Cullman County, Alabama
Cullman County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 87,866. Its county seat and largest city is Cullman. Its name is in honor of Colonel John G. Cullmann.
Cullman County comprises the Cullman, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL Combined Statistical Area.
It is served by TV stations and FM radio stations from both Huntsville and Birmingham and is part of the designated market area, or "DMA," of Birmingham. Cullman is a "moist" county in terms of availability of alcoholic beverages; the cities of Cullman, Good Hope, and Hanceville allow sale of alcohol and are "wet" and the rest of the county is dry.
History
This area was inhabited for thousands of years by varying cultures of indigenous peoples. The historic Cherokee and Choctaw lived here at the time of European encounter, with the Cherokee moving in after the American Revolutionary War and in response to pressures from northern areas. Their settlements in Alabama were known as the Lower Towns.People claiming descent from Cherokee who remained in the county after Indian Removal in the 1830s, organized as the "Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama" in the 1980s. The tribe was recognized by the state in 1984 but is not federally recognized. It claims 22,000 members in the state, mostly in northern Alabama.
Cullman County was organized on January 24, 1877 from Blount, Morgan, and Winston counties. The act of establishment named March 6, 1877, as the day that residents would select the location of their county seat. The election pitted two towns, Cullman and Milner against each other. In the March 1877 election, Cullman defeated its rival and became the county seat, 760 votes to 55.
The county was organized by primarily by German American immigrants who had moved down from Cincinnati, Ohio. They founded an agricultural community and sought to create an agricultural revolution in what had been a frontier area, in the best traditions of innovation in the New South. However, hard geographical and social realities clashed with the often impractical vision of colonizer John G. Cullmann. His Germans, with their traditional work ethic and willingness to experiment with such new products as wine and strawberries, tried to make practical changes in southern farming. The Germans were outnumbered by more traditional families from neighboring regions, who replicated the traditional southern cotton culture.
On April 27, 2011, Cullman was hit by the 2011 Cullman tornado, which took place during the 2011 Super Outbreak.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.Adjacent counties
Transportation
Major highways
- Interstate 65
- U.S. Highway 31
- U.S. Highway 231
- U.S. Highway 278
- State Route 67
- State Route 69
- State Route 91
- State Route 157
Rail
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 87,866. The median age was 41.3 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males age 18 and over.The racial makeup of the county was 90.1% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.4% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.
24.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 75.6% lived in rural areas.
There were 34,723 households in the county, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 39,145 housing units, of which 11.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.2% were owner-occupied and 25.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.4%.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 80,406 people, 31,864 households, and 22,487 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 37,054 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 94.7% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 4.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 31,864 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,567, and the median income for a family was $47,771. Males had a median income of $36,952 versus $27,979 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,284. About 12.8% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 77,483 people, 30,706 households, and 22,476 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 35,233 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 96.81% White, 0.96% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 2.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 30,706 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,256, and the median income for a family was $39,341. Males had a median income of $30,444 versus $20,436 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,922. About 9.50% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public education in Cullman County is provided by three systems: the Cullman City School Board, Arab City School District, and the Cullman County School Board, which includes unincorporated areas and in all municipalities except the cities of Arab and Cullman.- Cullman High School - under the governance of the Cullman City School Board
- Christ Covenant School - located in Cullman
- Cullman Christian School - located in Cullman
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Elementary School - located in Cullman
- St. Bernard Preparatory School - located in Cullman
- St. Paul's Lutheran School - located in Cullman
- Vinemont Christian Academy - located in South Vinemont