Butler County was formed fromConecuh County, Alabama, andMonroe County, Alabama, by an act passed December 13, 1819, by the Legislature while in session at Huntsville. This was the first session of the Legislature of Alabama as a State. The name of Fairfield was first proposed for this county, but was changed on the passage of the bill to Butler, in honor ofCaptain William Butler.
The precise date of the first settlement made by whites in Butler County is unclear. Some have it as early as 1814, but the earliest settler of no dispute is James K. Benson, who settled in the Flat in 1815, where he built a log house near the current location of Pine Flat Methodist Church. He was soon followed by William Ogly and John Dickerson and their families, who settled on the Federal Road, some 3 miles (4.8 km) south of where laterFort Dale was built. In the fall of 1816, a group of people from Georgia settled in a tent camp inPine Flat, and the year after, another group settled near Fort Dale.[2]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 778 square miles (2,020 km2), of which 777 square miles (2,010 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) (0.1%) is water.[3] It is located in theGulf Coastal Plain region of the state.
Butler 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[12] of 2000, there were 21,399 people, 8,398 households, and 5,870 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 28 people per square mile (11 people/km2). There were 9,957 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 58.38%White, 40.81%Black orAfrican American, 0.21%Native American, 0.16%Asian, 0.05% fromother races, and 0.39% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 8,398 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% weremarried couples living together, 18.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% 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 3.06.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $24,791, and the median income for a family was $30,915. Males had a median income of $28,968 versus $18,644 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,715. About 20.40% of families and 24.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 31.30% of those under age 18 and 28.60% of those age 65 or over.
^Latte, John Buckner (1971) [1885]. Little, Jr., John G. (ed.).History of Butler County, Alabama, 1815 to 1885. Greenville, AL. pp. 22–23.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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