Blount County is amoist county. In the November 6, 2012 elections, a countywide ballot initiative to allow alcohol sales was narrowly defeated, but Blountsville, Cleveland and Oneonta have allowed for the sale of alcohol since 2013.
Blount County has been dubbed the "Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama" since it has more historic covered bridges standing within a single county than any other in the state - with earlier covered bridges known of. This county celebrates the Covered Bridge Festival every autumn in Oneonta to commemorate its three remaining covered bridges.
Blount County was created by theAlabama Territorial Legislature on February 6, 1818, formed from land ceded to thefederal government by theCreek Nation on August 9, 1814. This county was named forGovernorWillie Blount ofTennessee, who provided assistance to settlers in Alabama during theCreek War. This county lies in the northeastern quadrant of the state, which is sometimes known as the mineral region of Alabama. Blount County is bordered by Cullman, Marshall, Etowah, Jefferson, Walker, and St. Clair Counties. This county is drained by the Locust and Mulberry Forks of theBlack Warrior River. Blount County covers 650 square miles (1,700 km2). The Warrior coal field is located in Blount County.
Caleb Fryley and John Jones established Bear Meat Cabin, an English translation of Wassausey (a Native American village), in 1816. Its post office was opened in 1821, and the settlement was incorporated asBlountsville on December 13, 1827. In 1889, an election resulted in the county seat being transferred toOneonta, Alabama.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 651 square miles (1,690 km2), of which 645 square miles (1,670 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (0.9%) is water.[2]
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 59,134. The median age was 41.1 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.8 males age 18 and over.[8][9]
9.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 90.5% lived in rural areas.[10]
There were 22,367 households in the county, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[8]
There were 24,622 housing units, of which 9.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.9% were owner-occupied and 19.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%.[8]
Blount County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of thecensus[14] of 2010, there were 57,322 people, 16,175 households, and 16,175 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 88.79 people per square mile. There were 23,887 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 92.6%White, 1.3%Black orAfrican American, 0.5%Native American, 0.2%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 4.1% fromother races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 8.1% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 16,175 family households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% weremarried couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25% were non-families. Alternative households included: 22.2% of households were made up of those living alone and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.72.[15]
Blount County's population spread was as follows: 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,241, and the median income for a family was $41,573. Males had a median income of $31,455 versus $22,459 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,325. About 8.60% of families and 11.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.
Blount County is a stronghold forRepublicans. Since2004, it has voted for the Republican presidential nominee with at least eighty percent of the vote every time. It wasHubert Humphrey's weakest county in the nation in1968 with only 3.64 percent of the vote.[18]
United States presidential election results for Blount County, Alabama[19]
Blount County is home to an abundance of outdoor activities, such asRickwood Caverns State Park and theLocust Fork of the Black Warrior River that are used by canoeists and kayakers. The county is also home to the picturesque covered bridges mentioned below: theSwann Covered Bridge, theHorton Mill Covered Bridge, and theEasley Covered Bridge. As of summer 2009, all three bridges were closed due to safety concerns at the recommendation of the Alabama Department of Transportation. Restorations were completed from 2011 through 2013 and they are once again open.[20][21]
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