Population & Household section gives reader an outlook. of general population profile, structure, and outlook.
Population Trend
Cherokee County, AL, exhibits a unique demographic profile compared to other counties in Alabama. With a median age of 46.8, it is older than the state median of 39.3, reflecting a higher old-age dependency ratio of 40.1%. The county's population has experienced a slight decline over the past 13 years (-0.21% CAGR), contrasting with the state's growth rate of 0.54%. Additionally, Cherokee County has a lower percentage of residents under 18 (18.9%) compared to the state average (22.1%), indicating potential challenges in attracting younger families.
Total Population
25069
Sex Ratio
95.7 %
Population Growth (2021-2022)
0.4 %
Population CAGR (2010-2022)
-0.21 %
Population Growth Rate (%)
Source: Census.gov
Age Structure
Dependency Rate
72.7 %
Median Age
46.8 y.o.
% of Population > 65 y.o.
23.2 %
Active Aging Index
150.7 %
Old Dependency Rate
40.1 %
Young Dependency Rate
32.6 %
Age Structure (%)
Source: Census.gov
Population Structure
Source: Census.gov
Household Status
Cherokee County, AL, with a total of 9,997 households, exhibits a unique demographic profile compared to other counties in Alabama. The county has a higher percentage of households with elderly residents (39.4%) than the state average (31.9%), indicating a potentially aging population. The average household size is slightly below the state average of 2.53, at 2.48, while the average family size is comparable at 3.09. Notably, Cherokee County has experienced a negative compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.05%, contrasting with the state’s positive household growth rate of 0.5%. This decline in growth, despite a recent one-year growth rate of 3.15%, suggests fluctuations in population dynamics that may warrant further investigation, especially when compared to counties like Madison and Baldwin, which are experiencing robust growth.
Total Households
9997
Married-couple Household
5257
Household CAGR (2010-2022)
-1.05 %
Household Growth (2021-2022)
3.15 %
Average Household Size
2.48 p
Average Family Size
3.09 p
Household with Children (%)
25.1 %
Household with Elder 65+ (%)
39.4 %
Household Size
Source: Census.gov
Household Structure
Source: Census.gov
Marriage
Never Married
20.7 %
Now Married
55.7 %
Widowed
11.2 %
Divorced
12.4 %
Marriage Status
Source: Census.gov
Marriage Status Breakdown
Source: Census.gov | S1201
Cultures
*Culture section contains several components: races, education, marriage and other factors.
Racial Profiiles
Cherokee County, AL, exhibits a predominantly white demographic, with 91.3% identifying as white, which is slightly above the Alabama state average of 66.2% and significantly higher than the national average of 65.9%. The county's single race percentage stands at 96.7%, indicating a less diverse population compared to other counties in Alabama, such as Jefferson County, which has a non-white percentage of 49.7%. Additionally, the Hispanic population in Cherokee County is notably low at 1.9%, contrasting sharply with the national figure of 18.7%. This demographic profile suggests a relatively homogenous community within the broader context of Alabama's racial diversity.
One Race
96.7 %
Two or More Races
3.3 %
Non-White
8.7 %
Hispanic (Overlapping)
1.9 %
White
22884
Black
1008
Asian
27
Native American
120
Race Structure (%)
Source: Census.gov
Racial Profile Breakdown
Source: Census.gov
Place of Birth
Cherokee County, AL, exhibits a notably high percentage of U.S.-born residents at 98%, surpassing the Alabama state average of 96.5% and the national average of 86.3%. However, it has a significant proportion of individuals not born in the state (45.7%), which is higher than the state average of 26.9%. The foreign-born population is relatively small at 2%, with the majority originating from Europe (210 individuals). This trend indicates a unique demographic profile compared to other Alabama counties, where foreign-born percentages tend to be slightly higher, such as in Madison County (5.5%).
Native US Citizen
22884
Native US Citizen (%)
8.7 %
Born in Alabama (%)
52 %
Born in Other State (%)
45.7 %
Foreign Born (%)
2 %
Naturalized (% of Foreign Born)
31.8 %
Place of Birth Changes (2010-2022)
Source: Census.gov
Birthplace Breakdown (Outside of US)
Source: Census.gov
Migration
-
Migration Inflow (% of Population)
10.6 %
From Different County (% of Inflow)
50.2 %
From Different State (% of Inflow)
49.1 %
From Different Country (% of Inflow)
0.7 %
%
Source: Census.gov
Religion
Number of Congregations
89
Number of Adherents
12551
Adherents (% of Total Population)
50.1 %
Christian (% of Total Population)
49.2 %
Religion Breakdown
Source: Census.gov
Education Attainment
Cherokee County, AL, shows a relatively low educational attainment level, with only 14.6% of the population aged 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree, significantly below the Alabama state average of 27.2% and the national average of 34.3%. Over the past decade, this percentage has only slightly increased from 12.8%. The median earnings for residents in Cherokee County stand at $37,666, which is lower than the state median of $43,016. Additionally, only 34.6% of degree holders are enrolled in STEM fields, indicating potential areas for growth in education and economic development compared to more educated counties like Madison (45.1%).