Clarke County, Alabama
county in Alabama, United States
Clarke County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of 2010, 25,833 people lived there. The county seat is Grove Hill.
Clarke County | |
|---|---|
 Clarke County Courthouse in Grove Hill, Alabama | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Alabama | |
 Alabama's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 31°40′25″N 87°50′17″W / 31.673611111111°N 87.838055555556°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alabama |
| Founded | December 10, 1812 |
| Seat | Grove Hill |
| Largest city | Jackson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,252.51 sq mi (3,244.0 km2) |
| • Land | 1,238.38 sq mi (3,207.4 km2) |
| • Water | 14.13 sq mi (36.6 km2) (1.13%)% |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 25,833 |
| • Density | 20/sq mi (8/km2) |
HistoryEdit
Clarke County was formed on December 10, 1812 by the Mississippi Territory. It is named in honor of General John Clarke of Georgia, who was later elected governor of that state.[1] The county had many forts, built by settlers for protection during the Creek War (1813-1814). One of the most notable was Fort Sinquefield.[2]
The first county seat was Clarkesville, formed in 1820. The seat was moved to Macon, later renamed Grove Hill, in 1831. During the American Civil War, the county was notable for its salt production.[1]
Major highwaysEdit
U.S. Highway 43
U.S. Highway 84
State Route 5
State Route 69
State Route 154
State Route 177
State Route 178
State Route 295
Border countiesEdit
- Marengo County (north)
- Wilcox County (northeast)
- Monroe County (east)
- Baldwin County (south)
- Washington County (southwest)
- Choctaw County (northwest)
SettlementsEdit
CitiesEdit
TownsEdit
CommunitiesEdit
Former communitiesEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Clarke County: A Brief History". Clarke County Historical Museum. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
- ↑ "Fort Sinquefield". Clarke County Historical Museum. Retrieved July 27, 2011.