Get Alabama Insurance Quotes started right now!
Local & County Government
Alabama has 67 counties, each having its own elected legislative branch, usually called the Board of Commissioners, which usually also has executive authority in the county. Due to the restraints placed in the Alabama Constitution, all but 7 counties (Jefferson, Lee, Mobile, Madison, Montgomery, Shelby, and Tuscaloosa) in the state have little to no home rule. Instead, most counties in the state have to lobby to the Local Legislation Committee the state legislature to get simple local policies such as waste disposal to land use zoning
Alabama is the 30th largest state in the United States with 135,775 km2 (52,423 mi2) of total area. 3.19% of that is water, making Alabama 23rd in the amount of surface water, also giving it the second largest inland waterway system in the United States. About three-fifths of the land area is a gentle plain with a general incline towards the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The North Alabama region is mostly mountainous, with the Tennessee River cutting a large valley creating numerous creeks, streams, rivers, mountains, and lakes. The lowest point east of the Mississippi River lies in Dekalb County along a creek cutting tower ridges, and creating Buck's Pocket State Park. Another natural wonder is "Land Bridge" the longest natural bridge span east of the Mississippi River. Alabama generally ranges in elevation from sea level at Mobile Bay, to a little more than 1800 feet or 550 meters in the Appalachian mountains in the northeast. The highest point is Mount Cheaha.
This is a list of Alabama county name etymologies. Many Alabama counties are named for soldiers who fought in the Creek War, Confederate heroes, local Native American groups and Southern state governors and U.S. Senators.
- Autauga County: Autauga is named for the Native American village of Atagi, which was located at the confluence of Autauga Creek and the Alabama River.
- Baldwin County: Baldwin is named for U.S. Senator Abraham Baldwin of Georgia.
- Barbour County: Barbour is named for Governor of Virginia James Barbour.
- Bibb County: Bibb is named for the first Governor of Alabama William Wyatt Bibb.
- Blount County: Blount is named for Governor of Tennessee Willie Blount, in honor of his assistance to Alabama settlers during the Creek War of 1813 and 1814.
- Bullock County: Bullock is named for Edward C. Bullock, a colonel in the Confederate States Army.
- Butler County: Butler is named for William Butler, a soldier who fought in the Creek War.
- Calhoun County: Calhoun is named for statesman John C. Calhoun of South Carolina.
- Chambers County: Chambers is named for Henry C. Chambers, a U.S. Senator from Alabama.
- Cherokee County: Cherokee is named for the Cherokee Native American people.
- Chilton County: Chilton is named for William P. Chilton, a representative to the Confederate States Congress.
- Choctaw County: Choctaw is named for the Choctaw Native American people.
- Clarke County: Clarke is named for military man John Clarke.
- Clay County: Clay is named for statesman Henry Clay of Kentucky
- Cleburne County: Cleburne is named for Patrick Ronaine Cleburne, a major-general in the Confederate States Army.
- Coffee County: Coffee is named for Gen. John Coffee who fought in the Creek War.
- Colbert County: Colbert is named for the Colbert brothers, George and Levi, who were Chickasaw leaders.
- Conecuh County: Conecuh is a Muscogee word meaning either land of cane or polecat's head.
- Coosa County: Coosa is named for a Native American town of the same name.
- Covington County: Covington is named for Leonard Wailes Covington, an American officer who served in the War of 1812.
- Crenshaw County: Crenshaw is named for one of the first settlers of Butler, Andrew Crenshaw.
- Cullman County: Cullman is named for John G. Cullmann, who encouraged German immigration to northern Alabama.
- Dale County: Dale is named for early settler and "Indian fighter" Sam Dale.
- Dallas County: Dallas is named for U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander J. Dallas.
- DeKalb County: DeKalb is named for Baron DeKalb, a hero of the American Revolutionary War.
- Elmore County: Elmore is named for John Archer Elmore, an early settler and Revolutionary War vet.
- Escambia County: Escambia is believed to be a Choctaw word meaning cane-brake or reed-brake.
- Etowah County: Etowah is Native American word.
- Fayette County: Fayette is named for the Marquis de la Fayette.
- Franklin County: Franklin is named for American statesman Benjamin Franklin.
- Geneva County: Geneva is named for Geneva, Switzerland.
- Greene County: Greene is named for American Revolutionary War leader Nathaniel Greene.
- Hale County: Hale is named for Stephen Fowler Hale, an officer in the Confederate States Army who was killed at the Battle of Gaines' Mill in Virginia.
- Henry County: Henry is named for Governor of Virginia Patrick Henry.
- Houston County: Houston is named for Governor of Alabama George Smith Houston.
- Jackson County: Jackson is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson.
- Jefferson County: Jefferson is named for U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.
- Lamar County: Lamar is named for L.Q.C. Lamar, a U.S. Senator from Mississippi, U.S. Supreme Court Justice and U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
- Lauderdale County: Lauderdale is named for Col. James Lauderdale of Tennessee who was killed in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.
- Lawrence County: Lawrence is named for James Lawrence, a hero of the War of 1812.
- Lee County: Lee is named for Army of Virginia leader Robert E. Lee.
- Limestone County: Limestone is named for Limestone Creek, which runs through the county and has a bed of limestone.
- Lowndes County: Lowndes is named in honor of Congressman William Lowndes from South Carolina.
- Macon County: Macon is named for Nathaniel Macon, a U.S. Senator from North Carolina.
- Madison County: Madison is named for U.S. President James Madison.
- Marengo County: Marengo is named for the Battle of Marengo in Europe.
- Marion County: Marion is named for American Revolutionary War guerilla leader Francis Marion of South Carolina.
- Marshall County: Marshall is named for U.S. Chief Justice James Marshall.
- Mobile County: Mobile is named for the Maubila Native American people.
- Monroe County: Monroe is named for U.S. President James Monroe.
- Montgomery County: Montgomery is named for Lemuel Putnam Montgomery, an officer who was killed at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814.
- Morgan County: Morgan is named for American Revolutionary War leader Daniel Morgan.
- Perry County: Perry is named for American naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry.
- Pickens County: Pickens is named for American Revolutionary War General Andrew Pickens.
- Pike County: Pike is named for explorer Zebulon Pike.
- Randolph County: Randolph is named for John Randolph, a U.S. Senator from Virginia.
- Russell County: Russell is named for Gilbert C. Russell, an officer who fought in the Creek Wars.
- Shelby County: Shelby is named for Governor of Kentucky Isaac Shelby.
- St. Clair County: St. Clair is named for Arthur St. Clair.
- Sumter County: Sumter is named for American Revolutionary War Gen. Thomas Sumter of South Carolina.
- Talladega County: Talladega is named for Talladega, a Native American community.
- Tallapoosa County: Tallapoosa is named for the Tallapoosa River. Tallapoosa is believed to be a Choctaw word meaning pulverized rock.
- Tuscaloosa County: Tuscaloosa was a Native American name for the Black Warrior River.
- Walker County: Walker is named for John Williams Walker, a U.S. Senator from Alabama.
- Washington County: Washington is named for U.S. President George Washington.
- Wilcox County: Wilcox is named for Joseph M. Wilcox, a soldier who fought in the Creek Wars.
- Winston County: Winston is named for Governor of Alabama John A. Winston.
[