Marion County, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Marion County is a county
of the U.S. state
of Alabama
. Marion County was created by an act of the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818. The county is located in the northwestern part of the state, bounded on the west by the state of Mississippi. It encompasses 743 square miles (1,924.4 km²). Marion County was named for General Francis Marion of South Carolina
. The county seat
was established in Pikeville in 1820, and moved to Hamilton
in 1881. Marion County could be considered the "mother county" of the Alabama counties of Fayette, Lamar, Walker, and Winston, and parts of the Mississippi counties of Itawamba, Lowndes, and Monore. Significant towns in the county include Brilliant
, Guin
, Hackleburg
, Hamilton
and Winfield
. As of 2010 the population was 30,776. The county is a prohibition
or dry county
, however, the sale of alcohol is permitted within Guin
city limits.
Marion County School System
Winfield City School System
of 2000, there were 31,214 people, 12,697 households, and 9,040 families residing in the county. The population density
was 42 people per square mile (16/km2). There were 14,416 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.76% White
, 3.3% Black
or African American
, 0.29% Native American
, 0.20% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 0.39% from other races
, and 0.70% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 12,697 households out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples
living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.50% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,475, and the median income for a family was $34,359. Males had a median income of $26,913 versus $19,022 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,321. About 12.00% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 20.00% 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...
. Marion County was created by an act of the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818. The county is located in the northwestern part of the state, bounded on the west by the state of Mississippi. It encompasses 743 square miles (1,924.4 km²). Marion County was named for General Francis Marion of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. The 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....
was established in Pikeville in 1820, and moved to Hamilton
Hamilton, Alabama
Hamilton is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,786. The city is the county seat of Marion County.-Geography:Hamilton is located at , along the Buttahatchee River....
in 1881. Marion County could be considered the "mother county" of the Alabama counties of Fayette, Lamar, Walker, and Winston, and parts of the Mississippi counties of Itawamba, Lowndes, and Monore. Significant towns in the county include Brilliant
Brilliant, Alabama
Brilliant is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 762.-History:The present Town of Brilliant was incorporated as Boston, Alabama and was named for the City of Boston, Massachusetts and in part for early settlers of the area, the Bostick family...
, Guin
Guin, Alabama
Guin is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,389. On July 13, 2010, the citizens of Guin voted to become the first city in Marion County, since Prohibition, to allow the sale of alcohol....
, Hackleburg
Hackleburg, Alabama
Hackleburg is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 1,430. It is also the hometown of country music singer Sonny James. James had numerous country and cross over pop hits starting in the 1950s though the 1970s...
, Hamilton
Hamilton, Alabama
Hamilton is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,786. The city is the county seat of Marion County.-Geography:Hamilton is located at , along the Buttahatchee River....
and Winfield
Winfield, Alabama
Winfield is a city in Marion county in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 4,540 at the 2000 census, the second largest city in Marion County.-History:...
. As of 2010 the population was 30,776. The county is a prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
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...
, however, the sale of alcohol is permitted within Guin
Guin, Alabama
Guin is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,389. On July 13, 2010, the citizens of Guin voted to become the first city in Marion County, since Prohibition, to allow the sale of alcohol....
city limits.
Cities and towns
- Bear CreekBear Creek, AlabamaBear Creek is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,053. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 1,021. -Geography:Bear Creek is located at ....
- BexarBexar, AlabamaBexar, Alabama is a rural, mostly agricultural community in extreme west Marion County, Alabama, about 3 miles from the Alabama - Mississippi state line.-Origins:...
- BrilliantBrilliant, AlabamaBrilliant is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 762.-History:The present Town of Brilliant was incorporated as Boston, Alabama and was named for the City of Boston, Massachusetts and in part for early settlers of the area, the Bostick family...
- Glen AllenGlen Allen, AlabamaGlen Allen is a town in Fayette and Marion counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census the population was 642.-Geography:Glen Allen is located at .According to the U.S...
(part of Glen Allen is in Fayette CountyFayette County, AlabamaFayette County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette , who aided General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War. As of 2010 the population was 17,241...
) - Glen MaryGlen Mary, AlabamaGlen Mary is an unincorporated community in Winston County, Alabama, United States. The community was founded in the year 1908 and today has a population of 21.-Geography:Glen Mary is located at...
(unincorporated) - GuinGuin, AlabamaGuin is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,389. On July 13, 2010, the citizens of Guin voted to become the first city in Marion County, since Prohibition, to allow the sale of alcohol....
- Gu-WinGu-Win, AlabamaGu-Win is a town in Fayette and Marion counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census the population was 204.The town's unusual name is taken from part of two neighboring cities, Guin and Winfield...
