Sumter County, Alabama | |
|---|---|
 Sumter County Courthouse in Livingston | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofAlabama | |
| Coordinates:32°35′30″N88°12′15″W / 32.591666666667°N 88.204166666667°W /32.591666666667; -88.204166666667 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alabama |
| Founded | December 18, 1832[1] |
| Named after | Thomas Sumter |
| Seat | Livingston |
| Largest city | Livingston |
| Area | |
• Total | 913 sq mi (2,360 km2) |
| • Land | 904 sq mi (2,340 km2) |
| • Water | 9.4 sq mi (24 km2) 1.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 12,345 |
• Estimate (2024) | 11,607 |
| • Density | 13.7/sq mi (5.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | sumtercountyal |
| |
Sumter County is acounty located in the west central portion ofAlabama.[1] At the2020 census, the population was 12,345.[2] Itscounty seat isLivingston.[3] Its name is in honor of GeneralThomas Sumter ofSouth Carolina.[1] TheUniversity of West Alabama is in Livingston.
Sumter County was established on December 18, 1832. From 1797 to 1832, Sumter County was part of theChoctaw Nation, which was made up of four main villages.[1] The first settlers in Sumter County were French explorers who had come north fromMobile. They built and settled atFort Tombecbee, near the modern-day town ofEpes. In 1830, with theTreaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the Choctaw Indians ceded the land that is now Sumter County to the government.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 913 square miles (2,360 km2), of which 904 square miles (2,340 km2) is land and 9.4 square miles (24 km2) (1.0%) is covered by water.[4] It is intersected by theNoxubee River.[5]
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Interstate 20.svg)
Interstate 59
U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 80
State Route 17
State Route 28
State Route 39
State Route 116| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 29,937 | — | |
| 1850 | 22,250 | −25.7% | |
| 1860 | 24,035 | 8.0% | |
| 1870 | 24,109 | 0.3% | |
| 1880 | 28,728 | 19.2% | |
| 1890 | 29,574 | 2.9% | |
| 1900 | 32,710 | 10.6% | |
| 1910 | 28,699 | −12.3% | |
| 1920 | 25,569 | −10.9% | |
| 1930 | 26,929 | 5.3% | |
| 1940 | 27,321 | 1.5% | |
| 1950 | 23,610 | −13.6% | |
| 1960 | 20,041 | −15.1% | |
| 1970 | 16,974 | −15.3% | |
| 1980 | 16,908 | −0.4% | |
| 1990 | 16,174 | −4.3% | |
| 2000 | 14,798 | −8.5% | |
| 2010 | 13,763 | −7.0% | |
| 2020 | 12,345 | −10.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 11,607 | [6] | −6.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[2] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 12,345. The median age was 39.3 years. 19.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 85.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 81.1 males age 18 and over.[11][12]
The racial makeup of the county was 24.1% White, 72.9%Black or African American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.2% from some other race, and 1.7% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.1% of the population.[12]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[13]
There were 5,020 households in the county, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 44.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 6,279 housing units, of which 20.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.6% were owner-occupied and 32.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.0%.[11]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[14] | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[16] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 3,813 | 3,304 | 2,937 | 25.77% | 24.01% | 23.79% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 10,718 | 10,283 | 8,955 | 72.43% | 74.71% | 72.54% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 14 | 11 | 26 | 0.09% | 0.08% | 0.21% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 15 | 33 | 102 | 0.10% | 0.24% | 0.83% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.07% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 70 | 45 | 182 | 0.47% | 0.33% | 1.47% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 165 | 86 | 131 | 1.12% | 0.62% | 1.06% |
| Total | 14,798 | 13,763 | 12,345 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of thecensus of 2010, 13,763 people resided in the county. About 75.0% wereBlack or African American, 24.2%White, 0.2%Asian, 0.1%Native American, 0.2% of some other race, and 0.3%of two or more races; 0.6% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race).
As of thecensus of 2000,[17] 14,798 people, 5,708 households and 3,664 families resided there. Thepopulation density was 16 people per square mile (6.2 people/km2). The 6,953 housing units averaged 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). Theracial make-up was 25.92% White, 73.17% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races and 0.52% from two or more races. Nearly 1.12% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Of the 5,708 households, 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.70% were married couples living together, 23.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.80% were not families. About 31.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55, and the average family size was 3.26.
29.10% of the population were under the age of 18, 12.20% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 19.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.20 males.
Themedian household income was $18,911 and the median family income was $23,176. Males had a median income of $28,059 and females $17,574. Theper capita income was $11,491. About 32.90% of families and 38.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 47.40% of those under age 18 and 36.10% of those age 65 or over.
Sumter County is part of the so-calledBlack Belt region of central Alabama. The region has suffered significant economic depression in recent years, but in April 2008,United States Steel announced plans to build at $150 million alloy plant near the community ofEpes about 50 miles (80 km) southwest ofTuscaloosa, Alabama.
The plant would require 250 workers to construct in a town of only 206. Up to 235 full-time jobs would be created when completed, with jobs paying about $50,000 annually. The state of Alabama offered $28 million in incentives to get the plant located in Sumter County.[18] The plant would make use of a new technology that produces a carbon alloy for use in steel making at the U.S. Steel plant inFairfield, Alabama nearBirmingham.[19] At the time of the announcement, the unemployment rate in Sumter County was 6.1%.[19]
In November 2008, U.S. Steel spokesman D. John Armstrong announced that plans to build the Epes facility had been placed on hold. “We’ve adjusted the timing of it, and we don’t know what the new timeline will be,” he said. “We’ve delayed construction, but we have not cancelled it.“[20]
To date, the Epes facility has not been built.[citation needed]
From 2009 to 2013, the county had amedian household income of $22,186 compared to a state figure of $45,253, making it the poorest county in the state.[21] By 2015, Sumter County remained the poorest county in Alabama, with a median household income of $19,501 in comparison to the state median household income of $43,623.[22]
TheUniversity of West Alabama is in Livingston.
