Colbert County () is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the county's population was 57,227. The county seat is Tuscumbia. The largest city is Muscle Shoals.
The county is named in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, who were Chickasaw chiefs in the early 19th century in this territory. Ultimately the federal government forced the removal of most of the Chickasaw and other historic tribes from the Southeast.
Colbert County is part of the Florence–Muscle Shoals, AL metropolitan statistical area, also known as "The Shoals".
History The Chickasaw and Cherokee peoples are the earliest known inhabitants of Colbert County, an area that was part of their territories for hundreds of years. Before they emerged, there were earlier cultures of indigenous peoples who established settlements and seasonal villages for thousands of years in the area.
In the 1810s, settlers began to settle in an area at a crossroads that developed as Leighton, Alabama. Colbert County was originally established during the Reconstruction era after the American Civil War on February 6, 1867. The state legislature split it from Franklin County over political issues. It was abolished eight months later on November 29, 1867 by an Alabama constitutional convention. The general assembly on December 29, 1869 authorized an election to determine if the former county residents wanted their county restored. A vote then took place on January 6, 1870. The county was then reestablished by the legislature on February 24, 1870.Clements, John (1991). Alabama Facts: A Comprehensive Look at Alabama Today County by County. Dallas, Texas: Clements Research H, Inc. p. 303.
In 1890, the eastern boundary of Colbert County was changed from County Line Road to Town Creek; this resulted in all of the town of Leighton placed within Colbert County.
Colbert County is the location of Ivy Green, the birthplace of noted author and activist Helen Keller. Colbert County includes the cities of Sheffield and Muscle Shoals, where many popular American and British musicians, such as Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones, respectively, recorded music.
Also located in Colbert County is the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard established in 1937. Coon dogs were bred and trained for hunting in this region.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (4.7%) is water. The county's elevation ranges from 410 feet at the Tennessee River in northwestern Colbert County to 980 feet in southeastern Colbert County at the broadcast facility's tower of WQPR-FM/WFIQ-TV.
National protected area Natchez Trace Parkway (part)
River Tennessee River
Major creeks Bear Creek Cane Creek Mulberry Creek Spring Creek Town Creek
Waterfalls Cane Creek Canyon Waterfall Rainbow Branch Waterfall Wilson Dam Waterfall
Notable springs Big Spring at Tuscumbia Buzzard Roost Spring at Margerum Chalybeate Spring at Littleville Milk Springs at Colbert Heights Shegog Spring at Ford City
Notable mountains Bald Knob Coburn Mountain Colbert Mountain Hawk Pride Mountain LaGrange Mountain Mountain Mills Ridge Sand Mountain Underwood Mountain Wagnon Mountain Wheeler Mountain
Adjacent counties Lauderdale County, Alabama – north Lawrence County, Alabama – southeast Franklin County, Alabama – south Tishomingo County, Mississippi – west
Transportation
Major highways U.S. Highway 43 U.S. Highway 72 State Route 13 State Route 17 State Route 20 State Route 133 State Route 157 State Route 184 State Route 247 Natchez Trace Parkway
Rail Norfolk Southern Railway – freight lines going south, east, and west.Alabama Railway Map . 2008. Alabama Department of Transportation. Accessed March 15, 2012.
Airports Big River Airpark Northwest Alabama Regional Airport
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 57,227. The median age was 42.6 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.8 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 76.2% White, 16.2% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.6% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.0% of the population.
59.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 40.3% lived in rural areas.
There were 24,425 households in the county, of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 31.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 27,666 housing units, of which 11.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.1% were owner-occupied and 30.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.
Racial and ethnic composition +Colbert County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)44,47043,33443,24180.88%79.62%75.56%Black or African American alone (NH)9,0968,7029,22216.54%15.99%16.11%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1952622220.35%0.48%0.39%Asian alone (NH)1272244320.23%0.41%0.75%Pacific Islander alone (NH)111490.02%0.03%0.02%Other race alone (NH)30351350.05%0.06%0.24%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)4377642,2330.79%1.40%3.90%Hispanic or Latino (any race)6181,0931,7321.12%2.01%3.03%Total54,98454,42857,227100.00%100.00%100.00%
2010 census According to the 2010 United States census Bureau:
There were 22,461 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% 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 23.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,954, and the median income for a family was $39,294. Males had a median income of $32,112 versus $20,107 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,533. About 11.10% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.40% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 54,984 people, 22,461 households, and 16,037 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 24,980 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 78.52% White or European American (non-Hispanic), 16.62% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 1.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Politics Although historically a Democratic stronghold, Colbert County is now heavily Republican. The last Democrat to carry the county in a presidential election was Al Gore, who won its votes with a narrow 49% plurality.
