Alabama's growth after 205 years of statehood

By WHISPER EDWARDS
Editorial Assistant
whisper@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 12/17/24

Alabama, a state known for the yellowhammer and its camellia flower, celebrates a rich cultural and natural heritage. The state tree, the Southern longleaf pine, and the monarch butterfly as the …

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Alabama's growth after 205 years of statehood

Posted

Alabama, a state known for the yellowhammer and its camellia flower, celebrates a rich cultural and natural heritage.

The state tree, the Southern longleaf pine, and the monarch butterfly as the state insect are a couple more of its official symbols. Alabama also boasts the American black bear as its state mammal and the blackberry as its state fruit.

As Alabama commemorated its 205th anniversary of statehood on Saturday, Dec. 14, we reflect on both our past and our future. The latest U.S. Census data highlights evolving demographic trends that shape our identity and communities.

As the 22nd state admitted to the Union, Alabama now covers 50,633.2 square miles of land and 1,773 square miles of water. And, of course, within these borders lies our home of Baldwin County.

STATE DEMOGRAPHICS: A SNAPSHOT OF ALABAMA TODAY

Alabama's population demographics offer a glimpse into the state’s current makeup.

Alabama's total population stands at 5,024,279, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. The median age of Alabamians is 39.6 years, slightly above the national median of 39.2 years, indicating a stable yet aging population. Approximately 18.2% of Alabama’s residents are 65 or older, surpassing the national average of 17.7%.

The state is home to a growing number of residents who speak languages other than English. While English remains dominant, 6% of Alabamians speak another language at home compared to 22.5% nationwide.
Alabama's foreign-born population is low at 4% compared to the national figure of 14.3%. This reflects Alabama's historically lower levels of demographic diversity compared to the national average.

The state’s income levels and educational attainment reflect its evolving landscape. The median household income is $62,212, lower than the U.S. median of $77,719. However, 28.9% of Alabamians hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, though this is still below the national average of 36.2%.

RACIAL AND ETHNIC COMPOSITION

Alabama’s population includes 1.3 million Black or African American residents, 264,047 Hispanic or Latino residents, 76,660 Asians and 33,625 American Indians or Alaska Natives. The majority of Alabama’s population, 3.2 million, is white alone (non Hispanic or Latino).

WORKFORCE TRENDS FROM THE 2023 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY

The latest data from the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) sheds light on Alabama’s labor market, highlighting employment trends and commuting patterns. There are 103,514 employer establishments in Alabama, contributing to the state's economic landscape. This figure highlights the active business environment across the state with various sectors employing thousands of workers.

Class of worker:

In Alabama, 16.8% of workers are employed by local, state or federal governments, slightly higher than the national average of 14.4%. The breakdown of workers by class is as follows:

  • 67% work for private companies
  • 7.2% work for private nonprofit sectors
  • 5.7% are self-employed or unpaid family workers
  • 3.3% are self-employed in incorporated businesses
Commuting trends:

On average, Alabama workers commute 25.5 minutes to work, shorter than the national average of 26.8 minutes. Most Alabama workers (80%) drive alone, while 8.3% carpool. Other modes of transportation, such as public transit (0.3%) and biking (0.1%), account for minimal shares of the workforce.

Employment rate:

Alabama’s employment rate is 55.8%, slightly below the U.S. average of 60.6%. However, the rate has been gradually rising.

Industry breakdowns:

Alabama’s workforce is primarily engaged in:

  • Educational services, health care and social assistance (22.9%)
  • Manufacturing (14.6%)
  • Retail trade (11%)
  • Professional services (10.3%)
Work hours:

Alabama workers log an average of 39 hours per week, slightly above the national average of 38.6 hours. Men typically work 41.3 hours a week, while women average 36.6 hours.

RENT, HOMEOWNERSHIP AND MARKET TRENDS

Alabama has 2,051,545 total households. This number reflects the growing trend of both family and non-family households.

According to the 2023 ACS, the median gross rent in Alabama is $982, which is lower than the U.S. median of $1,406. A significant portion of Alabamians (41.1%) pay between $500 and $999 in rent. Meanwhile, 32% pay between $1,000 and $1,499.

Alabama’s homeownership rate stands at 70.1%, higher than the U.S. average of 65.2%. The state also boasts a relatively strong housing market with 43.4% of homes valued between $200,000 and $499,999.

Alabama has about 2.3 million housing units compared to 140.5 million across the nation.

HEALTH TRENDS AND HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE

Health and disability trends show that 16.7% of Alabama residents are disabled, slightly higher than the national average of 13.6%. The most common disability is ambulatory difficulty (9.1%) followed by hearing difficulty (4.4%) and vision difficulty (3.2%).

In terms of health insurance coverage, 8.5% of Alabamians lack coverage compared to the U.S. average of 7.9%. However, this is a significant improvement from 2014 when 12.1% of the state’s population was uninsured.