Alabama gained 7.5 percent in population over the past decade, while Escambia County’s population was down slightly, according to 2010 Census numbers released Thursday.
Escambia County’s population was 38,319 in 2010, down from 38,440 in 2000.
Alabama’s growth of 332,636 people from 2000 to 2010 occurred mostly in Baldwin, Autauga, Shelby, Talladega, and Limestone counties, each of which experienced more than 25 percent increases in population. Thirty-one Alabama counties had population loss, including three of Covington County’s neighbors, Escambia, Conecuh and Butler counties.
Covington County was among the 12 counties experiencing 0 to 5 percent population growth, as were Geneva and Crenshaw counties. Covington County’s sixth neighbor, Coffee County, was among the 15 counties with 5 to 15 percent grown.
Demographically, the state experienced population growth in all ethnicities.
The state’s population is 68.5 percent white; 26.2 percent African American; 0.6 percent American Indian; 1.1 percent Asian; 0.1 percent Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; 2.0 percent some other race alone; 1.5 percent two or more races.
The state’s Hispanic population increased to 3.9 percent of the total population.