Appalachians, including northeastern Alabama and parts of adjacent present-day Georgia, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina.
The Cherokee were forceably removed by the US government in what was known as the Trail of Tears in 1838. Cherokee County was created by the Alabama legislature on 1836 January 9 following the Treaty of New Echota, 1835 December 29 which was never accepted by the elected tribal leadership or a majority of the Cherokee people because it was signed by a group lacking the authority to sign any documents on behalf of the tribe and despite a tribal law forbiding anyone to sign such a treaty, see Treaty of New Echota
.
An F4 tornado struck here on Palm Sunday
March 27, 1994. It destroyed Goshen United Methodist Church twelve minutes after the National Weather Service
of Birmingham
issued a tornado warning for northern Calhoun, southeastern Etowah, and southern Cherokee counties.
of 2000, there were 23,988 people, 9,719 households, and 7,201 families residing in the county. The population density
was 43 people per square mile (17/km2). There were 14,025 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.83% White
, 5.54% Black
or African American
, 0.31% Native American
, 0.14% Asian
, 0.35% from other races
, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.85% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 9,719 households out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples
living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,874, and the median income for a family was $36,920. Males had a median income of $29,978 versus $20,958 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,543. About 11.80% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It is named for the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
tribe. As of 2010 the population was 25,989. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Centre
Centre, Alabama
Centre is a city in Cherokee County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 3,273. The city is the county seat of Cherokee County, and is part of the 'Gadsden, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area'.-History:...
and it is a prohibition or dry county
Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
.
History
Cherokee County was established by European Americans on January 9, 1836. The county was created on territory of the Cherokee NationCherokee Nation (19th century)
The Cherokee Nation of the 19th century —an historic entity —was a legal, autonomous, tribal government in North America existing from 1794–1906. Often referred to simply as The Nation by its inhabitants, it should not be confused with what is known today as the "modern" Cherokee Nation...
in the nineteenth century, which had encompassed an area of the southern Appalachians, including northeastern Alabama and parts of adjacent present-day Georgia, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina.
The Cherokee were forceably removed by the US government in what was known as the Trail of Tears in 1838. Cherokee County was created by the Alabama legislature on 1836 January 9 following the Treaty of New Echota, 1835 December 29 which was never accepted by the elected tribal leadership or a majority of the Cherokee people because it was signed by a group lacking the authority to sign any documents on behalf of the tribe and despite a tribal law forbiding anyone to sign such a treaty, see Treaty of New Echota
Treaty of New Echota
The Treaty of New Echota was a treaty signed on December 29, 1835, in New Echota, Georgia by officials of the United States government and representatives of a minority Cherokee political faction, known as the Treaty Party...
.
An F4 tornado struck here on Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. ....
March 27, 1994. It destroyed Goshen United Methodist Church twelve minutes after the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
of Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
issued a tornado warning for northern Calhoun, southeastern Etowah, and southern Cherokee counties.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 599.95 square miles (1,553.9 km²), of which 553.12 square miles (1,432.6 km²) (or 92.19%) is land and 46.83 square miles (121.3 km²) (or 7.81%) is water.Major highways
U.S. Highway 278
U.S. Highway 411
State Route 9
State Route 35
State Route 68
Adjacent counties
- DeKalb County, AlabamaDeKalb County, AlabamaAs of the 2010 Census DeKalb County had a population of 71,109. The median age was 37.5. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 81.6% non-Hispanic white, 1.5% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander , 9.9% from some other race, 2.2% reporting two or...
- north - Chattooga County, GeorgiaChattooga County, GeorgiaChattooga County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 28, 1838. As of 2000, the population was 25,470. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 26,797. The county seat is Summerville.-Geography:...
- northeast - Floyd County, GeorgiaFloyd County, GeorgiaFloyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 90,565. Census estimates for 2007 show a population of 95,618...
- east - Polk County, GeorgiaPolk County, GeorgiaPolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 38,127. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 41,460. The county seat is Cedartown.- History :...
