Butler County, Alabama

Butler County was formed from Conecuh County, Alabama, and Monroe County, Alabama, by an act passed December 13, 1819, by the Legislature while in session at Huntsville. This was the first session of the Legislature of Alabama as a State. The name of Fairfield was first proposed for this county, but was changed on the passage of the bill to Butler, in honor of Captain William Butler.

The precise date of the first settlement made by whites in Butler County is unclear. Some have it as early as 1814, but the earliest settler of no dispute is James K. Benson, who settled in the Flat in 1815, where he built a log house near the current location of Pine Flat Methodist Church. He was soon followed by William Ogly and John Dickerson and their families, who settled on the Federal Road, some {{convert|3|mi|km}} south of where later Fort Dale was built. In the fall of 1816, a group of people from Georgia settled in a tent camp in Pine Flat, and the year after, another group settled near Fort Dale.{{cite book |pages=22–23 |title=History of Butler County, Alabama, 1815 to 1885 |first=John Buckner |last=Latte |orig-date=1885 |year=1971 |editor1-first=John G. |editor1-last=Little, Jr. |location=Greenville, AL}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|778|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|777|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.1|sqmi}} (0.1%) is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 22, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}} It is located in the Gulf Coastal Plain region of the state.

• 20px Interstate 65
• 20px U.S. Highway 31
• 20px State Route 10
• 20px State Route 106
• 20px State Route 185
• 20px State Route 245
• 20px State Route 263

• Lowndes County (north)
• Crenshaw County (east)
• Covington County (southeast)
• Conecuh County (southwest)
• Monroe County (west)
• Wilcox County (northwest)

{{US Census population

|1820= 1405

|1830= 5650

|1840= 8685

|1850= 10836

|1860= 18122

|1870= 14981

|1880= 19649

|1890= 21641

|1900= 25761

|1910= 29030

|1920= 29531

|1930= 30195

|1940= 32447

|1950= 29228

|1960= 24560

|1970= 22007

|1980= 21680

|1990= 21892

|2000= 21399

|2010= 20947

|2020= 19051

|estyear=2023

|estimate=18382

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 27, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 22, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 22, 2015}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/al190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 24, 1995|access-date=August 22, 2015}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=August 22, 2015}} 2010–2020

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,051 people, 6,506 households, and 4,331 families residing in the county.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 20,947 people living in the county. 54.4% were White, 43.4% Black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% of some other race and 0.8% of two or more races. 0.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 21,399 people, 8,398 households, and 5,870 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|28|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 9,957 housing units at an average density of {{convert|13|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 58.38% White, 40.81% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,398 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% were married couples living together, 18.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,791, and the median income for a family was $30,915. Males had a median income of $28,968 versus $18,644 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,715. About 20.40% of families and 24.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.30% of those under age 18 and 28.60% of those age 65 or over.

Butler County contains one public school district. There are approximately 3,000 students in public PK-12 schools in Butler County.{{Cite web |title=Search for Public School Districts - Butler County, AL |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_list.asp?Search=1&State=01&County=Butler+County |access-date=October 2, 2022 |website=National Center for Education Statistics |publisher=Institute of Education Sciences}}

School districts include:{{Cite web |title=2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Butler County, AL |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01013_butler/DC20SD_C01013.pdf |access-date=October 2, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |format=PDF}} [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01013_butler/DC20SD_C01013_SD2MS.txt Text list].

• Butler County School District

The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election is Bill Clinton, who won it by a plurality in 1996.

{{PresHead|place=Butler County, Alabama|source={{cite web|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|access-date=November 15, 2016}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,172|3,251|57|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,458|3,965|65|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,901|3,726|105|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,087|4,374|41|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,485|4,188|36|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,979|3,413|24|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,127|3,606|70|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,352|3,828|590|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,494|4,021|963|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,923|3,465|71|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,941|3,641|127|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,810|4,156|402|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,909|4,271|28|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,685|1,401|42|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|500|1,240|5,621|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1964|Republican|4,002|0|973|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,231|2,872|18|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,324|1,958|251|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,087|2,440|1|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|91|0|1,318|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|80|1,915|5|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|52|2,732|4|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|83|2,358|7|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|74|2,280|10|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|699|1,235|0|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|95|1,050|115|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|153|1,299|19|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|78|1,162|9|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|86|903|99|Alabama}}

{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|137|727|40|Alabama}}

{{PresFoot|1904|Democratic|83|805|67|Alabama}}

• Greenville (county seat)

{{col div}}

• Georgiana
• McKenzie{{col div end}}

{{col div}}

• Bolling
• Chapman
• Forest Home
• Garland
• Industry
• Pine Flat
• Saucer
• Spring Hill
• Wald

{{col div end}}

• William Butler, militiaman during the Creek War
• Hilary A. Herbert, Secretary of the Navy under President Grover Cleveland
• Robert Scothrup Lee, farmer and Confederate veteran
• William Lee, politician, judge, and militia officer
• Warren A. Thompson, explorer
• Hank Williams, country singer
• Earnie Shavers, hardest hitting heavyweight boxer
• Janie Shores, Alabama Supreme Court justice

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Butler County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Butler County, Alabama

{{reflist}}

• [http://greenvilleadvocate.com The Greenville Advocate]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100720183101/http://countyclerkofcourt.us/Butler Butler County Clerk of Court]
• [http://sanewsonline.com The South Alabama News]
• [http://thegreenvillestandard.com The Greenville Standard]

{{coord|31|44|58|N|86|40|56|W|region:US-AL_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Butler County, Alabama

|North = Lowndes County

|Northeast =

|East = Crenshaw County

|Southeast = Covington County

|South =

|Southwest = Conecuh County

|West = Monroe County

|Northwest = Wilcox County

}}

{{Butler County, Alabama}}

{{Alabama}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1819 establishments in Alabama

Category:Populated places established in 1819