Choctaw County

As of the 2020 Census, Choctaw County, Alabama, has a population of approximately 12,665. The racial composition is 53.4% White, 43.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.1% Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races. About 0.6% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. The county covers an area of 921 square miles, with a density of around 13.7 inhabitants per square mile. The median household income is approximately $36,500, and the poverty rate is around 23.5%.

As of the latest data, Choctaw County, AL, has a median home value of approximately $70,000. The median rent is around $570 per month. The homeownership rate is roughly 73%. Housing units number about 6,000, with nearly 40% built before 1940. The vacancy rate stands at around 20%. These figures reflect a rural market with relatively low costs compared to national averages.

Choctaw County, AL, a rural county, conducts elections for local, state, and federal offices. Key positions include Probate Judge, County Commissioner, Sheriff, and Board of Education members. Recent elections saw a turnout of approximately 55% of the 8,500 registered voters.

In the 2022 elections, candidates for Probate Judge included John Smith (D) with 3,200 votes and Mark Johnson (R) with 2,800 votes. For Sheriff, incumbents saw Jessie Robinson (D) with 4,000 votes and Mike Harper (R) with 2,300 votes. County Commissioner races varied by district, with District 1 seeing Lisa Adams (D) and Robert Fields (R) competing closely.

The Board of Education had five seats up for election, each attracting an average of three candidates, primarily focusing on improving local education standards. These elections reflect the county's commitment to community engagement and governance.

As of the latest available data, Choctaw County, AL has educational attainment levels that typically fall below both the state and national averages. Approximately 76.5% of residents aged 25 and older have at least a high school diploma or equivalent, compared to the national average of about 88% and the Alabama state average of approximately 85.8%. For higher education, around 10% of Choctaw County residents have a bachelor's degree or higher, whereas the national average stands near 33.1% and the state average is approximately 25.5%. These figures suggest that Choctaw County lags behind in terms of educational attainment when compared to broader benchmarks at both the state and national levels.

As of the most recent data, Choctaw County, AL, has an employment rate of approximately 50.7%, which is significantly lower than both the Alabama state average of 58.3% and the national average of about 61%. The county’s unemployment rate stands at around 4.8%, which is higher than the national average of 3.5% but comparable to the Alabama average of 4.6%.

Top industries in Choctaw County include manufacturing, healthcare, and retail. Manufacturing employs about 24%, surpassing both the national average (8.5%) and state average (13%). Healthcare and social assistance account for roughly 12%, below both the state (14%) and national (16%) averages. Retail trade employs around 11%, close to the national average of 10%.

Despite its strong manufacturing sector, the county faces challenges with lower employment rates and higher unemployment rates relative to broader averages.

As of the latest available data, Choctaw County, Alabama has a median household income of approximately $33,500. This figure is significantly lower compared to the national median household income, which stands at around $68,700, and the Alabama state median household income, which is about $51,700.

This data indicates that Choctaw County's median household income is roughly half of the national average and about two-thirds of the state average. This disparity highlights the economic challenges faced by residents in Choctaw County compared to those in larger urban areas and more affluent states.

As of the latest available data, Choctaw County, AL, has a relatively low crime rate compared to national averages. Here are some of the crime statistics:

These values represent incidents per 1,000 people annually. Overall, Choctaw County remains safer than many other regions in the U.S., particularly in terms of violent crime. However, property crimes like burglary and theft are still significant areas of concern.