Coosa County, Alabama

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

County Seat: Rockford
Year Organized: 1832
Square Miles: 652

Court House:

P.O. Box 10
County Courthouse
Rockford, AL 35136-0010
Phone: (256) 377-2420
Fax:

Named: It was named for the Coosa River, which forms its western boundary. The word "Coosa" is believed to mean "cane-brake" in the Alibama-Kossati Indian dialect.

State & County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

History

Coosa County, Alabama

Formed by the Alabama legislature on 1832 Dec. 18, from lands included in the Creek Indian Treaty of Cusseta, 1832 Mar. 24. It was named for the Coosa River, which forms its western boundary. The word "Coosa" is believed to mean "cane-brake" in the Alibama-Kossati Indian dialect. Coosa County lies in the east-central part of the state. It is bordered by Shelby, Talladega, Clay, Tallapoosa, Elmore, and Chilton counties. It currently comprises 675 square miles. A site on Albert Crumpler's plantation on Hatchemalega Creek was chosen as the county seat and given the name Lexington. In 1835 the name was changed to Rockford. Other towns and communities include Equality, Nixburg, and Goodwater.

According to the census of 2000, there were 12,202 people, 4,682 households, and 3,408 families living in the county. The population density was 7/km² (19/mi²). There were 6,142 housing units at an average density of 4/km² (9/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.94% White, 34.19% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 1.29% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,682 households out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,873, and the median income for a family was $36,082. Males had a median income of $25,390 versus $18,171 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,875. About 11.80% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of that age 65 or over.

Neighboring Counties:

North: Talladega County
Northeast: Clay County
East: Tallapoosa County
Southeast: Elmore County
West: Chilton County
Northwest: Shelby County

Cities:

Equality
Goodwater
Kellyton
Nixburg
Rockford (County Seat)
Weogufka

County Resources:

Enter County Resources and Information Here

Coosa County, Alabama

County Resource Guide

The history of our nation can be seen as a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names we've given our counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic features of our country!"

But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.

Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally, act locally."

Penn Foster High School

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