Anyone from Monroe County?

[LizW]

I was looking at county-by-county vote totals from past presidential elections, and I noticed that Monroe always goes strongly Republican. The only time I think it ever went Democratic was '76 and then only by a tiny percentage.

Why is Monroe so different from Wilcox to the north and Conecuh to the southeast?

[Syrinx]

1. I think Harper Lee is

;)

Seriously, I think Monroe county has a much smaller black population than Wilcox or Conecuh.

[Syrinx]

2. well, maybe that's not the reason

According to Wikipedia:

African-American populations:

Monroe: 40%
Conecuh: 43%
Wilcox: 71%

[LizW]

3. Hmmm. Must be economic

I wonder if there is one major employer that skews the voting or something.

I've never been there, so I have no idea. Just thought it was interesting.

Thanks for the population info. :)

[Frances]

4. I have a cousin in Conecuh

and I was delighted to learn that she is a Democrat! So many of my relatives are Republican.

Monroe is between Conecuh and Clarke county where I grew up.

I am really out of touch with the area, but the last time I visited, Conecuh county looked very depressed economically. Vanity Fair had a mill in Monroe County for years, but I don't think it is there any longer. There was also a thriving timber industry in Monroe at one time, but I don't know how that is doing now.

[Arwennick]

5. Could be that

a lot of the younger generations have moved back and forth between Mobile,Baldwin countys for job opportunities in the building boom.Mobile and Baldwin countys are Republican strongholds,have been since Goldwater closed Brookly AF base in 1964 in retaliation of those countys going Goldwater in the election that year.
Also a lot of retirees from the military settled in rural areas to beat the high prices of coastal cities.Most retire from the Pensacola NAS.
The Papermill in Monroe county is still going strong and the logging is still big in the six county area of Clarke,Wilcox,Dallas, Escambia,Washington and Monroe.

[EMAN51]

6. No, but lived in Madison County (Huntsville)

In the late 60's thru the mid-70's. I was a teenager, but remember working on behalf of Albert Brewer, a Republican, in one of the gubernatorial races against George Wallace. I attended a Wallace rally at the Parkway City Mall and never saw a greater collection of pickup trucks in my life.
I live in the Los Angeles area now, but have been back to Alabama on a number of occasions. Most of my high school friends are in the freeper category, but some have a progressive slant. I know the congressman from that area, Bud Cramer, is a Democrat (more likely in name only), but am curious as to the current leanings of Madison County.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi EMAN51

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[southlandshari]

8. you should be proud of Bud Cramer

Check out his pioneering work in the area of child advocacy nationwide:

http://www.nca-online.org/welcome.html

I serve on the board of our local center, and was so proud to learn of our organization's Alabama roots!

[Syrinx]

9. I'm pretty sure Brewer was a Dem, at least when he was governor

And he did a lot to help education in the state.

[BamaBecky]

10. Wilcox county is heavily populated with African Americans & impoverished

I'm from Clarke County. Next door to both Wilcox and Monroe counties. I drive through Conecuh often. It may also have a high percentage of African American. I hope that Clarke goes for Kerry! I'm a new poster to DU. I have been on the JK/JE forum since August. Before that I had never entered a chat room.

[BamaLefty]

11. I'm from Covington

And Kerry is making a lot of ground in my county. Thanks to me of course... ;)