The area now known as Dale County was originally inhabited by members of theCreek Indian nation, who occupied all of southeastern Alabama during this period. Between the years of 1764 and 1783 this region fell under the jurisdiction of the colony ofBritish West Florida.[6] The county, together with the surrounding area, was ceded to theUnited States in the 1814Treaty of Fort Jackson, ending theCreek Indian Wars. A blockhouse had been constructed during the conflict on the northwestern side of theChoctawhatchee River, and the first non-Indian residents of Dale County would be veterans who began to settle in the area around 1820.[7]
Dale County was established on December 22, 1824. It originally included the whole of what is nowCoffee County andGeneva County, together with the "panhandle" portion ofHouston County. The original county seat was located at Dale's Court House (now the town ofDaleville), but when Coffee County split from Dale in 1841, the seat was moved toNewton. Here it remained until 1870 when, following a courthouse fire in 1869 and the formation of Geneva County (which took the southern third of Dale County), the county seat was moved to the town of Ozark, where it remains. In 1903 a small portion of the southeast part of Dale county was joined to the newly formed Houston County.
Portions of the15th Regiment of Alabama Infantry, which served with great distinction throughout theU.S. Civil War, were recruited in Dale County, with all of Co. "E" and part of Co. "H" being composed of Dale County residents. This unit is most famous for being the regiment that confronted the20th Maine on theLittle Round Top during theBattle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. Despite several ferocious assaults, the 15th was ultimately unable to dislodge the Union troops, and was ultimately forced to retreat after a desperate bayonet charge led by the 20th Maine's commander, Col.Joshua L. Chamberlain.[8][9] This assault was vividly recreated inRonald F. Maxwell's 1993 filmGettysburg. The 15th would continue to serve until the final capitulation of Lee's army atAppomattox Court House in 1865.
Another regiment recruited largely from Dale County was the33rd Alabama; Companies B, G and I were recruited in the county, with Co. G coming from Daleville; Co. B from Newton, Skipperville, Clopton, Echo and Barnes Cross Roads; and o. I from Newton, Haw Ridge, Rocky Head, Westville and Ozark.[10][11] This regiment fought with great distinction in theArmy of Tennessee, mostly under famed GeneralPatrick Cleburne, once winning theThanks of the Confederate Congress for its action atRinggold Gap. The regiment was largely annihilated during the battles ofPerryville andFranklin, but a few men survived and returned to Dale County after the war.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 563 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 561 square miles (1,450 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.3%) is water.[12] The county is located in theWiregrass region of southeast Alabama.
It is the fifth-smallest county in Alabama by land area and third-smallest by total area.
Dale 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[21] of 2010, there were 50,251 people, 20,065 households, and 13,721 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 90 people per square mile (35 people/km2). There were 22,677 housing units at an average density of 40 units per square mile (15 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.1%White, 19.3%Black orAfrican American, 0.7%Native American, 1.1%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 1.8% fromother races, and 3.0% from two or more races. 5.6% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 20,065 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% weremarried couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,353, and the median income for a family was $50,685. Males had a median income of $34,856 versus $24,569 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $21,722. 14.8% of the population and 11.4% of families were below thepoverty line. 19.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
As of thecensus[22] of 2000, there were 49,129 people, 18,878 households, and 13,629 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 88 people per square mile (34 people/km2). There were 21,779 housing units at an average density of 39 units per square mile (15 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.4%White, 20.4%Black orAfrican American, 0.60%Native American, 1.1%Asian, 0.15%Pacific Islander, 1.3% fromother races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 3.4% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 2.85% of the population reported speakingSpanish at home, while 1.51% speakGerman.[23]
There were 18,878 households, out of which 36% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55% weremarried couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.0.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,998, and the median income for a family was $37,806. Males had a median income of $29,844 versus $19,988 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,010. 15% of the population and 12.6% of families were below thepoverty line. 19.4% of those under the age of 18 and 16.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Dale County is reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election isJimmy Carter, who won it by a majority in1976.
United States presidential election results for Dale County, Alabama[24]
^Desjardin, Thomas A. (1995).Stand Firm Ye Boys from Maine: The 20th Maine and the Gettysburg Campaign. Thomas Publications. pp. 69–71.ISBN1-57747-034-6.
^Pfanz, Harry W. (1987).Gettysburg: The Second Day. University of North Carolina Press. p. 232.ISBN0-8078-1749-X.
