Autauga County, Alabama

Autauga County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

Named: The word "Autauga" comes from the Indian village Atagi, located on the Alabama River at the mouth of Autauga Creek.

History

Autauga County, Alabama

Alabama Territorial Legislature act was acknowledged on November 21, 1818 for Autauga County. As recognized, the county included present-day Autauga County, as well as Elmore County and Chilton County. At the time, Autauga Indians lived here, primarily in a village named Atagi (meaning "pure water") located on the banks of a creek by the same name (called "Pearl Water Creek" by settlers). Autaugas were members of the Alibamu clan. They sent many warriors to defend against Andrew Jackson's invasion in the Creek War. This county was part of the region ceded by the Creeks in the Treaty of Fort Jackson in 1814. The first county seat was at Jackson's Mill, but the court only met there long enough to select a stable seat at Washington, built on the former site of Atagi in the southeast corner of the county. In 1830 the county seat was moved to a more central location at Kingston and the town of Washington dwindled until it was completely deserted in the late 1830s.

Daniel Pratt arrived in Autauga County around 1833 and discovered the new town of Prattville, north of Atagi on the fall line of Autauga Creek. His cotton gin plant quickly became the largest company of gins in the world and the first major industry in Alabama. It was at his plant, and with his monetary backing, that the Prattville Dragoons, a fighting unit for the Confederacy was well thought-out in anticipation of Civil War. Other units formed in Autauga County included the Autauga Rifles (Autaugaville), The John Steele Guards (western Autauga Co.) and the Varina Rifles (northern Autauga Co.). None of the fighting of the Civil War reached Autauga County and Pratt was able to secure payment of debts from Northern accounts soon after the war, lessening the disabling effects of the rebuilding period in the county.

Charles Atwood, a former slave belonging to Daniel Pratt purchased a house in the center of Prattville soon after emancipation and was one of the founding investors in Pratt's South and North Railroad. The presence of such a prominent African-American family owning land in an Alabama city as early as the 1860s is extraordinary.

According to the census of 2000, there were 43,671 people, 16,003 households, and 12,354 families living in the county. The population density was 28/km² (73/mi²). There were 17,662 housing units at an average density of 11/km² (30/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.65% White, 17.11% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 1.40% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,003 households out of which 39.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.80% were non-families. 19.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.60% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,013, and the median income for a family was $48,458. Males had a median income of $35,168 versus $22,859 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,518. About 8.20% of families and 10.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of that age 65 or over.

Neighboring Counties:

• North: Chilton County
• East: Elmore County
• Southeast: Montgomery County
• South: Lowndes County
• Southwest: Dallas County

Cities:

• Autaugaville
• Billingsley
• Booth
• Independence
• Jones
• Marbury
• Mulberry
• Prattville (County Seat)
• Winslow
   

County Resources:

Autauga County School System, based in Autauga County, Alabama, has 13 schools and over 9,300 students as of 2005.

The schools are located in the communities of Billingsley, Pine Level, and Marbury, and the cities of Autaugaville and .