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Fastest-growing counties in Alabama

Why do people move from one county or region to another? The usual suspects are jobs, family, significant others, and overall cost of living, but there are other elements at play. For those with children, moving within close proximity of a highly rated school district is a key contributing factor. For younger adults just starting out, living someplace with a vibrant social scene might be a top priority. And for those whose careers have wound down after a lifetime of work, finding retirement-friendly communities is the goal—communities deemed to be safe, offer accessibility to medical resources and leisure activities in equal measure, and be affordable for those on a limited income.

This is, of course, by no means an exhaustive list. People’s reasons for choosing to live where they do are as diverse as people themselves.

As far as why certain counties across the U.S. have experienced growth, relocation is not the sole, or even primary, reason why. While more than 1,800 counties saw population gains in 2021, approximately 73% of all U.S. counties saw what the U.S. Census Bureau characterizes as a natural decrease. This was a significant jump from 2020, when 55.5% of countries experienced such a decrease. According to the Bureau, natural decrease is the simple result of “when there are more deaths than births in a population over a given time period.” In 2021, the conflation of fewer births with an aging population that was also absorbing a higher-than-usual mortality rate due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to this “increased decrease.”

Nonetheless, as stated 1,800 counties nationwide have grown larger over the last year, and a sizable percentage of them are in Alabama. Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in Alabama using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020, based on the U.S. Decennial Census.

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#50. Choctaw County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,194
— #2,600 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -8.6%
— #54 among counties in Alabama, #2,761 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 12,665
— #59 largest county in Alabama, #2,229 largest county nationwide

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#49. Coosa County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,152
— #2,586 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -10.0%
— #59 among counties in Alabama, #2,863 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 10,387
— #63 largest county in Alabama, #2,383 largest county nationwide

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#48. Wilcox County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,070
— #2,540 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -9.2%
— #58 among counties in Alabama, #2,807 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 10,600
— #62 largest county in Alabama, #2,369 largest county nationwide

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Cherokee County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,018
— #2,512 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.9%
— #43 among counties in Alabama, #2,151 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 24,971
— #41 largest county in Alabama, #1,603 largest county nationwide

Prestinian // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Etowah County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -994
— #2,498 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.0%
— #34 among counties in Alabama, #1,648 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 103,436
— #13 largest county in Alabama, #592 largest county nationwide

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Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Lowndes County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -988
— #2,492 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -8.7%
— #55 among counties in Alabama, #2,772 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 10,311
— #65 largest county in Alabama, #2,389 largest county nationwide

Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Hale County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -975
— #2,483 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.2%
— #51 among counties in Alabama, #2,498 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 14,785
— #55 largest county in Alabama, #2,097 largest county nationwide

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Randolph County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -946
— #2,466 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.1%
— #46 among counties in Alabama, #2,187 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 21,967
— #45 largest county in Alabama, #1,715 largest county nationwide

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#42. Winston County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -944
— #2,463 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.9%
— #42 among counties in Alabama, #2,142 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 23,540
— #42 largest county in Alabama, #1,653 largest county nationwide

Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Dale County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -925
— #2,452 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.8%
— #37 among counties in Alabama, #1,813 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 49,326
— #28 largest county in Alabama, #1,003 largest county nationwide

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#40. Fayette County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -920
— #2,449 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.3%
— #50 among counties in Alabama, #2,372 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 16,321
— #52 largest county in Alabama, #2,014 largest county nationwide

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#39. Crenshaw County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -712
— #2,338 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.1%
— #49 among counties in Alabama, #2,345 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 13,194
— #58 largest county in Alabama, #2,203 largest county nationwide

Springfieldohio // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Jackson County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -648
— #2,282 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.2%
— #35 among counties in Alabama, #1,694 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 52,579
— #27 largest county in Alabama, #955 largest county nationwide

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#37. Pickens County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -623
— #2,257 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.2%
— #40 among counties in Alabama, #2,021 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 19,123
— #49 largest county in Alabama, #1,864 largest county nationwide

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#36. Bibb County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -622
— #2,256 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.7%
— #39 among counties in Alabama, #1,956 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 22,293
— #44 largest county in Alabama, #1,699 largest county nationwide

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#35. Lamar County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -592
— #2,238 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.1%
— #44 among counties in Alabama, #2,175 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 13,972
— #57 largest county in Alabama, #2,157 largest county nationwide

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#34. Bullock County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -557
— #2,206 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.1%
— #48 among counties in Alabama, #2,344 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 10,357
— #64 largest county in Alabama, #2,385 largest county nationwide

Chris Pruitt // wikicommons

#33. Montgomery County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -409
— #2,052 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.2%
— #29 among counties in Alabama, #1,522 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 228,954
— #5 largest county in Alabama, #301 largest county nationwide

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#32. Tallapoosa County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -305
— #1,925 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.7%
— #32 among counties in Alabama, #1,601 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 41,311
— #30 largest county in Alabama, #1,155 largest county nationwide

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Covington County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -195
— #1,767 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.5%
— #31 among counties in Alabama, #1,575 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 37,570
— #32 largest county in Alabama, #1,232 largest county nationwide

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#30. Henry County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -156
— #1,713 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.9%
— #33 among counties in Alabama, #1,640 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 17,146
— #51 largest county in Alabama, #1,959 largest county nationwide

