Coffee County comprises theEnterprise,Micropolitan Statistical Area, which was originallyEnterprise–Ozark micropolitan area in 2010 censuses before being split off.[3] It was originally included in theDothan-Enterprise-Ozark,Combined Statistical Area in its 2012 statistics but the area in its recent years has been separated from the Dothan metropolitan area and Ozark micropolitan area in later censuses and is its own primarystatistical area now.[4][5] Despite the census change of the statistics by theUnited States Census Bureau, the county still remains culturally connected alongside the two core based areas as it is commonly described as part of what is called theWiregrass region together and also it shares its locations ofUnited States Army base,Fort Rucker. Thecounty seat is mostly known asElba, although Enterprise contains a second county courthouse as well.[6]
The land in Coffee County was originally part ofDale County, which was incorporated in 1824. Coffee County was formed from the western part of Dale County on December 29, 1841.[7] It was named afterJohn R. Coffee,[8] a soldier in theCreek War of 1813—14. The first county seat was in Wellborn. After the courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1851, the county seat was moved to Elba.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 680 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 679 square miles (1,760 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.2%) is water.[9] The county is located in theWiregrass region of southeast Alabama.
Coffee 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[18] of 2010, there were 49,948 people, 19,849 households, and 13,837 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 74 people per square mile (29 people/km2). There were 22,330 housing units at an average density of 33 units per square mile (13 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.7%White, 16.7%Black orAfrican American, 1.3%Native American, 1.3%Asian, 0.2%Pacific Islander, 3.2% fromother races, and 2.5% from two or more races. 6.4% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
The largest self-reported ancestry groups in Coffee County were English (59.9%), German (4.4%), Irish (3.3%), "American" (3.1%), (1.8%), Scottish (1.2%) and Portuguese (1.0%).
There were 19,849 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% weremarried couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.3 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,253, and the median income for a family was $54,929. Males had a median income of $41,635 versus $29,082 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $22,797. About 14.1% of families and 17.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Coffee County is reliablyRepublican at the presidential level. The lastDemocrat to win the county in a presidential election isJimmy Carter, who won it by a majority in1976.
United States presidential election results for Coffee County, Alabama[19]
