Houston County, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Houston County is a county
of the U.S. state
of Alabama
. As of 2010 the population was 101,547. Its county seat
is Dothan
.
Houston County is part of the Dothan Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
Houston County is located in Alabama's Second Congressional District; its current Representative (as of 2011) is Martha Roby
(R).
of 2000, there were 88,787 people, 35,834 households, and 25,119 families residing in the county. The population density
was 153 people per square mile (59/km2). There were 39,571 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile (26/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.08% White
, 24.60% Black
or African American
, 0.37% Native American
, 0.62% Asian
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
, 0.39% from other races
, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 35,834 households out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples
living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,431, and the median income for a family was $42,437. Males had a median income of $32,092 versus $21,409 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $18,759. About 11.80% of families and 15.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.10% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. As of 2010 the population was 101,547. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
.
Houston County is part of the Dothan Metropolitan Statistical Area
Dothan metropolitan area
The Dothan Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in southeastern Alabama, anchored by the city of Dothan...
.
History
Houston County was established on February 9, 1903, from parts of Dale County, Geneva County and Henry County. It was named after George Smith Houston, a Governor of Alabama.Government
As of 2011, the County Chairman is held by Mark Culver, while William Dempsey is the Chief Administrative Officer. The County Commission is District 1, Curtis Harvey; District 2, Doug Sinquefield; District 3, Jackie Battles; and District 4, Phil Forrester. Andy Hughes serves as Sheriff, Probate Judge is Luke Cooley, Revenue Commissioner is Starla Moss Matthews.Houston County is located in Alabama's Second Congressional District; its current Representative (as of 2011) is Martha Roby
Martha Roby
Martha Dubina Roby is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Republican Party. She narrowly defeated incumbent Representative Bobby Bright on November 2 during the United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2010 and assumed office in January 2011.-Early life,...
(R).
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 581.65 square miles (1,506.5 km²), of which 580.36 square miles (1,503.1 km²) (or 99.78%) is land and 1.29 square miles (3.3 km²) (or 0.22%) is water.Major highways
U.S. Highway 84
U.S. Highway 231
U.S. Highway 431
State Route 52
State Route 53State Route 53 (Alabama)State Route 53 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Alabama. The majority, between Dothan and Huntsville, is signed as U.S. Highway 231 , but the two ends - south to Florida and north to I-65/US-31 near Tennessee - are independent...
State Route 95
Adjacent counties
- Henry CountyHenry County, AlabamaHenry County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Patrick Henry, famous orator and Governor of Virginia. As of 2010, its population was 17,302...
(north) - Early County, GeorgiaEarly County, GeorgiaEarly County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818 and was named for Peter Early. As of 2010, the population is 11,008. The county seat is Blakely.-Geography:...
(east) - Seminole County, GeorgiaSeminole County, GeorgiaSeminole County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 9,369. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 9,081. The county seat is Donalsonville.-History:...
(southeast) - Jackson County, FloridaJackson County, FloridaJackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The population as of the 2000 census was 46,755. As of 2005, the population was estimated to be 48,985 . Its county seat is Marianna, Florida.- History :...
(south) - Geneva CountyGeneva County, Alabama-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*86.3% White*9.5% Black*0.8% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*3.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
(west) - Dale CountyDale County, AlabamaDale County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General Samuel Dale. As of the 2010 census the population was 50,251...
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 88,787 people, 35,834 households, and 25,119 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 153 people per square mile (59/km2). There were 39,571 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile (26/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.08% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 24.60% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.37% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.62% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.39% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 35,834 households out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,431, and the median income for a family was $42,437. Males had a median income of $32,092 versus $21,409 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $18,759. About 11.80% of families and 15.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.10% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- AshfordAshford, AlabamaAshford is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,853 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a city; according to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 1,932...
- AvonAvon, AlabamaAvon is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 466. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 470....
- ColumbiaColumbia, AlabamaColumbia is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 804.-Geography:Columbia is located at . According to the U.S...
- CottonwoodCottonwood, AlabamaCottonwood is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,170.-Geography:Cottonwood is located at .According to the U.S...
- CowartsCowarts, AlabamaCowarts is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,546.-Geography:Cowarts is located at .According to the U.S...
- DothanDothan, AlabamaDothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
(parts of Dothan are in Dale CountyDale County, AlabamaDale County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General Samuel Dale. As of the 2010 census the population was 50,251...
and in Henry CountyHenry County, AlabamaHenry County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Patrick Henry, famous orator and Governor of Virginia. As of 2010, its population was 17,302...
) - GordonGordon, AlabamaGordon is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 408.-Geography:Gordon is located at .According to the U.S...
- KinseyKinsey, AlabamaKinsey is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,796....
- MadridMadrid, AlabamaMadrid is a town in Houston County, Alabama. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 303.-Geography:Madrid is located at .According to the U.S...
- RehobethRehobeth, AlabamaRehobeth is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 993.-Geography:Rehobeth is located at .According to the U.S...
- TaylorTaylor, AlabamaTaylor is a town in Geneva and Houston Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,898.-Geography:Taylor is located at ....
- WebbWebb, AlabamaWebb is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,298.-Geography:Webb is located at .According to the U.S...
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Houston County, Alabama
- Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Houston County, Alabama