The school district serving the county isSumter County School District. In addition, acharter school is located on the campus of the University of West Alabama,University Charter School.[23]
Until 2017, all schools in Sumter County werein practice entirelyracially segregated, as white parents sent their children toSumter Academy, a privatesegregation academy set up in 1970 in the wake of a federal court ruling ordering the school district to desegregate. During the 2015–16 school year, 98% of the 1,593 students in county's public schools were black, while none of the 170 students at Sumter Academy were black.[22] However, Sumter Academy closed in June 2017, while in August 2018, University Charter School opened, with a half-black, half-white enrollment, making it the county's first practically desegregated school.[24]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1836 | 789 | 55.56% | 631 | 44.44% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1840 | 1,308 | 52.57% | 1,180 | 47.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1844 | 927 | 46.63% | 1,061 | 53.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1848 | 820 | 51.54% | 771 | 48.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1852 | 482 | 49.03% | 497 | 50.56% | 4 | 0.41% |
| 1856 | 0 | 0.00% | 703 | 56.92% | 532 | 43.08% |
| 1860 | 0 | 0.00% | 136 | 10.53% | 1,155 | 89.47% |
| 1868 | 2,516 | 63.14% | 1,469 | 36.86% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1872 | 2,491 | 60.15% | 1,650 | 39.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1876 | 1,370 | 38.01% | 2,234 | 61.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1880 | 1,337 | 42.80% | 1,787 | 57.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 963 | 38.61% | 1,525 | 61.15% | 6 | 0.24% |
| 1888 | 819 | 28.34% | 2,060 | 71.28% | 11 | 0.38% |
| 1892 | 781 | 19.40% | 3,185 | 79.11% | 60 | 1.49% |
| 1896 | 1,459 | 41.72% | 1,834 | 52.44% | 204 | 5.83% |
| 1900 | 204 | 15.93% | 1,053 | 82.20% | 24 | 1.87% |
| 1904 | 16 | 1.77% | 883 | 97.46% | 7 | 0.77% |
| 1908 | 3 | 0.41% | 719 | 98.76% | 6 | 0.82% |
| 1912 | 9 | 1.25% | 701 | 97.09% | 12 | 1.66% |
| 1916 | 8 | 1.02% | 770 | 98.21% | 6 | 0.77% |
| 1920 | 15 | 1.36% | 1,088 | 98.37% | 3 | 0.27% |
| 1924 | 28 | 3.17% | 837 | 94.68% | 19 | 2.15% |
| 1928 | 191 | 15.84% | 1,015 | 84.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 26 | 1.97% | 1,293 | 98.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 24 | 1.72% | 1,369 | 98.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 46 | 3.17% | 1,404 | 96.76% | 1 | 0.07% |
| 1944 | 53 | 4.69% | 1,075 | 95.05% | 3 | 0.27% |
| 1948 | 52 | 4.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,061 | 95.33% |
| 1952 | 702 | 43.90% | 894 | 55.91% | 3 | 0.19% |
| 1956 | 578 | 34.59% | 981 | 58.71% | 112 | 6.70% |
| 1960 | 623 | 42.61% | 765 | 52.33% | 74 | 5.06% |
| 1964 | 1,653 | 80.32% | 0 | 0.00% | 405 | 19.68% |
| 1968 | 303 | 6.30% | 2,336 | 48.60% | 2,168 | 45.10% |
| 1972 | 2,686 | 49.19% | 2,737 | 50.12% | 38 | 0.70% |
| 1976 | 2,191 | 38.51% | 3,457 | 60.77% | 41 | 0.72% |
| 1980 | 2,104 | 29.23% | 5,015 | 69.66% | 80 | 1.11% |
| 1984 | 2,493 | 35.65% | 4,478 | 64.04% | 22 | 0.31% |
| 1988 | 2,212 | 33.36% | 4,390 | 66.21% | 28 | 0.42% |
| 1992 | 1,807 | 25.72% | 4,810 | 68.47% | 408 | 5.81% |
| 1996 | 1,561 | 24.18% | 4,706 | 72.89% | 189 | 2.93% |
| 2000 | 1,629 | 26.76% | 4,415 | 72.52% | 44 | 0.72% |
| 2004 | 1,880 | 29.22% | 4,527 | 70.37% | 26 | 0.40% |
| 2008 | 1,731 | 24.66% | 5,264 | 74.99% | 25 | 0.36% |
| 2012 | 1,586 | 22.56% | 5,421 | 77.11% | 23 | 0.33% |
| 2016 | 1,581 | 24.66% | 4,746 | 74.03% | 84 | 1.31% |
| 2020 | 1,598 | 25.40% | 4,648 | 73.88% | 45 | 0.72% |
| 2024 | 1,542 | 29.06% | 3,725 | 70.19% | 40 | 0.75% |
Sumter County has a high African American population and has been solidly Democratic since 1872. The only exception to this was when it voted forBarry Goldwater in 1964. In the 21st Century, Democrats have won the county with over 70% in every presidential election.
Sumter County is home to the University of West Alabama Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition in Livingston and the Coleman Center for the Arts inYork, Alabama. The historicAlamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge is also located on the University of West Alabama campus.
Places adjacent to Sumter County, Alabama | |
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Municipalities and communities ofSumter County, Alabama,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
32°35′30″N88°12′15″W / 32.59167°N 88.20417°W /32.59167; -88.20417
