Butler County, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Butler County
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Butler County courthouse in Greenville
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Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
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 Alabama's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alabama |
| Founded | December 13, 1819 |
| Named for | William Butler |
| Seat | Greenville |
| Largest city | Greenville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 778 sq mi (2,020 km2) |
| • Land | 777 sq mi (2,010 km2) |
| • Water | 1.1 sq mi (3 km2) 0.1% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19,051 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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18,884  |
| • Density | 24.487/sq mi (9.455/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
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Butler County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,051. Its county seat is Greenville. Its name is in honor of Captain William Butler, who was born in Virginia and fought in the Creek War, and who was killed in May 1818.
Contents
History
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 exact date of the first settlement made by white people in the limits of Butler County is not exactly known. Some records have it as early as 1814, but the earliest settler of no dispute is James K. Benson, who settled in the Flat in 1815, and built the first house ever erected in Butler County. It was built near where Pine Flat Methodist Church now stands, and was made of logs. Shortly after, William Ogly and John Dickerson came with their families and made a settlement on the Federal Road, about 3 miles (5 km) south of where Fort Dale was later erected. In the fall of 1816, a party from the state of Georgia came to settle in Pine Flat, including Thomas Hill, Warren A. Thompson, Captain John Watts, and Benjamin Hill. In 1817, many more settlers arrived, since the hardest work had already been done by these brave original souls.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 778 square miles (2,020 km2), of which 777 square miles (2,010 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) (0.1%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 65
U.S. Highway 31
State Route 10
State Route 106
State Route 185
State Route 245
State Route 263
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Adjacent counties
- Lowndes County (north)
- Crenshaw County (east)
- Covington County (southeast)
- Conecuh County (southwest)
- Monroe County (west)
- Wilcox County (northwest)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 1,405 | — | |
| 1830 | 5,650 | 302.1% | |
| 1840 | 8,685 | 53.7% | |
| 1850 | 10,836 | 24.8% | |
| 1860 | 18,122 | 67.2% | |
| 1870 | 14,981 | −17.3% | |
| 1880 | 19,649 | 31.2% | |
| 1890 | 21,641 | 10.1% | |
| 1900 | 25,761 | 19.0% | |
| 1910 | 29,030 | 12.7% | |
| 1920 | 29,531 | 1.7% | |
| 1930 | 30,195 | 2.2% | |
| 1940 | 32,447 | 7.5% | |
| 1950 | 29,228 | −9.9% | |
| 1960 | 24,560 | −16.0% | |
| 1970 | 22,007 | −10.4% | |
| 1980 | 21,680 | −1.5% | |
| 1990 | 21,892 | 1.0% | |
| 2000 | 21,399 | −2.3% | |
| 2010 | 20,947 | −2.1% | |
| 2020 | 19,051 | −9.1% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 18,884 | −9.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White | 9,679 | 50.81% |
| Black or African American | 8,389 | 44.03% |
| Native American | 23 | 0.12% |
| Asian | 143 | 0.75% |
| Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 552 | 2.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 250 | 1.36% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,051 people, 6,506 households, and 4,331 families residing in the county.
2010 census
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).
Communities
City
- Greenville (county seat)
Towns
- Georgiana
- McKenzie (part of McKenzie is in Conecuh County)
Unincorporated communities
- Bolling
- Chapman
- Forest Home
- Spring Hill
Notable people
- 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
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Butler (Alabama) para niños
