# Fayette County, Alabama

Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,321. Its county seat is Fayette. Its name is in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette (or de la Fayette), who aided General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War.

## History

Fayette County was established on December 20, 1824, during Lafayette's historic tour of the 24 United States

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 629 square miles (1,630 km$^2$), of which 628 square miles (1,630 km$^2$) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km$^2$) (0.3%) is water.

## Sheriffs Department

Sheriff-Byron Yerby

### Adjacent counties

* Marion County (north)
* Walker County (east)
* Tuscaloosa County (southeast)
* Pickens County (southwest)
* Lamar County (west)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Fayette County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 15,994 | 14,832 | 13,552 | 86.48% | 86.03% | 83.03% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,199 | 1,958 | 1,720 | 11.89% | 11.36% | 10.54% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 35 | 47 | 43 | 0.19% | 0.27% | 0.26% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 28 | 37 | 49 | 0.15% | 0.21% | 0.30% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1 | 11 | 29 | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.18% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 86 | 152 | 531 | 0.46% | 0.88% | 3.25% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 152 | 204 | 396 | 0.82% | 1.18% | 2.43% |
| Total | 18,495 | 17,241 | 16,321 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,321 people, 6,802 households, and 4,774 families residing in the county.

### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 17,241 people, 7,493 households, and 5,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km$^2$). There were 8,472 housing units at an average density of 14 units per square mile (5.4 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 86.92% White, 11.93% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of 2012 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Fayette County were:
* 44.9% English
* 16.9% "American"
* 4.1% Irish
There were 7,493 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 26.60% 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 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,539, and the median income for a family was $34,560. Males had a median income of $29,239 versus $20,606 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,439. About 13.10% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.

### Life expectancy

Of 3,143 counties in the United States in 2013, Fayette County ranked 2,882 in the longevity of male residents and 3,091 of female residents. Males in Fayette County lived an average of 71.2 years and females lived an average of 75.3 years compared to the national average for longevity of 76.5 for males and 81.2 for females. The average longevity of men in Fayette County increased by 2.0 years from 1985 to 2013 compared to a national average for the same period of an increased life span for men of 5.5 years. The average longevity, however, for females in Fayette County declined by 4.2 years between 1985 and 2013 compared to the national average for the same period of an increased life span of 3.1 years for women. High rates of smoking and obesity and a low rate of physical activity appear to be contributing factors to the low level of longevity for both sexes.
One study concluded that Fayette County between 1985 and 2010 was one of the few U.S. counties which saw a decline in the longevity of women and that the decline in female longevity in Fayette Country was the largest of any county in the nation.

## Education

* Berry High School
* Berry Elementary School
* Fayette County High School
* Fayette Middle School
* Fayette Elementary School
* Hubbertville School

## Transportation
### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 43
* State Route 13
* State Route 18
* State Route 96
* State Route 102
* State Route 107
* State Route 129
* State Route 171
* State Route 233

### Airport

Richard Arthur Field (Municipal)- A 5,000 ft (1,500 m) paved runway with JET A and 100LL fuel service. Located about 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of the city center.

### Rail

* BNSF Railway
* Norfolk Southern Railway
* Luxapalila Valley Railroad

## Government

Fayette County is reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election is Bill Clinton, who won it by a plurality in 1996.
United States presidential election results for Fayette County, Alabama :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 7,158 | 85.53% | 1,142 | 13.65% | 69 | 0.82% |
| 2020 | 7,300 | 83.28% | 1,395 | 15.91% | 71 | 0.81% |
| 2016 | 6,712 | 81.37% | 1,362 | 16.51% | 175 | 2.12% |
| 2012 | 6,054 | 76.07% | 1,817 | 22.83% | 87 | 1.09% |
| 2008 | 5,883 | 73.93% | 1,994 | 25.06% | 80 | 1.01% |
| 2004 | 5,534 | 69.16% | 2,408 | 30.09% | 60 | 0.75% |
| 2000 | 4,582 | 58.68% | 3,064 | 39.24% | 162 | 2.07% |
| 1996 | 3,191 | 44.26% | 3,381 | 46.90% | 637 | 8.84% |
| 1992 | 3,604 | 42.55% | 3,830 | 45.22% | 1,036 | 12.23% |
| 1988 | 4,338 | 57.40% | 3,186 | 42.16% | 33 | 0.44% |
| 1984 | 4,654 | 64.63% | 2,533 | 35.18% | 14 | 0.19% |
| 1980 | 3,315 | 48.83% | 3,389 | 49.92% | 85 | 1.25% |
| 1976 | 2,165 | 34.44% | 4,076 | 64.83% | 46 | 0.73% |
| 1972 | 4,240 | 83.53% | 836 | 16.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 827 | 13.26% | 676 | 10.84% | 4,735 | 75.91% |
| 1964 | 3,203 | 71.34% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,287 | 28.66% |
| 1960 | 1,923 | 45.73% | 2,274 | 54.08% | 8 | 0.19% |
| 1956 | 1,948 | 49.59% | 1,956 | 49.80% | 24 | 0.61% |
| 1952 | 1,481 | 39.19% | 2,287 | 60.52% | 11 | 0.29% |
| 1948 | 580 | 35.76% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,042 | 64.24% |
| 1944 | 913 | 35.51% | 1,648 | 64.10% | 10 | 0.39% |
| 1940 | 737 | 25.88% | 2,091 | 73.42% | 20 | 0.70% |
| 1936 | 732 | 24.41% | 2,244 | 74.82% | 23 | 0.77% |
| 1932 | 733 | 26.47% | 2,013 | 72.70% | 23 | 0.83% |
| 1928 | 1,686 | 59.83% | 1,131 | 40.13% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1924 | 977 | 41.26% | 1,358 | 57.35% | 33 | 1.39% |
| 1920 | 1,865 | 56.36% | 1,413 | 42.70% | 31 | 0.94% |
| 1916 | 697 | 39.69% | 1,026 | 58.43% | 33 | 1.88% |
| 1912 | 434 | 28.52% | 762 | 50.07% | 326 | 21.42% |
| 1908 | 678 | 43.80% | 731 | 47.22% | 139 | 8.98% |
| 1904 | 599 | 39.43% | 712 | 46.87% | 208 | 13.69% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Fayette (county seat)
* Winfield (partly in Marion County)

### Towns

* Belk
* Berry
* Glen Allen (partly in Marion County)
* Gu-Win (partly in Marion County)

### Unincorporated communities

* Bankston
* Bazemore
* Bluff
* Boley Springs
* Covin
* Flatwoods
* Howard
* Hubbertville
* Newtonville
* Studdards Crossroads