(unincorporated) - HackleburgHackleburg, AlabamaHackleburg is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 1,430. It is also the hometown of country music singer Sonny James. James had numerous country and cross over pop hits starting in the 1950s though the 1970s...
- HaleyvilleHaleyville, AlabamaHaleyville is a city in Winston and Marion counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. Most of the city is located in Winston County, with a small portion of the western limits entering Marion County. Haleyville was originally named Davis Cross Roads, having been established at the crossroads of Byler...
(most of Haleyville is located in Winston CountyWinston County, AlabamaWinston County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, formerly known as Hancock County before 1858.Its name is in honor of John A. Winston, the 15th Governor of Alabama. As of 2010, the population was 24,484. Its county seat is Double Springs....
) - HamiltonHamilton, AlabamaHamilton is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,786. The city is the county seat of Marion County.-Geography:Hamilton is located at , along the Buttahatchee River....
- WinfieldWinfield, AlabamaWinfield is a city in Marion county in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 4,540 at the 2000 census, the second largest city in Marion County.-History:...
(a small part of Winfield is in Fayette CountyFayette County, AlabamaFayette County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette , who aided General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War. As of 2010 the population was 17,241...
) - YampertownYampertown, AlabamaTwin is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. It is about equidistant from Brilliant, Guin, and Winfield....
(also known as Twin)
Education
Two public school systems and one community college operate in Marion County. Marion County Schools and Winfield City Schools and Bevill State Community College Hamilton Campus.Marion County School System
- Philips Elementary and High School (Bear CreekBear Creek, AlabamaBear Creek is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,053. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 1,021. -Geography:Bear Creek is located at ....
) - BrilliantBrilliant, AlabamaBrilliant is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 762.-History:The present Town of Brilliant was incorporated as Boston, Alabama and was named for the City of Boston, Massachusetts and in part for early settlers of the area, the Bostick family...
Elementary School - BrilliantBrilliant, AlabamaBrilliant is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 762.-History:The present Town of Brilliant was incorporated as Boston, Alabama and was named for the City of Boston, Massachusetts and in part for early settlers of the area, the Bostick family...
High School - GuinGuin, AlabamaGuin is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,389. On July 13, 2010, the citizens of Guin voted to become the first city in Marion County, since Prohibition, to allow the sale of alcohol....
Elementary School - Marion County High School (GuinGuin, AlabamaGuin is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,389. On July 13, 2010, the citizens of Guin voted to become the first city in Marion County, since Prohibition, to allow the sale of alcohol....
) - HackleburgHackleburg, AlabamaHackleburg is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 1,430. It is also the hometown of country music singer Sonny James. James had numerous country and cross over pop hits starting in the 1950s though the 1970s...
Elementary and High School - HamiltonHamilton, AlabamaHamilton is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,786. The city is the county seat of Marion County.-Geography:Hamilton is located at , along the Buttahatchee River....
Elementary School - HamiltonHamilton, AlabamaHamilton is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,786. The city is the county seat of Marion County.-Geography:Hamilton is located at , along the Buttahatchee River....
Middle School - HamiltonHamilton, AlabamaHamilton is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,786. The city is the county seat of Marion County.-Geography:Hamilton is located at , along the Buttahatchee River....
High School,
Winfield City School System
- Winfield Elementary School
- Winfield Middle School
- Winfield High School
Local events and festivals
- Jerry Brown Arts Festival - HamiltonHamilton, AlabamaHamilton is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,786. The city is the county seat of Marion County.-Geography:Hamilton is located at , along the Buttahatchee River....
(March) - Neighbor Day - HackleburgHackleburg, AlabamaHackleburg is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 1,430. It is also the hometown of country music singer Sonny James. James had numerous country and cross over pop hits starting in the 1950s though the 1970s...
(Last Saturday in April) - MayFest - GuinGuin, AlabamaGuin is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,389. On July 13, 2010, the citizens of Guin voted to become the first city in Marion County, since Prohibition, to allow the sale of alcohol....
(Second Saturday in May) - CoalFest - BrilliantBrilliant, AlabamaBrilliant is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 762.-History:The present Town of Brilliant was incorporated as Boston, Alabama and was named for the City of Boston, Massachusetts and in part for early settlers of the area, the Bostick family...
(Memorial Day) - Mule Day - WinfieldWinfield, AlabamaWinfield is a city in Marion county in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 4,540 at the 2000 census, the second largest city in Marion County.-History:...
(September)
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 31,214 people, 12,697 households, and 9,040 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 42 people per square mile (16/km2). There were 14,416 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.76% 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...
, 3.3% 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...
, 0.29% 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...
, 0.20% 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...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
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...
