Hale County, Alabama
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Hale County is a county of the State of Alabama. It is named in honor of Confederate Colonel Stephen F. Hale. As of 2000 the population was 17,185. Its county seat is Greensboro.
Hale County, one of the poorest counties in Alabama's poverty-stricken "Black Belt," is connected to three major twentieth century artists: Walker Evans photographed the area in 1936 while he collaborated with James Agee on the 1941 book Now Let Us Praise Famous Men. Since the 1960s, artist William Christenberry, born in Tuscaloosa, has been photographing various structures in Hale County as part of his multi-media artistic investigations. More recently, Hale County has become the home of the nationally-recognized Auburn University Rural Studio, an architectural outreach program founded by architect and artist Samuel Mockbee and D. K. Ruth.
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History
Hale County was established on January 30, 1867.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,700 km² (656 mi²). 1,667 km² (644 mi²) of it is land and 33 km² (13 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.94% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 17,185 people, 6,415 households, and 4,605 families residing in the county. The population density is 10/km² (27/mi²). There are 7,756 housing units at an average density of 5/km² (12/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 39.83% White, 58.95% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 6,415 households out of which 36.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.60% are married couples living together, 22.00% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% are non-families. 26.40% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.63 and the average family size is 3.19.
In the county the population is spread out with 29.60% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 89.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $25,807, and the median income for a family is $31,875. Males have a median income of $28,493 versus $19,363 for females. The per capita income for the county is $12,661. 26.90% of the population and 22.20% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 34.00% of those under the age of 18 and 26.70% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
- Akron
- Greensboro
- Moundville (partial; part of Moundville is in Tuscalosoosa County)
- Newbern
