Macon County is located in east-central Alabama in the Black Belt region, bordered by the Tallapoosa River along part of its northeastern edge. Created in 1832 and named for North Carolina statesman Nathaniel Macon, the county developed as an agricultural area shaped by the region’s fertile soils and plantation-era history. Today it is small in population, with roughly twenty thousand residents, and remains predominantly rural outside its main towns. The county seat is Tuskegee, known for its central role in African American history and education, including the legacy of Tuskegee University and the Tuskegee Airmen. Macon County’s landscape includes rolling farmland, pine and hardwood forests, and riverine lowlands. Its economy has historically centered on agriculture and public-sector and educational employment, with cultural life influenced by Black Belt traditions, civil rights history, and longstanding community institutions.

Macon County Local Demographic Profile

Macon County is located in east-central Alabama in the Black Belt region, with Tuskegee as the county seat. The county lies within the broader Montgomery–Auburn–Opelika area of the state’s central corridor.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Macon County, Alabama, the county had a population of 19,532 (2020) and an estimated population of 19,324 (2023).

Age & Gender

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (latest available county profile table):

  • Age distribution (share of total population)
    • Under 18: 18.6%
    • 65 and over: 17.6%
  • Gender ratio
    • Female: 51.6%
    • Male: 48.4%

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts:

  • Race (alone) / race categories
    • Black or African American: 80.1%
    • White: 16.2%
    • Asian: 0.7%
    • American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3%
    • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.0%
    • Two or more races: 2.6%
  • Ethnicity
    • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 2.3%

Household & Housing Data

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts:

  • Households
    • Number of households: 7,153
    • Persons per household: 2.35
  • Housing
    • Housing units: 9,715
    • Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 56.6%

For local government and planning resources, visit the Macon County, Alabama official website.

Email Usage

Macon County, in Alabama’s largely rural Black Belt, has low population density and longer last‑mile distances, which can constrain fixed broadband buildout and make mobile connectivity a more common access path for digital communication.

Direct county-level email usage statistics are not routinely published, so email access trends are inferred from proxy indicators such as household broadband subscription, computer availability, and age structure reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov). These proxies capture the prerequisites for regular email use (reliable internet access and suitable devices) rather than email behavior itself.

Digital access indicators show the county’s household broadband subscription and computer access rates, as reported in Census ACS tables, which are commonly used to assess digital readiness; lower subscription and device access generally correspond to lower routine email adoption. Age distribution matters because older populations tend to have lower rates of routine online account use, including email, while working-age and student populations tend to use email more for employment and education. Gender distribution is generally a weaker predictor of email adoption than age and access in U.S. survey research; county gender shares are available via the same Census profiles.

Connectivity limitations are reflected in the local broadband availability and deployment challenges documented through the FCC National Broadband Map and related state and federal broadband programs.

Mobile Phone Usage

Macon County is in east-central Alabama, anchored by the City of Tuskegee and surrounded by largely rural land uses. The county’s settlement pattern is dispersed outside Tuskegee, which generally increases the cost and complexity of building dense cellular and fiber infrastructure. Terrain in this part of Alabama is primarily rolling uplands with mixed forest and agricultural areas; vegetation and distance between towers can affect signal quality and indoor coverage, especially away from major roads. County population and housing characteristics referenced below are available from the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Macon County, Alabama.

Key distinction: network availability vs. adoption

  • Network availability (supply): Whether mobile broadband service is reported as available at a location (coverage footprint by technology such as LTE/4G or 5G).
  • Household adoption (demand): Whether residents subscribe to and use mobile service and internet (devices, data plans), and whether households rely on mobile service as their primary internet connection.

County-level statistics often measure one of these domains but not both at the same granularity; where Macon County–specific adoption indicators are not published, limitations are stated explicitly.

Mobile penetration and access indicators (adoption)

Direct county-level “mobile penetration” metrics are not commonly published in the United States in the way they are for some countries (e.g., SIMs per 100 people). For Macon County, the most consistently available adoption indicators are based on household internet subscription concepts captured by federal surveys.

