# St. Clair County, Alabama

St. Clair County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 91,103. It has two county seats: Ashville and Pell City. It is one of two counties in Alabama, and one of 33 in the United States, with more than one county seat. Its name is in honor of General Arthur St. Clair, an officer in the French and Indian War. St. Clair County is included in the Birmingham, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

St. Clair County was established on November 20, 1818, by the Alabama Territory legislature by splitting the area from Shelby County. The county seat was incorporated and named "Ashville" in honor of John Ash. In 1836, a portion of St. Clair County was separated to establish Cherokee County and DeKalb County. In 1866, after the Civil War, a northeast section of the county was used to create Etowah County.
Due to the relatively high terrain of the far southern end of the Appalachian Mountains which divides the county in a northeast–southwest orientation, and the difficulty of communication and administration from either side of the county to the other, a second county seat was established in Pell City to better provide administration and services to the southeast side of the county.
In 2019, St. Clair County became the seventh county in Alabama to adopt its own flag.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 654 square miles (1,690 km$^2$), of which 632 square miles (1,640 km$^2$) is land and 22 square miles (57 km$^2$) (3.3%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Etowah County - northeast
* Calhoun County - east
* Talladega County - southeast
* Shelby County - southwest
* Jefferson County - west
* Blount County - northwest

## Demographics
### 2020 census

St. Clair 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) | 57,917 | 72,947 | 74,962 | 89.46% | 87.26% | 82.28% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 5,253 | 7,098 | 8,617 | 8.11% | 8.49% | 9.46% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 233 | 252 | 249 | 0.36% | 0.30% | 0.27% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 108 | 512 | 655 | 0.17% | 0.61% | 0.72% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 17 | 41 | 20 | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 16 | 64 | 234 | 0.02% | 0.08% | 0.26% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 512 | 963 | 3,791 | 0.79% | 1.15% | 4.16% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 686 | 1,716 | 2,575 | 1.06% | 2.05% | 2.83% |
| Total | 64,742 | 83,593 | 91,103 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2020, there were 91,103 people, 32,829 households, and 25,409 families residing in the county.

### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 83,593 people, 31,624 households, and 23,364 families living in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile (51 people/km$^2$). There were 35,541 housing units at an average density of 56 units per square mile (22 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 88.2% White, 8.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. 2.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 31,624 households 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.5% of households were one person and 8.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.02.
The age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% 65 or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
The median household income was $48,837 and the median family income was $56,107. Males had a median income of $43,287 versus $32,843 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,192. About 8.3% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 64,742 people, 24,143 households, and 18,445 families living in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile (39 people/km$^2$). There were 27,303 housing units at an average density of 43 units per square mile (17 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 90.03% White, 8.13% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2000 the largest ancestry groups in St. Clair county were:
* English 71%
* Irish 13.1%
* African 8.13%
* German 8%
* Scots-Irish 3.5%
* Dutch 2.4%
* Scottish 2%
Of the 24,143 households 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.80% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.60% were non-families. 20.80% of households were one person and 8.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.01.
The age distribution was 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.
The median household income was $37,285 and the median family income was $43,152. Males had a median income of $33,914 versus $24,433 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,960. About 9.60% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 12.60% of those age 65 or over.

## Places of interest

St. Clair County is home to Logan Martin Lake. It also contains Horse Pens 40, a private outdoor park on top of Chandler Mountain.

