Baldwin County, Alabama
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Map_of_Alabama_highlighting_Baldwin_County.png
Image:Map of Alabama highlighting Baldwin County.png
Baldwin County, Alabama is a county of the State of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Abraham Baldwin, a member of the United States Senate from Georgia. As of 2000 the population is 140,415. Its county seat is Bay Minette.
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History
- Baldwin County was established on December 21, 1809.
- The county was declared a disaster area in September 1979 due to damage from Hurricane Frederic.
- In the first days of Baldwin County, the Town of McIntosh Bluff (now in Mobile County, Alabama, West of Baldwin County) on the Tombigbee River was the County Seat. After being transferred to the Town of Blakeley in 1810, the County Seat was later moved to the City of Daphne in 1868. In 1900, by an Act of the Legislature of Alabama, the County Seat was authorized for relocation to the City of Bay Minette, however, the City of Daphne resisted relocation. In order to relocate the County Seat to the City of Bay Minette, the men of Bay Minette devised a scheme. To lure the Sheriff and his Deputy out of the City of Daphne, the men prefabricated a murder. While the law was chasing down the fictitious killer during the late hours, the group of Bay Minette men stealthily traveled the thirty (30) miles to the City of Daphne, stole the Baldwin County Courthouse records, and delivered them to the City of Bay Minette - where Baldwin County's County Seat remains to this day. (Taken from http://www.co.baldwin.al.us/PageView.asp?PageType=R&edit_id=156)
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,250 km² (2,027 mi²). 4,135 km² (1,596 mi²) of it is land and 1,115 km² (431 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 21.24% water.
Adjacent counties
- Monroe County, Alabama - northeast
- Escambia County, Florida - east
- Escambia County, Alabama - east
- Mobile County, Alabama - west
- Washington County, Alabama - northwest
- Clarke County, Alabama - northwest
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 140,415 people, 55,336 households, and 40,284 families residing in the county. The population density is 34/km² (88/mi²). There are 74,285 housing units at an average density of 18/km² (46/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 87.15% White, 10.29% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 55,336 households out of which 31.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% are married couples living together, 10.20% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% are non-families. 23.30% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.50% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.50 and the average family size is 2.94.
In the county the population is spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $40,250, and the median income for a family is $47,028. Males have a median income of $34,507 versus $23,069 for females. The per capita income for the county is $20,826. 10.10% of the population and 7.60% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.10% of those under the age of 18 and 8.90% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
- Bay Minette
- Daphne
- Elberta
- Fairhope
- Foley
- Gulf Shores
- Loxley
- Orange Beach
- Point Clear
- Robertsdale
- Silverhill
- Spanish Fort
- Summerdale
