Dallas County, Alabama

Dallas County, Alabama
Altairisfar (Jeffrey Reed) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
County	Dallas County
State	Alabama
Founded	1818
Seat	Selma
Largest city	Selma
Area total sq mi	980
Area land sq mi	978
Area water sq mi	1.5
Population as of	2020
Population total	38,462
Population density sq mi	39.3
Time zone	Central
Named for	Alexander J. Dallas
District	7th

Dallas County, Alabama. Dallas County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. Established in 1818, its county seat and largest city is Selma. The county is globally significant for its pivotal role in the American Civil Rights Movement, serving as the epicenter for landmark events that catalyzed the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

History

Dallas County was created by the Alabama Territory legislature on February 9, 1818, from former Creek lands ceded in the Treaty of Fort Jackson. It is named for Alexander J. Dallas, who was the United States Secretary of the Treasury under President James Madison. The county's early economy was dominated by cotton cultivation, reliant on the labor of enslaved Africans, which established a plantation-based society. Selma became a major Confederate manufacturing and supply center during the American Civil War, home to the Selma Naval Ordnance Works and other arsenals. The Battle of Selma in April 1865 was a decisive Union victory. Following Reconstruction, the county, like much of the Black Belt, implemented a system of racial segregation and disfranchisement through Jim Crow laws.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 980 square miles, of which 978 square miles is land and 1.5 square miles is water. It is situated within the Black Belt region, characterized by its rich, dark soil. The primary waterway is the Alabama River, which flows along the northern border of the county and has been central to transportation and commerce. The terrain is generally flat to gently rolling. Major highways include U.S. Route 80, which runs east-west, and State Route 22.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,462. The racial makeup was approximately 71.5% African American, 26.5% White American, and 2.0% identifying as two or more races or other races. The county has experienced significant population decline since its peak in the 1960s, a trend common in the rural Black Belt due to agricultural mechanization and outmigration. The largest city, Selma, is home to the majority of the county's residents. The per capita income is below the state and national averages, reflecting persistent economic challenges.

Civil Rights Movement

Dallas County is internationally renowned as a primary battleground in the Civil Rights Movement. In the early 1960s, despite a majority-Black population, voter suppression tactics by the Dallas County Voters League and groups like the White Citizens' Council kept African American registration at just 1-2%. This injustice led to the Selma voting rights movement, organized by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and later the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) under Martin Luther King Jr.. Key events include the "Bloody Sunday" attack on marchers at the Edmund Pettus Bridge by Alabama State Troopers on March 7, 1965, and the subsequent successful march that began on March 21. These events generated national outrage, directly pressuring President Lyndon B. Johnson to propose and Congress to pass the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. Historic sites like the Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church and the Edmund Pettus Bridge are now part of the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail.

Government

Dallas County is governed by a five-member elected County Commission. Other elected officials include the Sheriff, Tax assessor, and Probate judge. The county lies within Alabama's 7th congressional district. The county seat, Selma, operates under a Mayor-Council system. The Dallas County Courthouse, a historic building in Selma, is the center of county government operations.

Economy

The historical economy was rooted in agriculture, specifically cotton. Today, the economy has diversified but remains challenged. Major employers include healthcare, education, retail, and light manufacturing. The Rivertown Crossings shopping center is a significant retail hub. Public sector employment through the county government, city of Selma, and Selma City Schools is also substantial. Tourism related to Civil Rights Movement history is a growing sector, centered on sites like the National Voting Rights Museum and the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Education

Public education is provided by Selma City Schools for residents within the city limits and Dallas County School District for the county areas. Selma High School is the primary public high school in the city. Higher education institutions include Wallace Community College Selma (WCCS), a two-year college, and Concordia College Alabama, though the latter closed in 2018. Selma University, a historically black Baptist institution founded in 1878, also operates in the county, though its accreditation status has fluctuated in recent years.