## Politics

St. Clair County is a strongly Republican county. The last Democrat to win the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.
United States presidential election results for St. Clair County, Alabama :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 35,501 | 81.56% | 7,640 | 17.55% | 385 | 0.88% |
| 2020 | 36,166 | 81.38% | 7,744 | 17.43% | 531 | 1.19% |
| 2016 | 31,651 | 82.42% | 5,589 | 14.55% | 1,160 | 3.02% |
| 2012 | 29,031 | 82.39% | 5,801 | 16.46% | 403 | 1.14% |
| 2008 | 27,649 | 81.11% | 6,091 | 17.87% | 348 | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 23,500 | 80.59% | 5,456 | 18.71% | 205 | 0.70% |
| 2000 | 17,117 | 71.05% | 6,485 | 26.92% | 488 | 2.03% |
| 1996 | 12,762 | 62.29% | 6,187 | 30.20% | 1,540 | 7.52% |
| 1992 | 12,447 | 57.56% | 6,517 | 30.14% | 2,660 | 12.30% |
| 1988 | 10,604 | 70.71% | 4,335 | 28.91% | 58 | 0.39% |
| 1984 | 10,408 | 71.02% | 4,000 | 27.30% | 246 | 1.68% |
| 1980 | 7,768 | 56.89% | 5,236 | 38.35% | 650 | 4.76% |
| 1976 | 4,877 | 44.87% | 5,653 | 52.01% | 339 | 3.12% |
| 1972 | 6,952 | 79.82% | 1,538 | 17.66% | 220 | 2.53% |
| 1968 | 1,635 | 16.86% | 869 | 8.96% | 7,193 | 74.18% |
| 1964 | 4,813 | 70.76% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,989 | 29.24% |
| 1960 | 2,589 | 45.90% | 3,039 | 53.88% | 12 | 0.21% |
| 1956 | 2,441 | 49.07% | 2,420 | 48.64% | 114 | 2.29% |
| 1952 | 1,590 | 40.54% | 2,326 | 59.31% | 6 | 0.15% |
| 1948 | 1,063 | 35.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,917 | 64.33% |
| 1944 | 1,117 | 37.86% | 1,819 | 61.66% | 14 | 0.47% |
| 1940 | 1,540 | 38.27% | 2,462 | 61.18% | 22 | 0.55% |
| 1936 | 1,464 | 37.73% | 2,399 | 61.83% | 17 | 0.44% |
| 1932 | 1,449 | 39.43% | 2,185 | 59.46% | 41 | 1.12% |
| 1928 | 2,581 | 66.25% | 1,313 | 33.70% | 2 | 0.05% |
| 1924 | 1,432 | 50.64% | 1,281 | 45.30% | 115 | 4.07% |
| 1920 | 2,561 | 55.04% | 1,934 | 41.56% | 158 | 3.40% |
| 1916 | 851 | 44.81% | 987 | 51.97% | 61 | 3.21% |
| 1912 | 260 | 14.37% | 787 | 43.50% | 762 | 42.12% |
| 1908 | 782 | 43.59% | 820 | 45.71% | 192 | 10.70% |
| 1904 | 593 | 30.55% | 908 | 46.78% | 440 | 22.67% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Ashville (county seat)
* Leeds (mostly in Jefferson County and Shelby County)
* Margaret
* Moody
* Pell City (county seat)
* Springville
* Trussville (mostly in Jefferson County)

### Towns

* Argo (partly in Jefferson County)
* Odenville
* Ragland
* Riverside
* Steele
* Vincent (partly in Shelby County and Talladega County)

### Unincorporated communities

* Acmar
* Cooks Springs
* Cropwell
* New London
* Pinedale Shores
* Prescott
* St. Clair Springs
* Wattsville
* Whitney

### Former towns

* Branchville (now a neighborhood in Odenville)

## Transportation
### Major highways

* Interstate 20
* Interstate 59
* U.S. Route 11
* U.S. Route 78
* U.S. Route 231
* U.S. Route 411
* State Route 23
* State Route 34
* State Route 144
* State Route 174

### Rail

* Alabama and Tennessee River Railway
* Norfolk Southern Railway
Historically, the Southern Railway ran several daily passenger trains, including the Kansas City-Florida Special and an Atlanta-Birmingham section of the Piedmont Limited, making stops in Pell City. The Sunnyland made signal stops as well. The last trains made stops in 1967. Today, the nearest passenger service is Amtrak's Crescent in Anniston, 30.6 miles to the east.