Lowndes County, Alabama

Lowndes County, Alabama
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County	Lowndes County
State	Alabama
Founded	January 20, 1830
Seat	Hayneville
Largest	Fort Deposit

Lowndes County, Alabama is a county located in the Black Belt (region), near the Alabama River, and is part of the Montgomery, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is named after William Lowndes (congressman), a South Carolina congressman, and is home to the Lowndes County Courthouse, a historic building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The county is also close to the Tuskegee National Forest and the Tuskegee University, a historically African American university founded by Booker T. Washington. The county is surrounded by Autauga County, Alabama, Chilton County, Alabama, Crenshaw County, Alabama, Dallas County, Alabama, and Montgomery County, Alabama.

Geography

Lowndes County is located in the central part of Alabama, near the Georgia border, and covers an area of approximately 725 square miles. The county is bordered by the Alabama River to the north and the Tallapoosa River to the east, and is part of the Black Belt (region), a region known for its rich soil and agricultural production. The county is also home to the Freedom National Forest and the Tuskegee National Forest, which provide opportunities for hunting and fishing. The county's terrain is characterized by rolling hills and piedmont plains, and is near the Cahaba River and the Coosa River. The county is also close to the Selma to Montgomery Marches, a series of Civil Rights Movement marches led by Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, and John Lewis (civil rights leader).

History

Lowndes County was established on January 20, 1830, and was named after William Lowndes (congressman), a South Carolina congressman. The county was formed from parts of Butler County, Alabama, Dallas County, Alabama, and Montgomery County, Alabama, and was originally inhabited by the Creek Nation. The county played a significant role in the American Civil War, with the Battle of Fort Deposit taking place in the county in 1865. The county was also home to the Tuskegee Institute, a historically African American university founded by Booker T. Washington, and was a major center for the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, with notable figures such as Rosa Parks, Fred Shuttlesworth, and Andrew Young involved in the movement. The county is also close to the Selma to Montgomery Marches and the Edmund Pettus Bridge, a site of significant civil rights activism.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population of Lowndes County was approximately 10,311 people, with a racial makeup of 73.5% African American, 24.5% White American, and 2.0% Asian American. The county has a median household income of $25,436 and a median family income of $31,438, with 34.6% of the population living below the poverty line. The county is also home to a significant number of Veterans of the United States Armed Forces, with many residents having served in the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps. The county is close to the Maxwell Air Force Base and the Redstone Arsenal, major military installations in the state.

Transportation

Lowndes County is served by several major highways, including U.S. Route 80, U.S. Route 31, and Alabama State Route 21. The county is also home to the Lowndes County Airport, a public airport that provides general aviation services. The county is close to the Montgomery Regional Airport and the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, major commercial airports in the state. The county is also served by the CSX Transportation railroad and the Norfolk Southern Railway, major railroads that provide freight and passenger services. The county is near the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, a major waterway that connects the Tennessee River to the Gulf of Mexico.

Education

Lowndes County is served by the Lowndes County Public Schools system, which operates several public schools in the county, including Central High School (Hayneville, Alabama), Calhoun High School (Letohatchie, Alabama), and Fort Deposit Elementary School. The county is also home to the Tuskegee University, a historically African American university founded by Booker T. Washington, and the Tuskegee Institute Middle School, a public school that serves students in grades 6-8. The county is close to the Auburn University Montgomery and the Alabama State University, major universities in the state. The county is also served by the Lowndes County Library, a public library that provides books, media, and other resources to residents.

Government

Lowndes County is governed by a County commission form of government, with a five-member commission that oversees the county's operations. The county is also served by the Lowndes County Sheriff's Department, which provides law enforcement services to the county. The county is part of the Alabama's 7th congressional district and is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Terri Sewell. The county is also part of the Alabama Senate and the Alabama House of Representatives, and is represented by several state legislators, including Priscilla Dunn and Kelvin Lawrence. The county is close to the Alabama State Capitol and the Supreme Court of Alabama, major government institutions in the state. The county is also subject to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Category:Counties of Alabama