Chilton
County is a county of the U.S. state of
Alabama known for its peaches. Its name
is in honor of William Parish Chilton,
Sr. (1810-1871), a lawyer who became
Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme
Court and later represented Montgomery
County in the Congress of the
Confederate States of America. On
February 4, 1861, Wm. Chilton gaveled
the
 Confederacy into existence, as
acting leader of the Provisional
Congress. In 1942, the U.S. Navy
commissioned a new vessel the USS
Chilton in honor of Chilton County. As
of 2000, the population was 39,593. The
county seat is Clanton and it is a
prohibition, or dry county.
The center of population of Alabama is
located in Chilton County, outside of
the town of Jemison, an area known as
Jemison Division. As of the census
of 2000, there were 39,593 people,
15,287 households, and 11,342 families
residing in the county. The population
density was 57 people per square mile
(22/km˛). There were 17,651 housing
units at an average density of 25 per
square mile (10/km˛). The racial makeup
of the county was 86.71% White, 10.61%
Black or African American, 0.28% Native
American, 0.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific
Islander, 1.51% from other races, and
0.69% from two or more races. Nearly
2.91% of the population were Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 15,287 households out of
which 34.40% had children under
 the age
of 18 living with them, 60.10% were
married couples living together, 10.50%
had a female householder with no husband
present, and 25.80% were non-families.
Nearly 22.90% of all households were
made up of individuals, and 10.20% had
someone living alone who was 65 years of
age or older. The average household size
was 2.57, and the average family size
was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread
out with 25.70% under the age of 18,
9.10% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to
44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who
were 65 years of age or older. The
median age was 36 years. For every 100
females there were 97.80 males. For
every 100 females age 18 and over, there
were 93.90 males.
The median income for a household in the
county was $32,588, and the median
income for a family was $39,505. Males
had a median income of $31,006 versus
$21,275 for females. The per capita
income for the county was $15,303. About
12.60% of families and 15.70% of the
population were below the poverty line,
including 19.40% of those under age 18
and 18.20% of those age 65 or over
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