  • Household internet subscription (including mobile/cellular data plans): The most relevant county-level adoption concept is “internet subscription,” which includes categories such as cable, fiber, DSL, satellite, and cellular data plan. Detailed breakdowns by subscription type are typically available via the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) tables, accessed through data.census.gov.

    • Limitation: ACS tables can provide county-level estimates for “cellular data plan” subscriptions, but precision can be limited in smaller counties (margins of error can be large). The specific values should be taken directly from the current ACS 5-year release for Macon County rather than inferred.
  • Smartphone ownership and mobile-only households: National surveys (for example, from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration) describe smartphone adoption and “mobile-only” internet reliance at national or state scales.

    • Limitation: These datasets generally do not publish smartphone ownership or mobile-only reliance at Macon County resolution. County-level estimates, where present, typically come from ACS subscription tables rather than direct device-ownership questions.

Mobile internet usage patterns and technology availability (4G/5G)

Reported mobile broadband availability (coverage)

The primary public source for location-based mobile broadband availability in the U.S. is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC).

  • FCC Broadband Data Collection (mobile coverage): The FCC provides provider-submitted coverage maps and downloadable data showing where mobile broadband is reported available by technology and speed tiers. See the FCC National Broadband Map for map-based viewing and the associated data resources.

    • 4G/LTE: LTE coverage is typically the broadest layer in rural counties; it is the baseline mobile broadband technology in many non-urban areas. Reported LTE availability in Macon County can be inspected directly in the FCC map by selecting mobile broadband layers and filtering by provider/technology.
    • 5G: 5G availability is often concentrated along higher-traffic corridors and population centers, with coverage varying significantly by band (low-band 5G tends to cover larger areas with modest performance gains; mid-band and mmWave have smaller footprints). The FCC map indicates where providers report 5G coverage.
    • Limitation: FCC mobile coverage is based on provider submissions and modeled propagation; it does not guarantee consistent indoor service or performance at every point within a reported coverage polygon.
  • State broadband context: Alabama’s statewide broadband planning and mapping resources provide context on infrastructure and availability initiatives. See the Alabama broadband program (ADECA Broadband Office) for statewide information and mapping links.

    • Limitation: State resources can include broadband project data and fixed broadband availability; they may not provide technology-specific mobile adoption metrics at the county level.

Performance and usage (what residents experience)

Publicly accessible, county-specific mobile performance metrics are less standardized than availability layers.

  • Crowdsourced speed/test data: Tools that aggregate user tests (e.g., Ookla) can show regional patterns in median mobile download/upload speeds and latency.
    • Limitation: These are not official measures, can be biased toward areas with more testers, and do not always provide stable county-level reporting. They are best used as contextual evidence rather than definitive coverage measures.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

  • Smartphones as the dominant mobile endpoint: In the U.S., most mobile internet use occurs on smartphones, with tablets and mobile hotspots used as secondary devices.

    • County-level limitation: Public datasets rarely publish “smartphone vs. basic phone” shares at the county level. The closest county-level proxy is ACS household internet subscription type (including “cellular data plan”), which indicates reliance on mobile service but not the exact device mix.
  • Hotspots and fixed-wireless substitution: In rural areas, cellular hotspots and router-based LTE/5G products may be used where fixed broadband options are limited.

    • Limitation: Reliable county-level counts of hotspot/router users are not generally published; the FCC map can show where providers report mobile broadband availability, but it does not measure how many households use mobile as their primary connection.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Macon County

Rurality, settlement pattern, and transportation corridors

  • Dispersed housing outside Tuskegee: Lower population density typically means fewer cell sites per square mile, increasing the likelihood of coverage gaps and weaker indoor reception in outlying areas.
  • Road-oriented coverage: Mobile networks in rural counties often show stronger continuity along highways and state routes, with weaker service deeper into less-traveled areas. This is a common pattern that can be verified locally through FCC coverage layers rather than assumed uniformly.

