Dallas County, Alabama

Dallas County, Alabama is a county located in the Black Belt (region), near the Alabama River, and is part of the Selma Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county is home to the Selma to Montgomery Marches, a series of Civil Rights Movement protests led by Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, and John Lewis (civil rights leader). The county seat, Selma, is situated near the Edmund Pettus Bridge, a site of significant historical importance during the Selma to Montgomery Marches. The county is also close to the Tuscaloosa Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Birmingham Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

Dallas County is located in the central part of the state, near the Alabama River, and is bordered by Chilton County to the northeast, Autauga County to the east, Lowndes County to the southeast, Wilcox County to the southwest, and Marengo County to the west. The county is part of the Black Belt (region), a region known for its rich soil and agricultural production. The county is also home to the Cahaba River, a tributary of the Alabama River, and the Selma Micropolitan Statistical Area. Nearby cities include Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Montgomery, the state capital.

History

Dallas County was established on February 9, 1818, and was named after Alexander J. Dallas, the United States Secretary of the Treasury under President James Madison. The county played a significant role in the American Civil War, with the Battle of Selma taking place in the county seat, Selma, in 1865. The county was also a major site of activity during the Civil Rights Movement, with the Selma to Montgomery Marches passing through the county in 1965. Notable figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X were involved in the movement, which aimed to secure voting rights for African Americans. The county is also home to the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, which commemorates the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the population of the county was 38,388, with a racial makeup of 73.4% African American, 24.5% White, and 1.1% Asian. The median household income was $28,514, and the per capita income was $15,305. The county is part of the Selma Micropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of over 50,000 people. Nearby cities include Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama, and Birmingham, a major Metropolitan Statistical Area in the state.

Transportation

The county is served by U.S. Route 80, which passes through the county seat, Selma, and connects to nearby cities such as Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. The county is also served by Alabama State Route 14, which connects to Montgomery, the state capital. The Selma Micropolitan Statistical Area is also served by the Craig Field Airport, a public airport that offers flights to nearby cities. The county is also close to the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, a major airport that serves the Birmingham Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Education

The county is served by the Dallas County School System, which operates several schools in the county, including Selma High School and Southside High School. The county is also home to Concordia College Alabama, a private HBCU that was founded in 1922. Nearby institutions of higher education include the University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Tuskegee University, a private HBCU that was founded in 1881 by Booker T. Washington.

Communities

The county seat, Selma, is the largest city in the county, with a population of over 20,000 people. Other communities in the county include Valley Grande, Orrville, and Sardis. The county is also home to several unincorporated communities, including Bogue Chitto and Cahaba. Nearby cities include Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Montgomery, the state capital. The county is also close to the Black Belt (region), a region known for its rich soil and agricultural production. Category:Alabama counties