Communities
Cities Muscle Shoals Sheffield Tuscumbia (county seat)
Towns Cherokee Leighton Littleville
Unincorporated communities Allsboro Barton Buzzard Roost Ford City Hatton Listerhill Maud Mountain Mills Nitrate City Pride Spring Valley Village Number 1
Education Colleges Northwest Shoals Community College
School districts The following school districts are in the county: - Text list Colbert County Schools Muscle Shoals City School District Sheffield City Schools Tuscumbia City Schools
Colbert County School System Cherokee Elementary School Cherokee High School Colbert County High School Colbert Heights Elementary School Colbert Heights High School Hatton Elementary School Leighton Elementary School New Bethel Elementary School
Muscle Shoals City School System Muscle Shoals High School Muscle Shoals Middle School Muscle Shoals Career Academy Highland Park Elementary School Howell Graves Preschool McBride Elementary School Webster Elementary School
Sheffield City School System Sheffield High School Sheffield Junior High School L.E. Wilson Elementary School W.A. Threadgill Primary School
Tuscumbia City School System Deshler High School Deshler Middle School Deshler Career Technical Center G.W. Trenholm Primary School R.E. Thompson Intermediate School
Parks and recreation Alabama Wildlife Refuge Area at Pleasant Site Avalon Park, Tuscumbia Buzzard Roost Park, Margerum Colbert County Park, Pride and Margerum Highland Park, Tuscumbia John W. Gattman Park, Muscle Shoals Colbert Ferry Park, Cherokee North Alabama State Fair Park, Tuscumbia Park West, Tuscumbia Rivermont Park on the Tennessee River, Tuscumbia Rosetrail Park, Margerum Spring Park, Tuscumbia Tenth Avenue Park, Sheffield Thomas State Wildlife Refuge, Barton York Terrace Park, Sheffield
Historical sites and attractions Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Tuscumbia Barton Hall, Cherokee – National Historic Landmarks Belle Mont Mansion/Plantation Cane Creek Canyon and Natural Preserve Colbert County Courthouse Square Historic District, Tuscumbia Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard of Key-Underwood, Cherokee F.A.M.E. Recording Studios, Muscle Shoals Ivy Green – Birthplace of Helen Keller, Tuscumbia LaGrange College Site and Monument, Leighton Natchez Trace Parkway Nitrate Village Number 1 Historic District, Sheffield Old Railroad Bridge of 1839 on the Tennessee River Rosenwald School site, Cherokee Tennessee Valley Art Museum, Tuscumbia Tuscumbia Railroad Depot Museum TVA Walking Trails and Recreation Area Wilson Lock and Dam, Muscle Shoals See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Colbert County, Alabama Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Colbert County, Alabama
Annual events Belle Mont Celtic Fest – May Muscle Shoals Area Street Rods Car Show Festival – May Recall LaGrange Commemorations – May North Alabama African Heritage Festival – June Leighton Juneteenth Celebration – June Helen Keller Festival – June W.C. Handy Music Festival – July Coon Dog Labor Day Celebration – September "Oka Kapassa" – Return to Cold Water American Indian Festival – September Annual Christmas Parades of Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Sheffield – December
In popular culture Colbert County was featured in a three-part comedy feature on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report from November 28–30, 2006. Colbert County is the setting for the Drive-by Truckers song, "Putting People on the Moon"
Notable people Arthur Alexander Jason Allen – American football Beverly Barton Lefty Bates Deion Belue Boyd Bennett Robert Byrne – songwriter Marcel Black Archibald Hill Carmichael Pete Carr Amanda Chase George Colbert Levi Colbert Mike Cooley (musician) Dominique Croom Ben Cunningham (activist) Rece Davis Bobby E. Denton James Deshler Leon Douglas Cecil Dowdy Alecia Elliott Henry S. Foote Douglas A. Foster Al Gamble Wayne Greenhaw Wendell Wilkie Gunn Rick Hall Howell Heflin Kelvin Holly Dennis Homan David Hood Patterson Hood Jimmy Hughes Richard H. Jackson Rick James (baseball) Jimmy Johnson (session guitarist) Helen Keller John W. Keys Adam Lazzara Maud McKnight Lindsay Robert B. Lindsay Frank Manush Heinie Manush Guy Morton