The Black community is one of the fastest growing communities in America this decade.
There are now 42 million people who identify as Black or African American living in America, making up 12% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Black population in Alabama is 1,275,780 – at 26.4% of the total population of Alabama.
The percentage growth of Blacks in America is the third largest percentage change for any race according to the Census’s race and ethnicity definition. As most scholars and historians agree, an increase in the diversity in America is a good thing.
We agree.
But how has the increase in the black population impacted Alabama? Which cities and towns in Alabama have seen the greatest increase in its Black population?
- Tuskegee (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Fairfield (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Prichard (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Midfield (Homes For Sale)
- Selma (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Birmingham (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Bessemer (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Center Point (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Montgomery (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Lanett (Photos | Homes For Sale)
Tuskegee took the number one over all spot for the largest Black population in Alabama for 2019. See if it ranked as one of the most african american cities in America.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked.
To see where Alabama ranked as a state on diversity, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in America.
And if you already knew these places were Black, check out the best places to live in Alabama or the most diverse places in Alabama.
How We Determined The Cities In Alabama With The Largest Black Population For 2019
We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the census. So that’s where we went to get the breakdown of race across Alabama.
That lead us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2013-2017 American Community Survey data from the US Census.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- Hispanic or Latino
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
Our particular column of interest here was the number of people who identified as Black or African American.
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 102 cities.
We then calculated the percent of residents that are Black or African American. The percentages ranked from 95.4% to 0.3%.
Finally, we ranked each city based on the percent of Black population with a higher score being more Black than a lower score. Tuskegee took the distinction of being the most Black, while Gulf Shores was the least African American city.
Read on for more information on how the cities in Alabama ranked by population of African American residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.
/10
Population: 8,852
% African American: 95.36%
# Of African American Residents: 8,441
Percent Change Since 2010: -13.59%
More on Tuskegee: Real Estate | Data | Photos
Tuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. It was founded and laid out in 1833 by General Thomas Simpson Woodward, a Creek War veteran under Andrew Jackson, and made the county seat that year. It was incorporated in 1843. It is also the largest city in Macon County. At the 2010 census the population was 9,865, down from 11,846 in 2000.
/10
Population: 10,850
% African American: 91.73%
# Of African American Residents: 9,953
Percent Change Since 2010: -3.82%
More on Fairfield: Real Estate | Data | Photos
Fairfield is a city in western Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham metropolitan area and is located southeast of Pleasant Grove. The population was 11,117 at the 2010 census.
/10
Population: 22,063
% African American: 87.3%
# Of African American Residents: 19,261
Percent Change Since 2010: -2.84%
More on Prichard: Real Estate | Data | Photos
Prichard is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States.
/10
Population: 5,174
% African American: 83.82%
# Of African American Residents: 4,337
Percent Change Since 2010: 12.47%
More on Midfield: Real Estate | Data
/10
Population: 19,176
% African American: 80.18%
# Of African American Residents: 15,375
Percent Change Since 2010: -4.12%
More on Selma: Real Estate | Data | Photos
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, in the Black Belt region of south central Alabama and extending to the west. Located on the banks of the Alabama River, the city has a population of 20,756 as of the 2010 census.
/10
Population: 212,265
% African American: 71.31%
# Of African American Residents: 151,375
Percent Change Since 2010: -5.16%
More on Birmingham: Real Estate | Data | Photos
Birmingham is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Jefferson County. The city’s population was 212,237 in the 2010 United States Census. In the 2010 US Census, the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of about 1,128,047, which is approximately one-quarter of Alabama’s population.
/10
Population: 26,697
% African American: 69.86%
# Of African American Residents: 18,651
Percent Change Since 2010: -9.72%
More on Bessemer: Real Estate | Data | Photos
Bessemer is a city southwest of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States, 8 miles west of Hoover. The population was 27,456 at the 2010 Census.
/10
Population: 16,564
% African American: 67.85%
# Of African American Residents: 11,239
Percent Change Since 2010: 7.83%
More on Center Point: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 200,761
% African American: 59.81%
# Of African American Residents: 120,068
Percent Change Since 2010: 5.86%
More on Montgomery: Real Estate | Data | Photos
Montgomery is a major city and the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for Richard Montgomery, it is located on the Alabama River, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2013 Census, Montgomery has a population of 201,332. It is the second-largest city in Alabama, after Birmingham, and is the 115th largest in the United States. The Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area had a 2010 estimated population of 374,536. It is the fourth-largest in the state and 136th among United States metropolitan areas.
