Winston County, Alabama | |
|---|---|
 Winston County Courthouse in Double Springs | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofAlabama | |
| Coordinates:34°08′57″N87°22′29″W / 34.149166666667°N 87.374722222222°W /34.149166666667; -87.374722222222 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alabama |
| Founded | February 12, 1850[1] |
| Named after | John A. Winston |
| Seat | Double Springs |
| Largest city | Haleyville |
| Area | |
• Total | 632 sq mi (1,640 km2) |
| • Land | 613 sq mi (1,590 km2) |
| • Water | 19 sq mi (49 km2) 3.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 23,540 |
• Estimate (2024) | 23,869 |
| • Density | 38.4/sq mi (14.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
| |
Winston County is acounty of theU.S. state ofAlabama. As of the2020 census, the population was 23,540.[2] Itscounty seat isDouble Springs.[3] Known as Hancock County before 1858,[1] the county is named in honor ofJohn A. Winston, the fifteenthGovernor of Alabama. The county had few slaves and has been a bastion of Republican Party loyalty for much of its history, even during the many decades of Democrat Party domination across much of the South and in the state of Alabama after theReconstruction era.
Hancock County was established February 12, 1850, from territory that was formerly part of Walker County (a county directly to the south of Winston County).[1] It was originally named forJohn Hancock,Governor of Massachusetts and famous signer of theAmerican Declaration of Independence, with its county seat at Houston. On January 22, 1858, the county was renamed Winston County to honor Alabama Gov.John A. Winston.
During theAmerican Civil War, Winston County gained attention for its opposition tosecession, a sentiment so strong that the county is sometimes referred to as theFree State of Winston.[4] This area had few slaves and saw little benefit to secession.[5] The county today plays on its reputation as the "Free State of Winston" to attract tourists. The county's opposition to the Confederacy is briefly mentioned in the novelsTo Kill a Mockingbird andAddie Pray.
In 1883, the county seat was moved fromHouston, Alabama to Double Springs to be near the center of the county, sinceCullman County was created from the eastern part of Winston County.[6]
Winston County has four sites listed on theNational Register of Historic Places:Archeological Site No. 1WI50,Feldman's Department Store, theHouston Jail, and theWinston County Courthouse.[7]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 631 square miles (1,630 km2), of which 613 square miles (1,590 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) (3.0%) is water.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,542 | — | |
| 1860 | 3,576 | 131.9% | |
| 1870 | 4,155 | 16.2% | |
| 1880 | 4,253 | 2.4% | |
| 1890 | 6,552 | 54.1% | |
| 1900 | 9,554 | 45.8% | |
| 1910 | 12,855 | 34.6% | |
| 1920 | 14,378 | 11.8% | |
| 1930 | 15,596 | 8.5% | |
| 1940 | 18,746 | 20.2% | |
| 1950 | 18,250 | −2.6% | |
| 1960 | 14,858 | −18.6% | |
| 1970 | 16,654 | 12.1% | |
| 1980 | 21,953 | 31.8% | |
| 1990 | 22,053 | 0.5% | |
| 2000 | 24,843 | 12.7% | |
| 2010 | 24,484 | −1.4% | |
| 2020 | 23,540 | −3.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 23,869 | [9] | 1.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12] 1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[2] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 23,540. The median age was 45.6 years. 20.3% 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 96.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.4 males age 18 and over.[14][15]
The racial makeup of the county was 92.4% White, 0.6%Black or African American, 0.5%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 4.5% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.5% of the population.[15]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 9,845 households in the county, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 13,015 housing units, of which 24.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.6% were owner-occupied and 23.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.6%.[14]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[17] | Pop 2010[18] | Pop 2020[19] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 24,055 | 23,237 | 21,598 | 96.83% | 94.91% | 91.75% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 93 | 115 | 131 | 0.37% | 0.47% | 0.56% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 107 | 139 | 83 | 0.43% | 0.57% | 0.35% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 30 | 59 | 58 | 0.12% | 0.24% | 0.25% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 8 | 9 | 0.01% | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 8 | 4 | 39 | 0.03% | 0.02% | 0.17% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 176 | 283 | 807 | 0.71% | 1.16% | 3.43% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 372 | 639 | 815 | 1.50% | 2.61% | 3.46% |
| Total | 24,843 | 24,484 | 23,540 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
At the2010 census there were 24,484 people, 10,163 households, and 7,074 families living in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 13,469 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 95.6% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Nearly 2.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[20]There were 10,163 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. Nearly 27.1% of households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 2.86.
The age distribution was 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.
The median household income was $33,685 and the median family income was $39,784. Males had a median income of $38,074 versus $23,301 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,055. 15.4% of the population and 20.6% of families were below thepoverty line. 31.4% of those under the age of 18 and 14.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
At the2000 census there were 24,843 people, 10,107 households, and 7,287 families living in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 12,502 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 97.32% White, 0.038% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Nearly 1.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[21]There were 10,107 households, 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. Nearly 25.6% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 2.89.
The age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.
