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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.Morgan County, Alabama History
Morgan County Education, Geography, and History
Morgan County is a county in the north central part of the state of Alabama. Based on the 2010 census, the
population was 119,490. The
county seat is Decatur. Morgan county was
created by the Alabama Territorial legislature on February 6, 1818 from land acquired from the Cherokee
Indians in the Treaty of Turkeytown, and was originally called Cotaco County. On June 14, 1821 it was
renamed in honor of American
Revolutionary War General Daniel Morgan of Virginia. .
Morgan County is included in the Decatur, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville, AL
Combined Statistical Area. It is a part of the North, Northwest, and North-Central regions of Alabama.
Etymology - Origin of Morgan County Name
The county was originally named Cotaco for a creek that flows through it. On June 14, 1821, the name was changed to Morgan in honor of Gen. Daniel Morgan (Virginia), a hero of the American Revolution.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Morgan County History
Morgan County, Alabama
Morgan county was formed by the Alabama Territorial legislature on February 8, 1818 from land acquired from the Cherokee Indians by the Treaty of Turkeytown. The county was originally named Cotaco for a creek that flows through it. On June 14, 1821, the name was changed to Morgan in honor of General Daniel Morgan (Virginia), a hero of the American Revolution. Morgan County lies in the northern section of the state, on the Tennessee River.Morgan county is bordered by Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Cullman, Winston, and Lawrence counties. Morgan County encompasses 575 square miles. The county seat was at Somerville from 1818 until 1891. Then it was transferred to Decatur, named after Stephen E. Decatur, hero of the 1804 Battle of Tripoli. Courthouse fires occurred in 1926 and 1938. Other towns and communities include Hartselle, Falkville, Priceville, Valhermoso Springs and Eva.
The county is a prohibition or dry county, though the city of Decatur is wet.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 599 square miles (1,550 km2), of which 579 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (3.3%) is water.
The Tennessee River runs along the northern boundary of Morgan County, with its many tributaries running throughout the county. The Tennessee River is the largest river system to pass through Alabama, and it is home to the rarest cavefish in America, the Alabama Cavefish. The river is considered one of the most biologically diverse river systems for aquatic organisms in the US, with over 176 species of fish, many of which are considered at-risk. The Wheeler Lake section of the Tennessee River drains virtually all of Morgan County and occupies approximately 67,000 acres.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Northeast: Madison County
- East: Marshall County
- South: Cullman County
- West: Lawrence County
- Northwest: Limestone County
Education
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