Winston County, Alabama
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Winston County is a county of the State of Alabama. Its name is in honor of John A. Winston, a Governor of Alabama. As of 2000 the population was 24,843. Its county seat is Double Springs.
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History
Winston County was established under the name "Hancock County" on February 12, 1850. It was originally named for John Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts and famous signer of the American Declaration of Independence, with its county seat at Double Springs. On January 22, 1858, the county was renamed Winston County to honor Alabama Gov. John A. Winston. During the American Civil War, the county refused to join the Confederacy and declared itself the Republic of Winston. Today it is popularly and colloquially known as "the Free State of Winston." [reference: Owen, Thomas McAdory. History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1921]
The famous civil rights judge Frank M. Johnson of the Eleventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals was born in Winston County, near Haleyville.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,637 km² (632 mi²). 1,591 km² (614 mi²) of it is land and 45 km² (17 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.76% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 24,843 people, 10,107 households, and 7,287 families residing in the county. The population density is 16/km² (40/mi²). There are 12,502 housing units at an average density of 8/km² (20/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 97.32% White, 0.38% 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. 1.50% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 10,107 households out of which 31.80% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% are married couples living together, 9.10% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% are non-families. 25.60% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.40% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.43 and the average family size is 2.89.
In the county the population is spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $28,435, and the median income for a family is $32,628. Males have a median income of $26,206 versus $17,760 for females. The per capita income for the county is $15,738. 17.10% of the population and 12.90% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.80% of those under the age of 18 and 23.00% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
- Addison
- Arley
- Double Springs
- Haleyville (part - part of Haleyville is in Marion County)
- Lynn
- Natural Bridge
- Nauvoo (part - part of Nauvoo is in Walker County)