Socioeconomic factors and “mobile-first” internet reliance

  • Household income and broadband affordability pressures: Areas with lower median incomes frequently show higher reliance on smartphones for internet access, sometimes substituting mobile service for fixed broadband.
    • Limitation: While this relationship is well documented at broader geographies, Macon County–specific “mobile-only” reliance should be drawn from ACS subscription tables and not inferred from national patterns alone.

Age structure and digital participation

  • Older populations and device adoption: Older age distributions can correlate with different usage patterns (lower app adoption, more voice/SMS reliance).
    • Limitation: County-level device-type adoption by age is not typically available; age distributions can be retrieved from data.census.gov, but device/usage cross-tabs are limited at county scale.

Institutional presence and localized demand

  • Tuskegee University and Tuskegee urbanized area: Concentrated populations and institutional campuses can increase local demand for higher-capacity mobile service and may coincide with denser coverage footprints in and near Tuskegee.
    • Limitation: Provider investment decisions are not fully transparent in public data; the FCC map remains the primary public source for reported availability.

What is available at county level, and what is not (limitations summary)

  • Available at/near county level (public, standardized):

  • Not reliably available as definitive Macon County metrics (commonly):

    • “Mobile penetration” expressed as subscriptions per capita at the county level.
    • Smartphone vs. basic phone ownership shares at the county level.
    • County-wide, audited measures of typical mobile speeds/latency by technology (LTE vs 5G) from official sources.

References and primary data sources

Social Media Trends

Macon County is in east‑central Alabama in the Black Belt region, with Tuskegee as the county seat and a major cultural and institutional presence anchored by Tuskegee University and the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and public health history. The county’s largely rural geography, Black Belt demographics, and a mix of university/community audiences tend to align local social media use with broader Alabama and U.S. patterns, with usage shaped heavily by mobile access and the platforms most common among adults.

User statistics (penetration / active use)

  • Local, county-specific “active on social” penetration rates are not routinely published by major survey organizations at the county level. Most reliable benchmarks come from national surveys and broadband/mobile access statistics.
  • National baseline (adults): About 69% of U.S. adults use at least one social media site according to the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet (Pew’s ongoing tracking). This is the most commonly cited benchmark for overall adult adoption.
  • Mobile/broadband context (important for rural counties): Connectivity constraints can affect how often residents use social platforms and which formats (video vs. text) dominate. County-level broadband availability and adoption context is tracked by the FCC National Broadband Map and statewide broadband planning resources, which are often used to interpret rural social media behavior.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Age is the strongest predictor of social media adoption and platform choice in the U.S., and those patterns generally carry into Alabama counties:

  • Highest use: 18–29 and 30–49 adults show the highest usage rates across platforms in Pew’s tracking. Usage declines with age but remains substantial among older adults on certain platforms.
  • Platform skews by age (national patterns from Pew):
    • TikTok and Instagram skew younger.
    • Facebook remains broadly used across adult age groups, including older adults.
    • YouTube is widely used across ages and is often treated as both a video platform and a search/learning tool.
      Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Gender breakdown

  • Overall social media use by gender is relatively similar in national surveys, but platform-level differences are consistent:
    • Women are more likely than men to use Pinterest and tend to be slightly more represented on Instagram in several survey waves.
    • Men are more likely than women to use platforms such as Reddit and are often more represented in certain interest-based communities.
      Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Most-used platforms (percentages where available)

County-specific platform shares are rarely published by reputable survey groups; the most reliable reference points are national estimates:

  • YouTube: ~83% of U.S. adults
  • Facebook: ~68%
  • Instagram: ~47%
  • Pinterest: ~35%
  • TikTok: ~33%
  • LinkedIn: ~30%
  • X (formerly Twitter): ~22%
  • Snapchat: ~27%
  • WhatsApp: ~29%
    Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet. (Percentages vary by survey year; Pew’s fact sheet reflects its latest consolidated figures.)