, 0.39% 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 0.70% from two or more races. 1.15% 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 12,697 households out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% 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, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.50% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,475, and the median income for a family was $34,359. Males had a median income of $26,913 versus $19,022 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 $15,321. About 12.00% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 743.57 square miles (1,925.8 km²), of which 741.41 square miles (1,920.2 km²) (or 99.71%) is land and 2.16 square miles (5.6 km²) (or 0.29%) is water.Major highways
.svg.png)
Interstate 22Interstate 22Interstate 22 , when it is completed, will follow the U.S. Highway 78 corridor along a 213-mile-long route from Memphis, Tennessee, to Birmingham, Alabama, as an Interstate Highway. Interstate 22 will connect Interstate 240 and Interstate 40 in the northwest with Interstate 65 and Interstate...
(future)
U.S. Highway 43
U.S. Highway 78
U.S. Highway 278
State Route 13
State Route 17
State Route 19
State Route 44
State Route 74State Route 74 (Alabama)U.S. Highway 278 , mostly internally designated by the Alabama Department of Transportation as State Route 74 , is a major east–west state highway across the northern part of the U.S. state of Alabama...
State Route 129
Adjacent counties
- Franklin CountyFranklin County, AlabamaFranklin County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin, famous statesman, scientist, and printer. As of 2010, the population was 31,704...
(north) - Winston CountyWinston County, AlabamaWinston County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, formerly known as Hancock County before 1858.Its name is in honor of John A. Winston, the 15th Governor of Alabama. As of 2010, the population was 24,484. Its county seat is Double Springs....
(east) - Walker CountyWalker County, AlabamaWalker County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.Its name is in honor of John Williams Walker, a member of the United States Senate. As of 2010 the population was 67,023...
(southeast) - Fayette CountyFayette County, AlabamaFayette County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette , who aided General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War. As of 2010 the population was 17,241...
(south) - Lamar CountyLamar County, AlabamaLamar County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, member of the United States Senate from Mississippi. As of 2010 the population was 14,564...
and Monroe County, MississippiMonroe County, Mississippi-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,014 people, 14,603 households, and 10,660 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 16,236 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
(southwest) - Itawamba County, MississippiItawamba County, MississippiIn 2000, there were 8,773 households out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals and...
(west)
Newspapers
The Court House at Hamilton burned in March 1887. All newspapers before that date were lost in the flames as the Court House was the repository for them. The newspapers that we have record of after the fire are:- The Marion County Herald - (1885–1890) The first newspaper available for The Marion Herald is April 5, 1887 due to the Court House Fire. The original date of beginning and editors have been lost with the Court House fire, but seems to have been started around April 1885. The Lamar News states that A. A. Wall had been with the Marion Herald before he started The Vernon Courier which was in 1886. No earlier publishers of the paper have been found. The newspaper passed through several hands before closing its doors. Some of the notable editors include W. F. Green, James S. Clements, W. T. Gast, L. J. Clark, and others. The first editors were listed under the name The Herald Publishing Company.
- The Guin Dispatch (1888–1889) The Guin Dispatch was started around November 1888 by James S. Clements. It did not last long - only 13 issues. It closed its doors with the last issue of Feb 23, 1889.
- The Hamilton Times (1890–1893)
- The Hamilton Free Press (1893–1894)
- The Hamilton News Press (1895)
- The Hamilton Appeal (1896)
- The Guin Gazette (1897)
- The Gazette Appeal (1897)
- The Winfield Enterprise (1899–1900)
- The Marion County Democrat (1900–1904)
- The Marion County Republican (1908–1909)
- The Marion County News (1894, 1896 - 1959?)
- New Hope Record (1920)
- The Winfield Journal (1930–1959)
- The Hackleburg Sentinel (1937–1955)
- The Marion County Journal (1975)
- The Guin Gazette (1987)
- The Gazette Appeal (1987)
- The Journal Record (1976–present)
Notable people
- Sonny JamesSonny JamesJames Loden , known professionally as Sonny James, is an American country music singer and songwriter best known for his 1957 hit, "Young Love". Dubbed the Southern Gentleman, James had 72 country and pop chart hits from 1953 to 1983, including a five-year streak of 16 straight among his 23 No. 1...
(James Loden)- HackleburgHackleburg, AlabamaHackleburg is a town in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 1,430. It is also the hometown of country music singer Sonny James. James had numerous country and cross over pop hits starting in the 1950s though the 1970s... - Dale Shelnut (Dixie EchoesDixie EchoesThe Dixie Echoes are a professional Southern Gospel quartet based in Pensacola, FL.-History:They got their start in 1960 by JG Whitfield. Whitfield, only just a couple of years earlier, had yielded his bass singing role of the Florida Boys to spend more time at home...
)- GuinGuin, AlabamaGuin is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,389. On July 13, 2010, the citizens of Guin voted to become the first city in Marion County, since Prohibition, to allow the sale of alcohol....
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, Alabama
- Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Marion County, Alabama