Blount County
Blount is the northern most county in the Birmingham – Hoover Metropolitan Area. The county is located in the picturesque Appalachian Mountains and is well connected to Alabama’s largest transportation hub via Interstate 65, crossing through the County’s extreme western region and two major highways (Highway 79 and Highway 75), which provide access to the county’s major population centers.
With a population of almost 57,000, Blount County has experienced a healthy 11% growth since 2000. The City of Oneonta is centrally located in the county and is the largest population center with almost 6,700 inhabitants. Although mostly rural, Blount County provides a high quality of life. Average ACT scores for the Oneonta City School System are among the best in Alabama and ranks well above the national average. The largest cluster of covered bridges in Alabama is located in Blount County.
Overview
2007 Population |
56,946 | |
2007 Households |
21,702 | |
2007 Age Composition |
||
| Age 0 to 4 | 6% | |
| Age 5 to 9 | 6% | |
| Age 10 to 14 | 7% | |
| Age 15 to 17 | 4% | |
| Age 18 to 20 | 4% | |
| Age 21 to 24 | 5% | |
| Age 25 to 34 | 14% | |
| Age 35 to 44 | 14% | |
| Age 45 to 49 | 7% | |
| Age 50 to 54 | 7% | |
| Age 55 to 59 | 6% | |
| Age 60 to 64 | 5% | |
| Age 65 to 74 | 8% | |
| Age 75 to 84 | 4% | |
| Age 85 and over | 1% | |
2007 Household Income |
||
| 2007 Average | $50,903 | |
| 2000 Average | $43,250 | |
| 00 to 07 Percent Change | 18% | |
| 2007 Median | $43,250 | |
| 2000 Median | $35,319 | |
| 00 to 07 Percent Change | 22% | |
2007 Workforce |
Numeric | Percentage |
| 2007 Estimated population Age 25 and Over |
38,800 | 100% |
| Less than 9th grade | 4,260 | 11% |
| Some High School, no diploma | 7,203 | 19% |
| High School Graduate (or GED) | 14,002 | 36% |
| Some College, no degree | 7,230 | 19% |
| Associate Degree | 2,385 | 6% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 2,264 | 6% |
| Master's Degree | 1,039 | 3% |
| Professional School Degree | 281 | 1% |
| Doctorate Degree | 136 | 0% |
2007 Employment |
Numeric | Percentage |
| Retail Trade | 3,021 | 22% |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate | 633 | 5% |
| Services | 4,631 | 34% |
| Hotels & other lodging | 21 | 0% |
| Personal services | 521 | 4% |
| Business services | 421 | 3% |
| Motion pictures & Amusement | 201 | 1% |
| Health services | 1,117 | 8% |
| Legal services | 66 | 0% |
| Educational services | 1,407 | 10% |
| Social services | 203 | 1% |
| Other Services | 674 | 5% |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources | 217 | 2% |
| Resource Extraction | 61 | 0% |
| Construction | 724 | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 1,913 | 14% |
| Transport/Communication, Utilities | 915 | 7% |
| Wholesale Trade | 614 | 4% |
| Government | 1,092 | 8% |
| Total Employment | 13,821 | 100% |
Largest Employers |
Employees | |
| 1. Blount County Board of Education | 1,000 | |
| 2. Tyson Foods | 770 | |
| 3. Wal-Mart | 300 | |
| 4. American Apparel | 200 | |
| 5. St. Vincent's Blount | 185 | |
| 6. Oneonta City Board of Education | 150 | |
| 7. Community Bank | 101 | |
| 8. McMillan Fabrication | 75 | |
| 9. Massey Hauling | 70 | |
| 10. Cheney Lime & Cement | 55 |
| Source: Michael Shattuck (MDB) using EDPA Claritas statistics |