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns / preferences)

  • Mobile-first use and short-form video: Nationally, social media engagement has shifted toward short-form video and algorithmic feeds (notably TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts). In rural counties, mobile-first consumption is common where fixed broadband is less available or less affordable, reinforcing video formats optimized for phones.
  • Community and local information: Facebook groups/pages tend to serve as a primary channel for local news, events, church/community announcements, and school-related updates, particularly in smaller cities and rural areas. This aligns with Facebook’s broad adult reach in Pew data.
  • Entertainment + “how-to” utility: YouTube’s high penetration supports both entertainment viewing and practical “how-to” content (home repair, education, health information), a pattern widely documented in national usage research.
  • Age-linked engagement styles: Younger adults concentrate activity on TikTok/Instagram/Snapchat (high-frequency viewing and sharing), while older adults more often use Facebook for keeping up with family/community and YouTube for longer-form viewing.
    Primary source for platform adoption patterns: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Family & Associates Records

Macon County family and associate-related records are primarily maintained through Alabama’s statewide vital records system and county courts. Birth and death certificates, as well as marriage and divorce records, are recorded and issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Vital Records rather than a county “registrar” office. Adoption records are generally filed through the courts and are not treated as open public records; access is governed by state confidentiality rules and controlled release procedures.

Public-facing databases for many vital records are limited. ADPH provides official ordering channels and informational pages, while many county-level court filings (including some domestic relations case dockets and orders) are accessed through Alabama’s court systems. Court records for Macon County are associated with the Macon County courts (Alabama Judicial System); in-person access and copying are typically handled by the circuit or probate clerk offices.

Residents access vital records by submitting requests through ADPH (by mail, in-person at designated state offices, or via ADPH-linked ordering services). County court records are accessed in person at the relevant clerk’s office during business hours; some statewide court information is available through the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts.

Privacy restrictions commonly apply to birth certificates for a set period, adoption files, and certain domestic relations matters; certified copies are generally limited to eligible requesters and may require identification and fees.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage records (licenses/certificates)

    • Alabama counties issue marriage licenses through the Probate Court.
    • For marriages formed in Alabama since the 2019 process change, the official statewide “marriage certificate” system is based on a completed and recorded marriage certificate form filed with the county probate office (rather than a ceremony being performed by the probate court).
  • Divorce records (decrees/judgments)

    • Divorce decrees (final judgments of divorce) and related pleadings (complaints, settlement agreements, custody/support orders) are maintained as court case records.
  • Annulments

    • Annulment orders/judgments are maintained as court case records, similar to divorce files, and are typically handled within the circuit court’s domestic relations jurisdiction.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Macon County marriage records

    • Filed/recorded with: Macon County Probate Court (recording of marriage documents and issuance/recordkeeping functions).
    • Access: Copies are generally obtained through the probate court as a recorded instrument. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Vital Records also maintains statewide vital record services, including certified copies for eligible requesters.
    • Reference: Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Vital Records
  • Macon County divorce and annulment records

    • Filed with: Macon County Circuit Court (domestic relations division/function) as a civil case record.
    • Access: Case files and certified copies of final judgments are obtained from the circuit clerk’s office. Statewide judicial case information may be available through Alabama’s court information resources, but availability and the level of detail can vary by case type and access permissions.
    • Reference: Alabama Judicial System

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage records

    • Names of the parties
    • Date of recording/filing (and date of marriage as reflected on the recorded form)
    • County of recording (Macon County)
    • Signatures and notarization/acknowledgments required by the filing format
    • Basic identifying details commonly captured on the recorded form (varies by era and form design)
  • Divorce decrees (final judgments)

    • Caption identifying the court, county, parties, and case number
    • Date of final judgment and findings/orders of the court
    • Disposition of the marriage (divorce granted/denied)
    • Orders on property division, debt allocation, alimony, and attorney fees (when applicable)
    • Orders on child custody, visitation, child support, and related parenting provisions (when applicable)
    • Incorporation of settlement agreements or parenting plans (when applicable)
  • Annulment judgments