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#29. Talladega County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -142
— #1,688 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.2%
— #28 among counties in Alabama, #1,520 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 82,149
— #19 largest county in Alabama, #698 largest county nationwide

Wmr36104 // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Geneva County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: -131
— #1,674 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.5%
— #30 among counties in Alabama, #1,570 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 26,659
— #39 largest county in Alabama, #1,542 largest county nationwide

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#27. Cleburne County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +84
— #1,407 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.6%
— #25 among counties in Alabama, #1,401 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 15,056
— #54 largest county in Alabama, #2,081 largest county nationwide

Kreeder13 // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Pike County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +110
— #1,386 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.3%
— #27 among counties in Alabama, #1,441 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 33,009
— #36 largest county in Alabama, #1,359 largest county nationwide

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#25. Clay County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +304
— #1,259 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.2%
— #20 among counties in Alabama, #1,156 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 14,236
— #56 largest county in Alabama, #2,131 largest county nationwide

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Franklin County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +409
— #1,200 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.3%
— #22 among counties in Alabama, #1,288 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 32,113
— #37 largest county in Alabama, #1,380 largest county nationwide

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#23. DeKalb County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +499
— #1,149 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.7%
— #24 among counties in Alabama, #1,379 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 71,608
— #20 largest county in Alabama, #764 largest county nationwide

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#22. Chambers County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +557
— #1,130 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.6%
— #21 among counties in Alabama, #1,238 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 34,772
— #34 largest county in Alabama, #1,305 largest county nationwide

Wayne James // Shutterstock

#21. Lauderdale County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +855
— #1,045 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.9%
— #23 among counties in Alabama, #1,345 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 93,564
— #15 largest county in Alabama, #642 largest county nationwide

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#20. Chilton County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,371
— #933 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.1%
— #18 among counties in Alabama, #1,035 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 45,014
— #29 largest county in Alabama, #1,069 largest county nationwide

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Blount County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,812
— #843 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.2%
— #17 among counties in Alabama, #1,032 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 59,134
— #23 largest county in Alabama, #882 largest county nationwide

Altairisfar // Wikicommons

#18. Mobile County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,817
— #842 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.4%
— #26 among counties in Alabama, #1,423 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 414,809
— #2 largest county in Alabama, #173 largest county nationwide

Dailynetworks // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Colbert County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,799
— #733 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.1%
— #14 among counties in Alabama, #803 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 57,227
— #25 largest county in Alabama, #910 largest county nationwide

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Coffee County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,517
— #663 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.0%
— #12 among counties in Alabama, #632 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 53,465
— #26 largest county in Alabama, #942 largest county nationwide

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MPearsallArt // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Morgan County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,931
— #633 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.3%
— #16 among counties in Alabama, #1,018 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 123,421
— #9 largest county in Alabama, #515 largest county nationwide

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Autauga County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,234
— #608 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.8%
— #11 among counties in Alabama, #581 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 58,805
— #24 largest county in Alabama, #886 largest county nationwide

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#13. Marshall County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,593
— #586 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.9%
— #15 among counties in Alabama, #826 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 97,612
— #14 largest county in Alabama, #621 largest county nationwide

Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Houston County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,655
— #545 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.6%
— #13 among counties in Alabama, #764 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 107,202
— #11 largest county in Alabama, #571 largest county nationwide

Rivers Langley SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Russell County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,236
— #528 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +11.8%
— #7 among counties in Alabama, #335 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 59,183
— #22 largest county in Alabama, #881 largest county nationwide

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#10. Cullman County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,460
— #501 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +9.3%
— #9 among counties in Alabama, #464 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 87,866
— #18 largest county in Alabama, #666 largest county nationwide

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#9. St. Clair County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,510
— #500 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +9.0%
— #10 among counties in Alabama, #484 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 91,103
— #16 largest county in Alabama, #657 largest county nationwide

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Elmore County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,674
— #459 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +10.9%
— #8 among counties in Alabama, #368 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 87,977
— #17 largest county in Alabama, #665 largest county nationwide

M Floyd // Flickr

#7. Jefferson County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +16,255
— #333 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.5%
— #19 among counties in Alabama, #1,121 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 674,721
— #1 largest county in Alabama, #101 largest county nationwide

Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Limestone County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +20,788
— #282 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +25.1%
— #2 among counties in Alabama, #65 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 103,570
— #12 largest county in Alabama, #591 largest county nationwide

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#5. Shelby County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +27,939
— #229 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +14.3%
— #6 among counties in Alabama, #248 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 223,024
— #7 largest county in Alabama, #312 largest county nationwide

Tracy Burroughs Brown // Shutterstock

#4. Tuscaloosa County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +32,380
— #194 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +16.6%
— #4 among counties in Alabama, #176 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 227,036
— #6 largest county in Alabama, #305 largest county nationwide

Library of Congress

#3. Lee County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +33,994
— #185 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +24.2%
— #3 among counties in Alabama, #74 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 174,241
— #8 largest county in Alabama, #381 largest county nationwide

Jodybwiki // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Baldwin County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +49,502
— #132 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +27.2%
— #1 among counties in Alabama, #52 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 231,767
— #4 largest county in Alabama, #296 largest county nationwide

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#1. Madison County

– 2010 to 2020 population change: +53,342
— #122 among all counties nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +15.9%
— #5 among counties in Alabama, #194 among all counties nationwide
– 2020 population: 388,153
— #3 largest county in Alabama, #184 largest county nationwide

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