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Shelby County  Alabama

 

Shelby County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama and is named in honor of Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky. The county seat of Shelby County is Columbiana. As of 2005 U.S. Census estimated the population was 171,465. Shelby County ranks among the 100 highest-income counties in the United States. Shelby County's growth has accompanied the decline of Birmingham and Jefferson County. The county's newspaper is the Shelby County Reporter.


History

Shelby County was established on February 7, 1818, and named for Governor Isaac Shelby (1750–1826), of Kentucky.


Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 810 square miles (2,097 km˛), of which, 795 square miles (2,058 km˛) of it is land and 15 square miles (38 km˛) of it (1.83%) is water.


Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 143,293 people, 54,631 households, and 40,590 families residing in the county. The population density was 180 people per square mile (70/km˛). There were 59,302 housing units at an average density of 75 per square mile (29/km˛). The racial makeup of the county was 89.80% White, 7.40% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 54,631 households out of which 36.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.60% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 33.70% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 8.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $55,440, and the median income for a family was $64,105. Males had a median income of $45,798 versus $31,242 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,176. About 4.60% of families and 6.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.