Census data: Coosa sees decreasing population
By Christa Jennings
Senior staff writer
What likely comes as no surprise to many, Coosa County has seen a decrease in its population over the last decade.
According to the 2020 U.S. Census results, Coosa County saw a population decrease of 10% in the last 10 years.
Ranked 63 out of Alabama’s 67 counties, Coosa is reported to have a population of 10,387 as of the 2020 census. Its population at the time of the 2010 census was 11,539.
The four counties in the state with less population than Coosa County are Bullock, Lowndes, Perry, and Greene.
Looking at the population change in percentages, in the state Perry County had the greatest decrease of population change with a -19.6%. The greatest increase concerning population change was for Baldwin County with a 27.2% change.
Coosa’s neighboring counties saw a mixture of decreases and increases in population. Shelby County ranks 7 in the state and had a population change of 14.3%, Elmore County ranks 17 in the state and had a population change of 10.9%, Talladega County ranks 19 and had a population change of -0.2%, Chilton County ranks 29 and had a population change of 3.1%, Tallapoosa County ranks 30 and had a population change of -0.7%, and Clay ranks 56 and had a population change of 2.2%.
All of Coosa County’s municipalities and other communities saw declines in population over the last decade, as well, making the rural county seem even more rural.
For Goodwater, its population was 1,475 in 2010 compared to its population of 1,291 in 2020. That is a decrease in population of 12.5%, or a population change of -12.5%.
Rockford’s population as of the 2010 census was 477, while its population as of last year’s census is 349. That means the county seat saw a population change of -26.8%.
Kellyton saw the greatest population change out of the county’s three municipalities with a change of -40.6%. Its population in the 2010 census was 217, while its population in the 2020 census was 129.
Some of the county’s unincorporated communities are recognized in the data as census-designated places, or CDPs. There were a few new ones added to the 2020 census that were not included in the 2010 census data.
Of the CDPs, Hissop had the greatest decrease in population with a population change of -68.2%. Its population in 2010 was 658, while its population as of last year’s census was only 209.
Weogufka saw a population change of -26.6% with a population of 282 in 2010 and 207 in last year’s census.
Ray community had a population of 443 in 2010, which decreased to 326 in the 2020 census. That gave the Ray CDP a population change of -26.4%.
Mount Olive CDP had a change of -16.2%, with a population of 371 in 2010 and 311 in 2020.
Stewartville had the least change in population out of Coosa’s CDPs, with a change of just -5.9%. Its population in 2010 was 1,767, compared to its 1,662 population in 2020.
Communities that did not have data for the 2010 census included Equality, Hanover and Nixburg. However, according to the 2020 census, Equality has a population of 150, Hanover a population of 151 and Nixburg a population of 329.
While Coosa County has seen a decline in its population, the state has increased and is able to retain its current number of seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next decade.
Initially there was concern that if enough residents did not complete the census then the state might lose a seat. However, the state had a higher self-response rate last year than it did for the 2010 census.
The state’s population was 4.8 million as of the 2010 census and has grown to 5.03 million according to the 2020 census.
This latest census data will be used in redistricting while drawing new district lines throughout the state. Legislators will use the new numbers to reconfigure not only the state’s seven U.S. House districts, but also the 105 state House districts and 35 state Senate districts.