    • Court, parties, case number, and judgment date
    • Determination that a marriage is void or voidable under Alabama law and the court’s disposition
    • Related orders addressing property, support, custody, and other ancillary issues (when applicable)

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Marriage records

    • Recorded marriage documents are generally treated as public records at the county recording office, with access administered by the custodian of records.
    • ADPH Vital Records certified copies are issued under state vital records rules and identification requirements; eligibility rules can apply for certified copies.
  • Divorce and annulment records

    • Court records are generally public, but access can be restricted by law or court order.
    • Common restrictions include sealed files, protected personal identifiers, and limited access to certain domestic relations materials involving minors, sensitive allegations, or confidential financial information.
    • Some information may be available in public indexes (party names, case number, filing dates, disposition), while full filings and exhibits may be partially redacted or sealed depending on the case.

Education, Employment and Housing

Macon County is in east-central Alabama along the Interstate 85 corridor, with Tuskegee as the county seat and largest population center. The county is anchored by Tuskegee University and a predominantly rural settlement pattern outside the Tuskegee area. Population and socioeconomic conditions reflect a mix of higher-education influence (university and related services) alongside rural community characteristics and a relatively small local labor market.

Education Indicators

Public school footprint (schools and names)

Macon County is served primarily by Macon County Schools and Tuskegee City Schools (distinct systems within the county). A consolidated, always-current roster of public schools and names is maintained through the Alabama State Department of Education district/school directory (school names vary over time due to consolidation/grade reconfiguration): Alabama State Department of Education school directory.
A commonly used public listing of schools by district and level is also available via NCES Public School Search (federal Common Core of Data).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratio (proxy): County/district ratios are reported by the federal CCD and Alabama report cards; in small rural counties such as Macon, ratios typically cluster around the mid-teens per teacher. A precise current ratio depends on the specific district (Macon County vs. Tuskegee City) and school year and is best verified in the above NCES/ALSDE directories for the latest reporting cycle.
  • High school graduation rate: Alabama reports graduation outcomes at the district and school level in state report card publications. The most recent official graduation rate for Macon County’s districts is available through the Alabama State Report Card (district profiles): Alabama State Report Card.
    Note: Publicly cited third-party dashboards frequently lag the state reporting year; the state report card remains the authoritative source.

Adult education levels (countywide)

Countywide adult attainment is tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates). The most recent complete ACS profile for Macon County, AL is available via data.census.gov (search “Macon County, Alabama educational attainment”).

  • High school diploma or higher (age 25+): Reported in ACS table series S1501.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): Reported in ACS S1501.
    Context: Macon County’s attainment profile is influenced by the presence of Tuskegee University, while rural areas typically show lower bachelor’s-degree prevalence than metro counties.

Notable programs (STEM, vocational, AP)

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Alabama districts participate in state CTE pathways aligned to workforce needs (health science, manufacturing/industrial maintenance, transportation, IT, and skilled trades vary by campus). State CTE framework and program governance is summarized by Alabama State Department of Education (Career/Technical Education).
  • Advanced Placement / dual enrollment (typical offerings): High schools in Alabama commonly provide AP coursework and/or dual enrollment through nearby postsecondary institutions when staffing and demand support it; district-by-district availability is reflected in individual school profiles and course catalogs rather than a single countywide registry.
  • Higher-education linkage: Tuskegee University is a major local STEM and professional-education institution and contributes to regional workforce preparation: Tuskegee University.

School safety measures and counseling resources

  • Safety planning: Alabama public schools operate under required safety planning and emergency preparedness procedures (visitor management, drills, coordination with local law enforcement, and threat assessment practices vary by campus). State-level school safety guidance is distributed through ALSDE and related state partners: Alabama State Department of Education.
  • Student support services: Counseling resources (school counselors, student support teams, referrals to community mental health services) are generally organized at the district/school level and reflected in district handbooks and school webpages rather than in a standardized countywide dataset.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

The official local-area unemployment rate is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). The most recent annual and monthly rates for Macon County, AL are available here: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
Note: The most recent “year available” depends on the current BLS release cycle; BLS provides both monthly and annual averages.