- southeast - Cleburne County, AlabamaCleburne County, AlabamaCleburne County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Major General Patrick Cleburne, of Arkansas. As of 2010 the population was 14,972. Its county seat is Heflin.- History :...
- south - Calhoun County, AlabamaCalhoun County, AlabamaCalhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of John C. Calhoun, famous member of the United States Senate from South Carolina. As of 2010 the population was 118,572. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- south - Etowah County, AlabamaEtowah County, AlabamaEtowah County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is from the Cherokee language, which means "edible tree". It is the center of the Gadsden Metropolitan Area which includes Etowah and Cherokee Counties. As of 2010 the population was 104,430. Its county seat is Gadsden...
- west
National protected areas
- Little River Canyon National PreserveLittle River Canyon National PreserveLittle River Canyon National Preserve is a United States National Preserve located on top of Lookout Mountain near Fort Payne, Alabama, and DeSoto State Park. Created by an act of Congress in 1992, the nearly preserve protects what is sometimes said to be the nation's longest mountaintop river,...
(part) - Talladega National ForestTalladega National ForestThe Talladega National Forest is located in the U.S. state of Alabama and covers 392,567 acres at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains....
(part)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 23,988 people, 9,719 households, and 7,201 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 43 people per square mile (17/km2). There were 14,025 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.83% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.54% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.31% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.14% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.35% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.85% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 9,719 households out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,874, and the median income for a family was $36,920. Males had a median income of $29,978 versus $20,958 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $15,543. About 11.80% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- Cedar BluffCedar Bluff, AlabamaCedar Bluff is a town in Cherokee County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 1,820. NASCAR driver Tina Gordon is from the town. Unlike the rest of the county, Cedar Bluff is a wet city. It is the "Crappie Capital of the World" – it has the highest number of crappie...
- CentreCentre, AlabamaCentre is a city in Cherokee County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 3,273. The city is the county seat of Cherokee County, and is part of the 'Gadsden, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area'.-History:...
(County seat) - CollinsvilleCollinsville, AlabamaCollinsville is a town in Cherokee and DeKalb Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population is 1,983. The town is a part of the 'Gadsden, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area'-Geography:...
(part - part of Collinsville is in DeKalb CountyDeKalb County, AlabamaAs of the 2010 Census DeKalb County had a population of 71,109. The median age was 37.5. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 81.6% non-Hispanic white, 1.5% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander , 9.9% from some other race, 2.2% reporting two or...
) - GaylesvilleGaylesville, AlabamaGaylesville is a town in Cherokee County, Alabama, United States. The population was 140 at the 2000 census.Gaylesville was the late 19th & early 20th century home to Isaac Knowles, born in the West Indies...
- LeesburgLeesburg, AlabamaLeesburg is a town in Cherokee County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 799.-Geography:Leesburg is located at 34°10'57.446" North, 85°46'8.350" West .According to the U.S...
- PiedmontPiedmont, AlabamaPiedmont is a city in Calhoun and Cherokee counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 5,120 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. Many surrounding communities utilize the 36272 ZIP code, including Spring Garden, Rock Run,...
(part - part of Piedmont is in Calhoun CountyCalhoun County, AlabamaCalhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of John C. Calhoun, famous member of the United States Senate from South Carolina. As of 2010 the population was 118,572. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
) - Sand RockSand Rock, AlabamaSand Rock is a town in Cherokee and DeKalb Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 509.-Geography:Sand Rock is located at 34°13'57.115" North, 85°46'13.516" West ....
(part - part of Sand Rock is in DeKalb CountyDeKalb County, AlabamaAs of the 2010 Census DeKalb County had a population of 71,109. The median age was 37.5. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 81.6% non-Hispanic white, 1.5% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander , 9.9% from some other race, 2.2% reporting two or...
)
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Cherokee County, Alabama
- Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Cherokee County, Alabama