Henry County Extension Office

Named for Patrick Henry, Henry County was formed Dec. 13, 1819. It is located near the southeastern corner of Alabama. It was dubbed the Mother County because it birthed all or portions of nine other counties in the state. Originally, Henry County encompassed all of what is known as the Wiregrass and was the largest county in Alabama upon statehood. It now encompasses 560 square miles. The county's population is 16,706 with 31.1 percent black and 67.8 percent white. Henry County is mostly rural. Abbeville is the county seat.

Henry County's major agricultural crop is peanuts, cotton, corn and forages for cattle grazing are also grown. Major industries in the county include education, textiles and agricultural processing. The Day Lily Festival and historic homes are tourist attractions in the county.

The average educational level attained by the majority of the Henry County population is high school. There are nine schools in the county--three elementary, three junior high and three high schools.

The Henry County Extension Office has three full-time employees, two part-time employees and numerous volunteers that help with Extension programs. Four-H and Youth Development is one of many active Extension programs in Henry County. Six hundred Eighty Six youth are involved in 4-H programs. Other major Extension programs include Poultry and Waste Management, Nutrition Education Program and Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program.