/10
Population: 6,341
% African American: 59.8%
# Of African American Residents: 3,792
Percent Change Since 2010: -6.76%
More on Lanett: Real Estate | Data | Photos
There You Have It – Black Populations Across Alabama
If you’re looking for a breakdown of African American populations across Alabama according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least African American places in Alabama:
- Gulf Shores
- Orange Beach
- Arab
For more Alabama reading, check out:
- These Are The 10 Best Places To Retire In Alabama For 2018
- 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Alabama
- 10 Best Places To Live In Alabama
Detailed List Of The Most African American Cities In Alabama
| Rank | City | % African American |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuskegee | 95.36% |
| 2 | Fairfield | 91.73% |
| 3 | Prichard | 87.3% |
| 4 | Midfield | 83.82% |
| 5 | Selma | 80.18% |
| 6 | Birmingham | 71.31% |
| 7 | Bessemer | 69.86% |
| 8 | Center Point | 67.85% |
| 9 | Montgomery | 59.81% |
| 10 | Lanett | 59.8% |
| 11 | Monroeville | 59.29% |
| 12 | Demopolis | 56.38% |
| 13 | Greenville | 55.05% |
| 14 | Pleasant Grove | 54.68% |
| 15 | Atmore | 52.6% |
| 16 | Tarrant | 51.12% |
| 17 | Mobile | 50.24% |
| 18 | Eufaula | 50.18% |
| 19 | Anniston | 48.43% |
| 20 | Talladega | 48.08% |
| 21 | Chickasaw | 46.31% |
| 22 | Tuscaloosa | 44.08% |
| 23 | Phenix City | 43.73% |
| 24 | Brewton | 43.23% |
| 25 | Opelika | 43.11% |
| 26 | Roanoke | 42.9% |
| 27 | Valley | 41.42% |
| 28 | Bay Minette | 41.38% |
| 29 | Troy | 41.36% |
| 30 | Wetumpka | 35.71% |
| 31 | Alexander City | 35.44% |
| 32 | Sylacauga | 35.39% |
| 33 | Irondale | 35.16% |
| 34 | Gadsden | 34.69% |
| 35 | Hueytown | 33.7% |
| 36 | Dothan | 33.33% |
| 37 | Ozark | 32.45% |
| 38 | Huntsville | 30.58% |
| 39 | Pike Road | 28.66% |
| 40 | Calera | 27.87% |
| 41 | Andalusia | 26.54% |
| 42 | Millbrook | 26.46% |
| 43 | Northport | 26.36% |
| 44 | Lincoln | 24.14% |
| 45 | Jacksonville | 23.4% |
| 46 | Montevallo | 23.02% |
| 47 | Sheffield | 22.87% |
| 48 | Tuscumbia | 21.65% |
| 49 | Decatur | 21.61% |
| 50 | Enterprise | 21.53% |
| 51 | Daleville | 21.27% |
| 52 | Clay | 20.93% |
| 53 | Clanton | 20.65% |
| 54 | Attalla | 19.43% |
| 55 | Prattville | 18.92% |
| 56 | Florence | 18.43% |
| 57 | Opp | 17.92% |
| 58 | Hoover | 17.51% |
| 59 | Auburn | 17.3% |
| 60 | Athens | 16.41% |
| 61 | Leeds | 16.14% |
| 62 | Foley | 15.76% |
| 63 | Pinson | 15.6% |
| 64 | Fultondale | 15.6% |
| 65 | Jasper | 15.26% |
| 66 | Daphne | 14.9% |
| 67 | Madison | 14.71% |
| 68 | Alabaster | 14.53% |
| 69 | Pell City | 14.33% |
| 70 | Rainbow City | 14.32% |
| 71 | Homewood | 14.18% |
| 72 | Moody | 14.11% |
| 73 | Oxford | 13.74% |
| 74 | Helena | 13.34% |
| 75 | Muscle Shoals | 12.96% |
| 76 | Guntersville | 12.16% |
| 77 | Gardendale | 11.7% |
| 78 | Saraland | 11.61% |
| 79 | Satsuma | 10.69% |
| 80 | Pelham | 10.56% |
| 81 | Smiths Station | 10.45% |
| 82 | Russellville | 9.44% |
| 83 | Oneonta | 9.11% |
| 84 | Hartselle | 8.29% |
| 85 | Hamilton | 7.13% |
| 86 | Trussville | 5.79% |
| 87 | Scottsboro | 5.38% |
| 88 | Spanish Fort | 5.15% |
| 89 | Chelsea | 5.01% |
| 90 | Fairhope | 4.92% |
| 91 | Vestavia Hills | 3.79% |
| 92 | Robertsdale | 3.5% |
| 93 | Albertville | 2.92% |
| 94 | Fort Payne | 2.87% |
| 95 | Boaz | 2.11% |
| 96 | Glencoe | 1.94% |
| 97 | Southside | 1.57% |
| 98 | Mountain Brook | 0.86% |
| 99 | Cullman | 0.85% |
| 100 | Arab | 0.76% |