Major industries and employment sectors

Industry mix is best captured through ACS “Industry by occupation” profiles and County Business Patterns.

  • Public administration and education-related employment (local government and the K–12/university ecosystem)
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services
  • Manufacturing and transportation/warehousing (more limited locally, often tied to regional commuting) Authoritative sector counts and shares are accessible through:
  • ACS industry/occupation tables on data.census.gov
  • U.S. Census County Business Patterns

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

ACS occupation groupings typically show rural-county workforce concentrations in:

  • Service occupations (food service, protective services, personal care)
  • Office and administrative support
  • Transportation and material moving
  • Sales
  • Education, training, and library (supported locally by school systems and higher education) The most recent occupation distribution for Macon County is available via ACS table S2401 on data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

ACS commuting measures (table S0801) report mean travel time and commuting mode (drive alone/carpool/work from home/public transit where present). Macon County’s commuting reflects:

  • Predominant automobile commuting
  • Meaningful out-commuting to nearby employment centers along the I‑85 corridor (regional job access exceeds the county’s internal job base) The official mean commute time and in-county vs. out-of-county workplace shares are reported in ACS commuting tables on data.census.gov (search “Macon County AL S0801”).

Local employment vs. out-of-county work

Commuting flows and job-labor balance are measured by the Census Bureau’s LEHD/OnTheMap tools and ACS:

  • OnTheMap (LEHD) provides residence-to-workplace flow patterns and the share of workers leaving the county for work versus staying.
  • ACS S0801 provides complementary estimates from household survey responses.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Home tenure (owner-occupied vs renter-occupied) is reported in ACS housing tables (e.g., DP04 and S2501) on data.census.gov.
General pattern: Rural Alabama counties often show a majority owner-occupied housing stock, with a larger renter presence concentrated near institutional anchors (Tuskegee) and multi-family pockets.

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median home value: ACS reports median value of owner-occupied housing units (table DP04). The most recent county estimate is available via ACS DP04 on data.census.gov.
  • Recent trends (proxy where needed): In many non-metro Alabama counties, values rose during 2020–2022 and then moderated with higher interest rates; county-specific appreciation rates are best verified through the FHFA House Price Index at broader geographies or local transaction datasets. FHFA resources: FHFA House Price Index.
    Note: FHFA county-level series coverage varies; when unavailable, regional indices are used as a proxy.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent: Reported by ACS (table DP04). The most recent Macon County median rent is available via ACS DP04 on data.census.gov.
    Context: Rents are generally lower than major Alabama metros, with higher demand near Tuskegee and along primary corridors.

Types of housing

Macon County’s housing stock is predominantly:

  • Single-family detached homes and manufactured housing across rural areas
  • Smaller-scale apartment/duplex inventory concentrated near Tuskegee and institutional/employment nodes
    Housing structure type shares are reported in ACS DP04 (structure type distributions) on data.census.gov.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)

  • Tuskegee-area neighborhoods tend to have closer access to public schools, campus-related services, local government offices, and retail corridors.
  • Rural communities generally feature larger lots, greater distance to full-service grocery/healthcare, and longer drive times to schools and employment centers.
    Standardized countywide “neighborhood amenity” indices are not published as an official dataset; proximity is typically assessed via municipal land use, school attendance zones, and drive-time mapping.

Property tax overview (rate and typical homeowner cost)

  • Alabama property taxes are among the lowest nationally; actual bills vary by assessed value, classification, exemptions (including homestead), and millage rates set by local taxing authorities.
  • County-specific effective rates and median tax payments can be approximated using ACS housing cost tables and state/local millage publications, but the authoritative billing basis is the county revenue/assessment offices and local tax authorities. A national comparison dataset and county tax benchmarks are available through the Tax Foundation (methodology-based summaries): Tax Foundation.
    Note: A single “average rate” for the county is a proxy; Alabama’s millage and assessment system produces meaningful variation by location and exemptions within the county.