The area included in today'sCherokee County, for centuries, had belonged to theMuscogee (Creek) Nation ofNative Americans. Cherokees began moving into the area a generation before the forcedIndian Removal. To this day, there are few Native Americans in Cherokee County.
On January 9, 1836, the Alabama legislature created Cherokee County with its present boundaries.[3] Two years later, the United States government removed, by force, all Cherokees who had refused to leave on what would become known as theTrail of Tears.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 600 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 554 square miles (1,430 km2) (or 92.19%) is land and 46 square miles (120 km2) (7.7%) is water.[4] It is the second-smallest county in Alabama by land area.
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 24,971. The median age was 47.7 years. 19.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.5% 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 95.9 males age 18 and over.[10][11]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[12]
There were 10,411 households in the county, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]
There were 14,513 housing units, of which 28.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.2% were owner-occupied and 20.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.[10]
Cherokee 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 of 2010,[16] there were 25,989 people, 10,626 households, and 7,493 families living in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile (18 people/km2). There were 16,267 housing units at an average density of 27 units per square mile (10 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 92.7% White, 4.6% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 1.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 10,626 households 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 26.0% of households were one person and 10.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.89.
The age distribution was 21.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% 65 or older. The median age was 43.9 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.
The median household income was $40,690 and the median family income was $47,365. Males had a median income of $40,050 versus $27,352 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,322. About 13.7% of families and 17.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 23,988 people, 9,719 households, and 7,201 families living in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile (17 people/km2). There were 14,025 housing units at an average density of 25 units per square mile (9.7 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 92.83% White, 5.54% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[17]Of the 9,719 households 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.90% of households were one person and 10.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.86.
The age distribution was 22.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.
The median household income was $30,874 and the median family income was $36,920. Males had a median income of $29,978 versus $20,958 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,543. About 11.80% of families and 15.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over.
Historically Democratic, Cherokee County became competitive by the end of the 20th century and is now reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election isBill Clinton, who won it by a comfortable margin in1996.
United States presidential election results for Cherokee County, Alabama[20]
