Wilcox

Formed December 13, 1819 (29^th county)

Wilcox County (10,601), Camden (1,918)                

A classic red brick structure was built in 1857.  It sits on a square at Claiborne, Broad, Court and Waters streets.  Alabama State Highway 28 is Claiborne Street.  Alexander Bragg is the designer of this Greek Revival courthouse.  A Courthouse Annex was built in 1978.  The facility features columns and the county library is on the second floor.  Lieutenant J. M. Wilcox is the county’s namesake.  Wilcox County was the birthplace of 2 Alabama Governors, Benjamin M. Miller and Kay E. Ivey.  Camden, South Carolina provided the source for the county seat.  The county was established on December 13, 1819 as the 29^th county from Dallas and Monroe counties.  Canton Bend (1819) was the first county seat followed by Camden (1833). 

Wilcox County government consists of a sheriff, revenue commissioner, and coroner (executive).  It has 5 commissioners (legislative.)  Three Circuit Judges serve Wilcox, Bibb, Dallas, Hale and Perry counties and a District Judge, a Probate Judge, a District Attorney, and a County Clerk serve Wilcox County (judicial.)  The county is in the southwest part of the state, southwest of Montgomery, Alabama.  The center of the county is 3.2 miles West of Camden.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Dallas, Lowndes, Butler, Monroe, Clarke, and Marengo counties.  The Alabama River flows right through the county.  Camden is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 18.1% of the county population.

The county has an area of 888.5 square miles.  It ranks 16 out of 67 in size.  It ranks 64 out of 67 in population in the state.  It has a density of 11.3 persons per square mile making it 66 out of 67 in the state.  Wilcox County has 28.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstate highways or United States highways passing through the county.  The county looks like a table with a pile of clothes on the northwest corner.  Camden is at or near the county’s center.