Cherokee County, Alabama
Cherokee County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named for the Cherokee tribe. As of 2020 the population was 24,971.[1] Its county seat is Centre. It is a prohibition or dry county which means alcoholic drinks cannot be sold, except in the cities of Cedar Bluff, Centre, Leesburg, and Cherokee Ridge.[2]
| Cherokee County, Alabama | |
| |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Alabama | |
 Alabama's location in the U.S. | |
| Statistics | |
| Founded | January 9, 1836 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Centre |
| Largest City | Centre |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
600 sq mi (1,554 km²) 554 sq mi (1,435 km²) 46 sq mi (119 km²), 7.7 |
| Population - Density |
|
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website: www.cherokeecounty-al.gov | |
| Named for: Cherokee Nation | |
History
Cherokee County was formed by European Americans on January 9, 1836. The county was created on territory of the Cherokee Nation.[3] The Cherokee were forcibly removed by the US government in what was known as the Trail of Tears in 1838. Cherokee County was created by the Alabama legislature on 1836 January 9 after the Treaty of New Echota, 1835 December 29.[4] The Cherokee people did not accept the Treaty because the people who signed were not authorized.
An F4 tornado struck here on Palm Sunday March 27, 1994. It destroyed Goshen United Methodist Church twelve minutes after the National Weather Service of Birmingham issued a tornado warning for northern Calhoun, southeastern Etowah, and southern Cherokee counties. 22 people were killed, including the groom's 4-year-old daughter.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 600 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 554 square miles (1,430 km2) (or 92.19%) is land and 46 square miles (120 km2) (7.7%) is water.[5]
Major highways
Border counties
- DeKalb County, Alabama - north
- Chattooga County, Georgia - northeast
- Floyd County, Georgia - east
- Polk County, Georgia - southeast
- Cleburne County, Alabama - south
- Calhoun County, Alabama - south
- Etowah County, Alabama - west
National protected areas
Cities and towns
- Cedar Bluff
- Centre (County seat)
- Collinsville (part - part of Collinsville is in DeKalb County)
- Gaylesville
- Leesburg
- Piedmont (part - part of Piedmont is in Calhoun County)
- Sand Rock (part - part of Sand Rock is in DeKalb County)
References
- ↑ "QuickFacts: Cherokee County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ "Wet Cities". Alabama ABC Board. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Cherokees in Alabama". Alabama Humanities Foundation and Auburn University. Archived from the original on 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
- ↑ "Alabama Counties: Cherokee County". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.