DeKalb County, Alabama

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

County Seat: Fort Payne
Year Organized: 1836
Square Miles: 778

Court House:

111 Grand Avenue, SW Sutie 200
County Courthouse
Fort Payne, AL 35967-1970
Phone: (256) 845-8500
Fax: (256) 845-8502

Named: It was named for Maj. Gen. John Baron DeKalb, a hero of the American Revolution.

State & County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

History

DeKalb County, Alabama

Formed by the Alabama legislature on 1836 Jan. 9, from land ceded to the Federal government by the Cherokee Nation. It was named for Maj. Gen. John Baron DeKalb, a hero of the American Revolution. The county is located in the northeast corner of the state, and is bordered on the north by Jackson County, on the west by Marshall County, on the south by Etowah and Cherokee counties, and on the east by the State of Georgia. It currently encompasses 778 square miles. The county seat is Fort Payne. Other towns and communities include Collinsville, Crossville, Fyffe, Mentone, and Valley Head.

According to the census of 2000, there were 64,452 people, 25,113 households, and 18,432 families living in the county. The population density was 32/km² (83/mi²). There were 28,051 housing units at an average density of 14/km² (36/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.55% White, 1.68% Black or African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.10% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 5.55% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 25,113 households out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,137, and the median income for a family was $35,801. Males had a median income of $28,878 versus $19,103 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,818. About 11.70% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 20.50% of that age 65 or over.

Neighboring Counties:

Northeast: Dade County, Ga.; Walker County, Ga.
East: Chattooga County, Ga.
Southeast: Cherokee County
Southwest: Etowah County
West: Marshall County
Northwest: Jackson County

Cities:

Collinsville
Crossville
Dawson
Fort Payne (County Seat)
Ft Payne
Fyffe
Geraldine
Groveoak
Henagar
Ider
Mentone
Rainsville
Sylvania
Valley Head

County Resources:

Enter County Resources and Information Here

DeKalb 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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