Houston County is a county located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 107,202. Its county seat is Dothan, which is located on the border and partially in adjacent Henry County.
Houston County is part of the Dothan, Alabama metropolitan area.
History
Houston County was established on February 9, 1903, from parts of Dale, Geneva, and Henry counties. It was named after George Smith Houston, the 24th Governor of Alabama. This area of the state was historically developed for the pine timber and turpentine industries, as well as cotton plantations. The latter, especially, depended on enslaved African Americans for labor.
Because of this history, African Americans predominated in the population until after the early 20th century, when many migrated to northern and midwestern cities for better economic opportunities and to escape Jim Crow discrimination. They were essentially disenfranchised after the turn of the 20th century because of constitutional amendments and other laws that made voter registration nearly impossible. Many poor whites were disenfranchised at the same time.
thumb|Original Courthouse
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water. The county is located in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama. It is the only Alabama county is the borders both Georgia and Florida
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Henry County (north)
- Early County, Georgia (east)
- Seminole County, Georgia (southeast)
- Jackson County, Florida (south)
- Geneva County (west)
- Dale County (northwest)