The median household income was $28,435 and the median family income was $32,628. Males had a median income of $26,206 versus $17,760 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,738. 17.1% of the population and 12.9% of families were below thepoverty line. 21.8% of those under the age of 18 and 23% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
At the2010 US Religion Census:[22]
Unlike nearly every other county in theDeep South, and in keeping withits history during theAmerican Civil War, Winston County has always been a bastion of support for theRepublican Party, even as theDemocratic Party utterly dominated Alabama state politics from the end ofReconstruction until the passage of theCivil Rights Act of 1964. The county elected Populist candidateJames B. Weaver in 1892.[23] In 1912, Winston County joined just three other Alabama counties in voting for theBull Moose Party candidacy ofTheodore Roosevelt.[24] From 1915 to 1919 it was represented by Republican lawyerChester Tubb in theAlabama House of Representatives.[25] In 1932, the county backed DemocratFranklin D. Roosevelt by just a single vote, even while Roosevelt carried the state as a whole overwhelmingly. In four consecutive presidential elections from1936 to1948, Winston County was the only county in the state to vote for the Republican ticket, and one of just 2 in the Deep South to vote Republican in all four of those elections, that county beingFannin County in Georgia.[26]
The only Democrat to win the county since 1936 (or to get a majority in it since 1880) has beenJimmy Carter in1976, and in recent times Winston County has become comparably Republican to theTexas Panhandle.[23] Winston County did vote for George Wallace in 1968, who was the Democratic candidate in the state. Winston was the only county in Alabama to give a majority of its votes to Republican candidateThomas E. Dewey in1948 over DixiecratStrom Thurmond.[citation needed] In2024, RepublicanDonald Trump won just over 91.4% of the vote in Winston County, the best for any candidate in the county since 1856.[27]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1852 | 9 | 12.16% | 65 | 87.84% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1856 | 0 | 0.00% | 221 | 94.04% | 14 | 5.96% |
| 1860 | 0 | 0.00% | 147 | 37.69% | 243 | 62.31% |
| 1868 | 284 | 87.93% | 39 | 12.07% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1872 | 433 | 80.48% | 105 | 19.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1876 | 454 | 65.70% | 237 | 34.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1880 | 126 | 45.82% | 149 | 54.18% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 184 | 58.41% | 131 | 41.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1888 | 323 | 59.48% | 220 | 40.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1892 | 2 | 0.18% | 526 | 47.99% | 568 | 51.82% |
| 1896 | 589 | 62.07% | 349 | 36.78% | 11 | 1.16% |
| 1900 | 519 | 47.75% | 539 | 49.59% | 29 | 2.67% |
| 1904 | 789 | 55.21% | 602 | 42.13% | 38 | 2.66% |
| 1908 | 949 | 67.59% | 443 | 31.55% | 12 | 0.85% |
| 1912 | 292 | 17.18% | 508 | 29.88% | 900 | 52.94% |
| 1916 | 1,107 | 59.94% | 727 | 39.36% | 13 | 0.70% |
| 1920 | 2,307 | 68.99% | 1,037 | 31.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 1,096 | 61.02% | 650 | 36.19% | 50 | 2.78% |
| 1928 | 2,085 | 75.96% | 659 | 24.01% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1932 | 1,005 | 49.78% | 1,006 | 49.83% | 8 | 0.40% |
| 1936 | 1,428 | 52.77% | 1,270 | 46.93% | 8 | 0.30% |
| 1940 | 1,686 | 54.55% | 1,394 | 45.10% | 11 | 0.36% |
| 1944 | 1,538 | 62.52% | 912 | 37.07% | 10 | 0.41% |
| 1948 | 1,588 | 64.34% | 0 | 0.00% | 880 | 35.66% |
| 1952 | 2,017 | 59.05% | 1,390 | 40.69% | 9 | 0.26% |
| 1956 | 2,998 | 65.60% | 1,570 | 34.35% | 2 | 0.04% |
| 1960 | 3,421 | 67.01% | 1,681 | 32.93% | 3 | 0.06% |
| 1964 | 3,438 | 71.19% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,391 | 28.81% |
| 1968 | 2,174 | 39.33% | 258 | 4.67% | 3,095 | 56.00% |
| 1972 | 4,971 | 86.14% | 779 | 13.50% | 21 | 0.36% |
| 1976 | 3,710 | 47.15% | 4,134 | 52.54% | 24 | 0.31% |
| 1980 | 4,981 | 59.04% | 3,368 | 39.92% | 87 | 1.03% |
| 1984 | 6,845 | 72.22% | 2,624 | 27.69% | 9 | 0.09% |
| 1988 | 6,235 | 67.59% | 2,954 | 32.02% | 36 | 0.39% |
| 1992 | 5,550 | 55.01% | 3,415 | 33.85% | 1,124 | 11.14% |
| 1996 | 4,728 | 54.80% | 3,120 | 36.17% | 779 | 9.03% |
| 2000 | 6,413 | 68.82% | 2,692 | 28.89% | 213 | 2.29% |
| 2004 | 8,130 | 78.00% | 2,236 | 21.45% | 57 | 0.55% |
| 2008 | 8,103 | 80.78% | 1,757 | 17.52% | 171 | 1.70% |
| 2012 | 8,312 | 85.44% | 1,286 | 13.22% | 130 | 1.34% |
| 2016 | 9,228 | 89.48% | 872 | 8.46% | 213 | 2.07% |
| 2020 | 10,195 | 90.35% | 974 | 8.63% | 115 | 1.02% |
| 2024 | 10,191 | 91.41% | 884 | 7.93% | 74 | 0.66% |
U.S. Highway 278
State Route 5
State Route 13
State Route 33
State Route 129
State Route 195
State Route 243Lawyer and politicianChester Tubb lived and worked in the county, including as its solicitor. JudgeFrank Minis Johnson of theU.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit was born inDelmar, in Winston County.
Places adjacent to Winston County, Alabama | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Municipalities and communities ofWinston County, Alabama,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
34°08′57″N87°22′29″W / 34.14917°N 87.37472°W /34.14917; -87.37472
