Fort Payne, AL Demographics

A map of Fort Payne's Population by Race

Fort Payne, Alabama has an estimated population of 14,927, a less than 1% change from the 14,877 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 71.5% White, 23.7% Hispanic, 1.8% Multiracial, 1.5% Native American/Other, 1.3% Black, and 0.2% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Fort Payne, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Fort Payne has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Alabama overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Fort Payne, that probability was 49.8% in 2020 and 43.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Fort Payne is ranked the 49th most populous place in Alabama, out of 594 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Fort Payne was ranked the 50th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Fort Payne's White Population

10,670 residents of Fort Payne, or 71.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Fort Payne is higher than in Alabama overall, where 63.4% of the population is White. Fort Payne ranks 375th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Payne's White population has grown by an estimated 8.3%. White residents' share of Fort Payne's population has increased from 66.2% to 71.5%.

Fort Payne is less White than neighboring Pine Ridge (86.4% White), Valley Head (90.9% White), Hammondville (94.8% White), Rainsville (91% White), and Sylvania (81.2% White).

Fort Payne's Black Population

194 residents of Fort Payne, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Fort Payne is significantly lower than in Alabama overall, where 25.6% of the population is Black. Fort Payne ranks 424th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Payne's Black population has declined by an estimated 61.0%. Black residents' share of Fort Payne's population has decreased from 3.3% to 1.3%.

Fort Payne is more Black than neighboring Pine Ridge (0% Black), Valley Head (0% Black), and Rainsville (1.2% Black). Fort Payne is less Black than neighboring Hammondville (1.4% Black), and Sylvania (1.9% Black).

Fort Payne's Asian Population

28 residents of Fort Payne, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Fort Payne is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Fort Payne ranks 135th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Payne's Asian population has declined by an estimated 75.7%. Asian residents' share of Fort Payne's population has decreased from 0.8% to 0.2%.

Fort Payne is more Asian than neighboring Pine Ridge (0% Asian), Valley Head (0% Asian), Hammondville (0% Asian), and Sylvania (0% Asian). Fort Payne is less Asian than neighboring Rainsville (0.6% Asian).

Fort Payne's Hispanic Population

3,538 residents of Fort Payne, or 23.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Fort Payne is significantly higher than in Alabama overall, where 5.6% of the population is Hispanic. Fort Payne ranks 8th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Payne's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 3.5%. Hispanic residents' share of Fort Payne's population has decreased from 24.6% to 23.7%.

Fort Payne is more Hispanic than neighboring Pine Ridge (9.9% Hispanic), Valley Head (0% Hispanic), Hammondville (0% Hispanic), Rainsville (3.2% Hispanic), and Sylvania (13.1% Hispanic).

Fort Payne's Native American/Other Population

231 residents of Fort Payne, or 1.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Fort Payne is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Fort Payne ranks 177th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Payne's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 83.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Fort Payne's population has increased from 0.8% to 1.5%.

Fort Payne is more Native American/Other than neighboring Pine Ridge (0% Native American/Other), Rainsville (0.3% Native American/Other), and Sylvania (1% Native American/Other). Fort Payne is less Native American/Other than neighboring Valley Head (1.6% Native American/Other), and Hammondville (1.7% Native American/Other).

Fort Payne's Multiracial Population

266 residents of Fort Payne, or 1.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Fort Payne is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 3.3% of the population is Multiracial. Fort Payne ranks 202nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Payne's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 57.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Fort Payne's population has decreased from 4.2% to 1.8%.

Fort Payne is less Multiracial than neighboring Pine Ridge (3.8% Multiracial), Valley Head (7.5% Multiracial), Hammondville (2.1% Multiracial), Rainsville (3.8% Multiracial), and Sylvania (2.7% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.