Alabama Cities by Population 2026

Alabama’s local governance operates through a system of counties and municipalities, each serving distinct but sometimes overlapping roles. The counties manage services across large geographic areas, while municipalities (such as cities and towns) provide more localized services to their residents.

For example, county sheriff’s departments often serve both incorporated and unincorporated areas, but a city or town may have its own police force to provide more immediate law enforcement within its boundaries. Similarly, counties maintain roads and bridges that connect smaller municipalities, whereas a city might handle maintenance of streets and public works within its own jurisdiction.

The state’s 67 counties are the foundation of local government, responsible for essential services such as law enforcement, infrastructure maintenance, public education, and social services. Counties generally provide services to both incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas.

Alabama has 461 incorporated municipalities, consisting of both 174 cities and 287 towns. The cities are classified based on population size. For instance, Birmingham, a Class 1 city, has over 300,000 residents, while cities in Classes 2 through 8 have populations ranging from 175,000 down to 6,000.

These cities typically manage local services like fire departments, utilities, and zoning regulations. The larger the city, the more resources it has to be self-sufficient, but in many cases, counties still provide support for services such as public health programs or education systems.

Towns in Alabama, on the other hand, are much smaller, with populations under 2,000. These towns often rely on county governments for a broader range of services, especially in areas like law enforcement and social services. While towns maintain a local government structure, their smaller size means they typically don’t have the resources to handle all necessary services independently.

Unincorporated areas, which are regions without formal municipal governments, constitute a significant portion of Alabama‘s landscape, particularly in rural areas like the Black Belt, Pine Belt, and Cumberland Plateau. Within these areas, there are numerous census-designated places (CDPs) that serve as recognized communities. While the exact number of CDPs may fluctuate, recent census data provides the most accurate count. Suburban developments in counties like Cherokee County and Shelby County can also include unincorporated areas, although not all suburban areas fall into this category. Examples of specific unincorporated communities include Burkville, Bermuda, Burgreen Gin, and Burningtree Mountain. This diverse array of unincorporated areas highlights the varying governance structures and community dynamics present throughout Alabama.

In these regions, the county is the only provider of essential services such as road maintenance, law enforcement, and emergency medical services. This is particularly common in rural counties where establishing a formal municipality may not be feasible due to sparse populations.