Clarke

Formed December 10, 1812 (4^th county)

Clarke County (23,087), Grove Hill (1,819), Jackson (4,746)

This red brick and concrete courthouse was built in 1955 following the first courthouse being built in 1899.  Charles H. McCauley designed the Greek Revival courthouse.  It is located on Court Street near Main Street.  United States Highway 43 is two blocks west.  The building features pillars and veteran memorials are across the street.  An Addition was added in 2007.  Clarke County was named for General James Clarke.  Grove Hill is named for local oak trees.  Clarke County was created on December 10, 1812 from Washington County as the 4^th county.  The original county seat was Clarkesville and moved to Grove Hill in 1831. 

Clarke County government consists of a sheriff, revenue commissioner, and coroner (executive).  It has 5 commissioners (legislative.)  Two Circuit Judges serve Clarke, Choctaw, and Washington counties and a District Judge, a Probate Judge, a District Attorney, and a County Clerk serve Clarke County (judicial.)  The county is located in the southwest part of the state.  The center of the county is 4.2 miles East-Northeast of Grove Hill.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Marengo, Wilcox, Monroe, Baldwin, Washington, and Choctaw counties.  Mobile, Alabama is south of the county.  Grove Hill is near the center of the county.  Jackson is located on the western border southwest of the center.  Grove Hill is the county seat with 7.9% of the county population.  Jackson is the largest city with 20.6% of the county population.

The county has an area of 1238.5 square miles.  It ranks 3 out of 67 in size.  It ranks 43 out of 67 in population in the state.  It has a density of 18.2 persons per square mile making it 56 out of 67 in the state.  Clarke County has 46.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  The Alabama River forms the majority of the east border and the Tombigbee River forms the western border.  United States Highway 43 crosses north to south in the county from Marengo County to Washington County.  United States Highway 84 goes east to west from Monroe County to Choctaw County.  The county is shaped like an arrowhead.