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Alabama Counties
Alabama currently has sixty-seven counties. The oldest county, Washington, was created on June 4, 1800, when what is now Alabama was then part of the Mississippi Territory. The newest county is Houston, created on February 9, 1903.Lamar County, Alabama History
Lamar County Education, Geography, and History
Lamar County (formerly Jones County and Sanford County) is a county of the state of Alabama. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 14,564. Lamar County was created on Feburary 4 1867, and was formed from Marion County and Fayette County. The county seat is Vernon and is a prohibition or dry county. Lamar county is named in honor of Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, member of the United States Senate from Mississippi.
Etymology - Origin of Lamar County Name
Lamar county was originally named Jones County after E.P. Jones, a resident of Fayette County. On November 13, 1867 the county was abolished. On October 8, 1868 the county was re-created under the name of Sanford County. On Feburary 8, 1877 the name was changed to Lamar in honor of Senator Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar of Mississippi.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Lamar County History
Lamar County, Alabama
Lamar county was formed by the Alabama legislature on Feburary 4, 1867 and was originally named Jones County after E.P. Jones, a resident of Fayette County. On November 13, 1867 the county was abolished. On October 8, 1868 the county was re-created under the name of Sanford County. On Feburary 8, 1877 the name was changed to Lamar in honor of Senator L.Q.C. Lamar of Mississippi. Lamar County is bordered by Marion, Fayette, and Pickens counties in Alabama, and by Lowndes and Monroe counties in Mississippi. It currently encompasses 605 square miles. The county is drained by the Tombigbee River.
In 1866, the community known as Swayne courthouse, named for Gen. Wager Swayne, military governor of the Chattahoochee District of the state, was designated as the county seat. In 1868 the name was changed to Vernon, after Edmund Vernon, an immigrant from Vernon, England. Other towns and communities include Sulligent, Beaverton, and Millport.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 605 square miles (1,570 km2), of which 605 square miles (1,570 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.1%) is water.
The Upper Tombigbee Watershed of the Tombigbee River drains all of Lamar County. Tributaries of both the Buttahatchee River and Luxapallila Creek flow throughout the county, offering both recreational and economic opportunities. The Tombigbee River is considered one of the most critical watersheds in the nation, with more than 125 species of fish, 10 of which are considered endangered.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Northeast: Marion County
- East: Fayette County
- South: Pickens County
- Southwest: Lowndes County, Ms.
- Northwest: Monroe County, Ms.
Education
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