Alabama

Sumter

12,345
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Sumter

Sumter, Alabama, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 29,937. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 12,345.

Its recorded population peaked at 32,710 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 62 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Lubbub Creek Fortified Village, and 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202012,345
201013,763
200014,798
199016,174
198016,908
197016,974
196020,041
195023,610
194027,321
193026,929
192025,569
191028,699
190032,710
189029,574
188028,728
187024,109
186024,035
185022,250
184029,937
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Sumter

Military engagements that took place in Sumter, Alabama.

Lubbub Creek Fortified Village
1200

Historic places in Sumter

National Register of Historic Places listings in Sumter, Alabama.

Gainesville Historic District
Gainesville
Fort Tombecbee
Epes
Colgin Hill
Gainesville
Coffin Shop
Gainesville
Ward, Dr. H. B., House
Cuba
Beavers, Dr. James Alvis, House
Cuba
Oakhurst
Emelle
Mobley, Col. Green G., House
Gainesville
Gibbs House
Gainesville
Sumter County Courthouse
Livingston
Main-Yankee Street Historic District
Gainesville
Browse all Alabamahistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Sumter County, Alabama

This page charts the census history of Sumter County, Alabama. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Alabamahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Military engagements ›Notable people from Alabama›

Frequently asked about Sumter

When does Sumter first appear in the US census?
Sumter, Alabama first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 29,937.
What is the population of Sumter?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Sumter had a recorded population of 12,345.
When did Sumter's population peak?
Sumter's recorded population peaked at 32,710 in 1900.
Were any battles fought in Sumter?
1 documented military engagement took place in Sumter, including Lubbub Creek Fortified Village.
How many historic places are in Sumter?
14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Sumter, Alabama.
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