I’ve never been to Alabama. I have no family in Alabama (although my since-passed aunt and uncle retired there). To the best of my knowledge, I don’t know anyone in Alabama. Despite all that, I will be watching the returns come in tonight with bated breath and fingers crossed. For those who are like me, with zero personal knowledge or experience of Alabama, I’m providing numbers and factoids to fill in some of the gaps.
The basics
Population estimates, July 1, 2016, (V2016) |
4,863,300 |
People
Population |
|
Population estimates, July 1, 2016, (V2016) |
4,863,300 |
Population estimates base, April 1, 2010, (V2016) |
4,780,131 |
Population, percent change - April 1, 2010 (estimates base) to July 1, 2016, (V2016) |
1.7% |
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 |
4,779,736 |
Age and Sex |
|
Persons under 5 years, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) |
6.0% |
Persons under 5 years, percent, April 1, 2010 |
6.4% |
Persons under 18 years, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) |
22.6% |
Persons under 18 years, percent, April 1, 2010 |
23.7% |
Persons 65 years and over, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) |
16.1% |
Persons 65 years and over, percent, April 1, 2010 |
13.8% |
Female persons, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) |
51.6% |
Female persons, percent, April 1, 2010 |
51.5% |
Race and Hispanic Origin |
|
White alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a) |
69.3% |
Black or African American alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a) |
26.8% |
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a) |
0.7% |
Asian alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a) |
1.4% |
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a) |
0.1% |
Two or More Races, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) |
1.6% |
Hispanic or Latino, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(b) |
4.2% |
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) |
65.8% |
Population Characteristics |
|
Veterans, 2012-2016 |
351,461 |
Foreign born persons, percent, 2012-2016 |
3.4% |
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
These excerpts from the 1861 Constitution of Alabama provide interesting historical insights.
ARTICLE I
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
That the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare:
Section 1. That all freemen, when they form a social compact, are equal in rights; and that no man or set of men are entitled to exclusive, separate public emoluments or privileges, but in consideration of public services.
Section 2. All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit; and, therefore, they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish their form of government, in such manner as they may think expedient.
Section 3. No person within this State shall, upon any pretence be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping God in the manner most agreeable to his own conscience; nor be compelled to attend any place of worship; nor shall any one ever be obliged to pay any tithes, taxes or other rate, for the building or repairing any place of worship, or for the maintenance of any minister or ministry.
Section 4. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience.
Section 5. No person shall be hurt, molested or restrained in his religious profession, sentiments or persuasions, provided he does not disturb others in their religious worship.
Section 6. The civil rights, privileges, or capacities of any citizen, shall in no way be diminished or enlarged, on account of his religious principles.
Section 7. There shall be no establishment of religion by law; no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious sect, society, denomination, or mode of worship; and no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under this State.
(Source: Alabama : Constitution of January 7, 1861)
SLAVERY
Section 1. No slave in this State shall be emancipated by any act done to take effect in this State, or any other country.
Section 2. The humane treatment of slaves shall be secured by law.
Section 3. Laws may be enacted to prohibit the introduction into this State, of slaves who have committed high crimes in other States or territories, and to regulate or prevent the introduction of slaves into this State as merchandise.
Section 4. In the prosecution of slaves for crimes, of a higher grade than petit larceny, the General Assembly shall have no power to deprive them of an impartial trial by a petiti jury.
Section 5. Any person who shall maliciously dismember or deprive a slave of life, shall suffer such punishment as would be inflicted in case the like offense had been committed on a free white person, and on the like proof, except in case of insurrection of such slave.
(Source: Alabama : Constitution of January 7, 1861 )
Compare this with an excerpt from Wikipedia; the ahistorical myths still abound.
Some historians had concluded that Alabama seceded to make the institution of slavery permanent, but none of the Confederate States rejoined the Union when offered the Corwin Amendment to make State "domestic institutions" permanent. Therefore historians have debated the real causes of the Civil War, when both the Confederacy and the Union had voted to make slavery permanent in March 1861, such as avoiding the Union's import tariffs as prohibited in Alabama Ordinance 12,[1] but increased by Lincoln's proposed Morrill Tariff, passed 2 months after Alabama left the Union.
(Alabama in the American Civil War)
Will positions on issues matter? If they do, this is a great explainer: Roy Moore, Doug Jones and the issues: A Voter's Guide to the Alabama Senate Election Be sure to read the linked profiles of each candidate within the article; they’re very informative.
The two candidates have sharply different views on health care, the environment, and social issues. Those differences has been overshadowed as Moore has dealt with accusations — most stemming from his time as a prosecutor in Etowah County in the late 1970s and early 1980s — that he pursued relationships with teenaged girls, and engaged in conduct ranging from unwanted attention to assault. Moore denies the allegations.
The candidates have tried — to varying degrees — to discuss other issues as well. Moore in his public appearances has gone back to the religiously conservative, anti-LGBT message that has defined his political career…
Jones, meanwhile, has emphasized jobs and health care, in particular his support of Medicaid, Medicare and renewal of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In recent days, Jones has amped up his attacks on Moore over the accusations.
Alabama counties won by Hillary Clinton in 2016
Bullock County (pop 10,696; county seat=union springs)
Dallas County (pop 41,131; county seat=Selma)
Greene County (pop 8479; county seat=Eutaw)
Hale County (pop 15,068; county seat=Greensboro)
Jefferson County (pop 660,367; county seat=Birmingham)
Lowndes County (pop 10,458; county seat=Hayneville)
Macon County (pop 19,105; county seat=Tuskegee)
Marengo County (pop 22,028; county seat=linden)
Montgomery County (pop 226,519; county seat/state capital=Montgomery)
Perry County (pop 9652; county seat=Marion)
Russell County (pop 55,960; county seat=phenix city)
Sumter County (pop 13,103; county seat=Livingston)
Wilcox County (pop 11,059; county seat=Camden)
(Source: Politico.com); population numbers based on 2015 U.S. Census Bureau estimates found through Google searches
Overall 2016 Alabama Presidential Election Results