According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 629 square miles (1,630 km2), of which 628 square miles (1,630 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.3%) is water.[3]
Fayette 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 the2020 census, the county had a population of 16,321. The median age was 44.3 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.5 males age 18 and over.[12][13]
The racial makeup of the county was 83.7% White, 10.6% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.4% of the population.[13]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[14]
There were 6,653 households in the county, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 7,760 housing units, of which 14.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.3% were owner-occupied and 24.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%.[12]
As of thecensus[15] of 2010, there were 17,241 people, 7,493 households, and 5,342 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 8,472 housing units at an average density of 14 units per square mile (5.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.92%White, 11.93%Black orAfrican American, 0.21%Native American, 0.15%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.27% fromother races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
As of 2012 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Fayette County were:
There were 7,493 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% weremarried couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 26.60% 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 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,539, and the median income for a family was $34,560. Males had a median income of $29,239 versus $20,606 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,439. About 13.10% of families and 17.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.
Of 3,143 counties in the United States in 2013, Fayette County ranked 2,882 in the longevity of male residents and 3,091 of female residents. Males in Fayette County lived an average of 71.2 years and females lived an average of 75.3 years compared to the national average for longevity of 76.5 for males and 81.2 for females. The average longevity of men in Fayette County increased by 2.0 years from 1985 to 2013 compared to a national average for the same period of an increased life span for men of 5.5 years. The average longevity, however, for females in Fayette County declined by 4.2 years between 1985 and 2013 compared to the national average for the same period of an increased life span of 3.1 years for women. High rates of smoking and obesity and a low rate of physical activity appear to be contributing factors to the low level of longevity for both sexes.[16]
One study concluded that Fayette County between 1985 and 2010 was one of the few U.S. counties which saw a decline in the longevity of women and that the decline in female longevity in Fayette Country was the largest of any county in the nation.[17]
Richard Arthur Field (Municipal)- A 5,000 ft (1,500 m) paved runway with JET A and 100LL fuel service. Located about 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of the city center.
Fayette County is reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election isBill Clinton, who won it by a plurality in1996.
United States presidential election results for Fayette County, Alabama[18]
