Montgomery metropolitan area | |
|---|---|
| Montgomery, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area | |
 TheAlabama State Capitol in 2016 | |
 | |
| Coordinates:32°21′42″N86°16′45″W / 32.3617°N 86.2792°W /32.3617; -86.2792 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alabama |
| Largest city | Montgomery |
| Other cities | -Prattville -Millbrook -Wetumpka -Selma |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,786 sq mi (7,220 km2) |
| Population | |
• Total | 386,047 (2,020)[1] |
| • Rank | 142nd in the U.S. |
| • Density | 211.4/sq mi (81.63/km2) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | $22.080 billion (2022) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (CDT) |
TheMontgomery metropolitan area (commonly known as theTri-Counties or theRiver Region) is ametropolitan area in centralAlabama. As of 2020, the MSA had a population of 386,047, ranking it 142nd amongUnited States Metropolitan Statistical Areas. That number is up +3.07% from the 2010 census number of 374,536.
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 346,528 people, 129,717 households, and 90,298 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 57.32%White, 40.27%African American, 0.31%Native American, 0.77%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.37% fromother races, and 0.94% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
The median income for a household in the MSA was $35,567, and the median income for a family was $42,304. Males had a median income of $31,881 versus $22,995 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $16,996.
The originalMontgomery–Alexander CityCombined Statistical Area (CSA) was made up of six counties in central Alabama. The statistical area included the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical area and the formerAlexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area, composed ofCoosa andTallapoosa Counties. As of the 2000 Census, the CSA had a population of 400,205 (though a July 1, 2009 estimate placed the population at 417,965).[4] In 2013, the United StatesOffice of Management and Budget removed the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area and Montgomery-Alexander City Combined Statistical Area from the list of metropolitan areas.[5]
In September of 2018 the OMB reinstated Montgomery CSA. Officially named theMontgomery–Selma–Alexander City, ALCSA, it consisted of the 4 county Montgomery MSA, the Selma, AL (Dallas County) micropolitan area, and a re-added Alexander City (Coosa County andTallapoosa County) micropolitan area. This seven-county area was, to date, the largest extent of the Montgomery area.
When the OMB revised its definitions in 2023, Alexander City was again removed from the CSA with Tallapoosa County added to the nearbyColumbus–Auburn–Opelika combined statistical area and with Coosa County becoming part of theTalladega–Sylacauga Micropolitan Statistical Area.[6]
The current CSA (Montgomery–Selma, AL CSA) consists of one metropolitan area and one micropolitan area, totaling five counties:
| Year | DEM | GOP | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 47.4%78,178 | 49.5%81,560 | 3.1%5,057 |
| 2012 | 49.8%84,149 | 49.5%83,720 | 0.7%1,240 |
| 2008 | 48.2%82,009 | 51.2%87,020 | 0.5%948 |
| 2004 | 42.0%60,622 | 57.6%83,135 | 0.5%675 |
| 2000 | 44.3%56,522 | 54.3%69,235 | 1.4%1,826 |
| 1996 | 44.7%53,897 | 51.1%61,599 | 4.1%4,980 |
| 1992 | 40.8%51,884 | 48.8%62,141 | 10.4%13,248 |
| 1988 | 39.3%40,205 | 59.8%61,216 | 0.9%944 |
| 1984 | 39.1%42,337 | 60.0%65,001 | 0.8%913 |
| 1980 | 42.7%41,837 | 53.3%52,249 | 4.0%4,000 |
| 1976 | 47.8%39,659 | 50.6%42,044 | 1.6%1,338 |
| 1972 | 26.1%18,540 | 71.7%50,968 | 2.2%1,584 |
| 1968 | 23.8%16,513 | 12.1%8,387 | 64.1%44,476[8] |
| 1964 | – | 78.0%33,708 | 22.0%9,515 |
| 1960 | 48.6%14,981 | 49.6%15,278 | 1.8%555 |
For the first half of the 20th century, the Montgomery metropolitan area leaned towards the Democratic Party, as did the rest of theSolid South. It was one of the first regions in Alabama to flip towards the Republican Party, narrowly voting forRichard Nixon in 1960. With the one exception ofGeorge Wallace's third-party win in 1968, the Montgomery MSA would continue voting for Republicans, by varying margins, untilBarack Obama's narrow victory there in 2012. No candidate has won the MSA by more than 3 percentage points in the most recent three presidential elections.
Interstate 65
Interstate 85
U.S. Highway 31
U.S. Highway 80
U.S. Highway 82
U.S. Highway 231
U.S. Highway 33132°21′42″N86°16′45″W / 32.36167°N 86.27917°W /32.36167; -86.27917
