About Dallas County
Dallas County was created by the Alabama Territorial Legislature in 1818 from land ceded by the Creek Indians. It was named for U. S. Treasury Secretary Alexander J. Dallas of Pennsylvania. It is located in the heart of the Black Belt surrounded by Wilcox, Lowndes, Perry and Autauga counties.
The largely rural county’s population of 46,365 is about 60 percent black and 40 percent white. There are 17 elementary schools, three middle schools, four high schools, two alternative schools, a vocational school and three private schools; grades K-12. Selma, the county seat is home to one community college and two four year colleges.
Agricultural products in Dallas County include timber, livestock, soybeans, corn, cotton, peanuts, aquaculture and horticultural products. Gross cash receipts for farm and forestry products in Dallas County are more than $50,000,000. Major employers include International Paper Company, Bush Hog, Vaughan Regional Medical Center, Meadow Craft, Inc., American Apparel, Inc. and Phillies Cigars.
Tourist attractions include the Voting Rights Museum, Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church and King Monument, Cahawba, Old Depot Museum, Sturdivant Hall and Vaughan-Smitherman Museum. Annual events include The Bridge Crossing Jubilee and the Civil War Battle Re-enactment.
The Dallas County Extension Office employs five full-time and one part-time employees. More than 200 volunteers help with Extension programs. Some popular programs include Master Gardener, Making the Older Years Golden, and Leadership Selma-Dallas County. More than 600 youth are involved in 4-H.
