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Jefferson County is the most densely population county in the State of Alabama the county seat being Birmingham. As of 2000 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 662,047. Jefferson County is the most populated and principal county in the Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Metropolitan Area.
History
Jefferson County was established on December 13, 1819 by the Alabama legislature. It was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson. The county is located in the north-central portion of the state, on the southern extension of the Appalachians, in the center of the iron, coal and limestone belt of the South. Jefferson County is bordered by Blount, Bibb, St. Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa, and Walker counties. It encompasses 1,119 square miles. The county seat was at Carrollsville from 1819-21, at Elyton from 1821-73, and since 1873 has been at Birmingham, which was named for England's iron and steel center in Warwickshire.
Government and Law
Jefferson County is one of the few counties in Alabama that has a limited-form of home rule government. It has a 5-member county commission legislative branch of county government with one member of that commission appointed as commission president. Each individual county commissioner represents one of the five individual districts in the county as well being appointed as the head of the departments of roads transportation and community development, environmental services, health and human services, technology and land development, and finance and general services. The current commission member that resides as commission president is Larry P. Langford.
The Jefferson County is served by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. The current sheriff of Jefferson County is Mike Hale.
The judicial system of Jefferson County is an unique one because there are actually 2 judical courthouses in the county. The reason behind this unique situation is a point there was an idea to divide the county into 2 individual counties those make Bessemer the county seat of the new county. The idea fell through so, to this day it remains with one courthouse Birmingham and the other now known as a courthouse annex located in Bessemer. Also Jefferson County as has 2 district attorney offices that serves the county as well.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,911 km² (1,124 mi²). 2,882 km² (1,113 mi²) of it is land and 29 km² (11 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.00% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 662,047 people, 263,265 households, and 175,861 families residing in the county. The population density is 230/km² (595/mi²). There are 288,162 housing units at an average density of 100/km² (259/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 58.10% White, 39.36% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.55% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 263,265 households out of which 30.80% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.10% are married couples living together, 17.20% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% are non-families. 28.70% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.45 and the average family size is 3.04.
In the county the population is spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 89.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $36,868, and the median income for a family is $45,951. Males have a median income of $35,954 versus $26,631 for females. The per capita income for the county is $20,892. 14.80% of the population and 11.60% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.20% of those under the age of 18 and 12.70% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
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