Talladega County is one of the sixty-seven counties located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 82,149. Its county seat is Talladega.

Talladega County is included in the Talladega-Sylacauga, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL Combined Statistical Area.

Prior to Euro-American settlement in this area, it was occupied by the Abihka tribe of the Creek Confederacy. The United States forced the Creek to agree to treaties by which they ceded their land to the US, ultimately resulting in Indian Removal to west of the Mississippi River, to Indian Territory.

Talladega County was established on December 18, 1832, from land ceded by the Creek Indians near the state's geographic center. The county seat was established at Talladega in 1834.

The name Talladega is derived from a Muscogee (Creek) Native American word Tvlvteke, from the Creek tålwa, meaning "town", and åtigi, or "border" – "Border Town" – a town indicating its location on the boundary between the lands of the Creek tribe and those of the Cherokee and Chickasaw.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 760 square miles (2,000 km), of which 737 square miles (1,910 km) is land and 24 square miles (62 km) (3.1%) is water. It is drained by Choccolocco Creek (archaic spelling: Chockolocko) and other streams. The county is located within the Coosa River Valley and the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, with the state's highest point, Mount Cheaha, being located on its northeastern border with Cleburne County.

• Calhoun County – north
• Cleburne County – northeast
• Clay County – east
• Coosa County – south
• Shelby County – southwest
• St. Clair County – northwest

• Talladega National Forest (part)

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	12,587		—
1850	18,624		48.0%
1860	23,520		26.3%
1870	18,064		−23.2%
1880	23,360		29.3%
1890	29,346		25.6%
1900	35,773		21.9%
1910	37,921		6.0%
1920	41,005		8.1%
1930	45,241		10.3%
1940	51,832		14.6%
1950	63,639		22.8%
1960	65,495		2.9%
1970	65,280		−0.3%
1980	73,826		13.1%
1990	74,107		0.4%
2000	80,321		8.4%
2010	82,291		2.5%
2020	82,149		−0.2%
2023 (est.)	81,132		−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

Talladega County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop. 2000	Pop. 2010	Pop. 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	53,399	53,079	50,732	66.48%	64.50%	61.76%
Black or African American alone (NH)	25,206	25,953	26,340	31.38%	31.54%	32.06%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	172	230	184	0.21%	0.28%	0.22%
Asian alone (NH)	159	329	395	0.20%	0.40%	0.48%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	20	6	27	0.02%	0.01%	0.03%
Other race alone (NH)	35	60	206	0.04%	0.07%	0.25%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	518	963	2,486	0.64%	1.17%	3.03%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	812	1,671	1,779	1.01%	2.03%	2.17%
Total	80,321	80,321	82,149	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 82,149 people, 30,602 households, and 20,515 families residing in the county.

As of the census of 2010, there were 82,291 people, 31,890 households, and 22,191 families living in the county. The population density was 112 inhabitants per square mile (43 inhabitants/km). There were 37,088 housing units at an average density of 50 units per square mile (19 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 65.3% White, 31.7% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Nearly 2.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 31,890 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 47.2% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48, and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,948, and the median income for a family was $44,695. Males had a median income of $38,430 versus $27,404 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,713. About 15.3% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.1% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

As of the census of 2000, there were 80,321 people, 30,674 households, and 21,901 families living in the county. The population density was 109 inhabitants per square mile (42 inhabitants/km). There were 34,469 housing units at an average density of 47 units per square mile (18 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 67.02% White, 31.55% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Nearly 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2000, the largest ancestry groups in Talladega County were:

• English American 53%
• African American 32%
• Irish American 8.5%
• German American 6%
• Scottish American 2.4%
• Scots-Irish American 2.1%

There were 30,674 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 52.40% were married couples living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50, and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,628, and the median income for a family was $38,004. Males had a median income of $30,526 versus $21,040 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,704. About 13.90% of families and 17.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

United States presidential election results for Talladega County, Alabama

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	22,235	62.35%	13,138	36.84%	290	0.81%
2016	20,614	61.71%	12,121	36.28%	672	2.01%
2012	19,246	57.60%	13,905	41.61%	265	0.79%
2008	20,112	58.80%	13,779	40.28%	313	0.92%
2004	18,331	61.31%	11,374	38.04%	193	0.65%
2000	13,807	54.25%	11,264	44.26%	380	1.49%
1996	10,931	47.99%	10,385	45.59%	1,462	6.42%
1992	12,661	48.21%	10,695	40.72%	2,908	11.07%
1988	12,973	60.32%	8,291	38.55%	242	1.13%
1984	14,067	61.11%	8,490	36.88%	463	2.01%
1980	9,902	47.97%	10,159	49.22%	580	2.81%
1976	6,425	36.49%	10,577	60.07%	606	3.44%
1972	12,763	73.12%	4,567	26.16%	125	0.72%
1968	1,935	10.32%	3,099	16.52%	13,722	73.16%
1964	8,946	70.67%	0	0.00%	3,712	29.33%
1960	4,723	44.86%	5,729	54.41%	77	0.73%
1956	4,197	43.73%	5,243	54.63%	157	1.64%
1952	3,588	41.52%	5,028	58.18%	26	0.30%
1948	593	16.01%	0	0.00%	3,112	83.99%
1944	675	17.74%	3,102	81.50%	29	0.76%
1940	534	11.84%	3,965	87.88%	13	0.29%
1936	489	11.14%	3,751	85.42%	151	3.44%
1932	617	15.51%	3,354	84.31%	7	0.18%
1928	1,602	48.43%	1,693	51.18%	13	0.39%
1924	628	26.04%	1,730	71.72%	54	2.24%
1920	931	30.14%	2,137	69.18%	21	0.68%
1916	447	22.39%	1,539	77.10%	10	0.50%
1912	111	6.13%	1,312	72.49%	387	21.38%
1908	351	25.23%	1,010	72.61%	30	2.16%
1904	252	16.10%	1,264	80.77%	49	3.13%

The county is a Republican stronghold. However, Doug Jones, in his 2017 bid for the Senate managed to flip the county Democratic, due to sexual misconduct allegations against his opponent, Roy Moore. Donald Trump nevertheless won the county by wide margins against Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections respectively.

Talladega County Schools is the local school district.

The Birmingham Supplementary School Inc. (BSS, バーミングハム日本語補習校 Bāminguhamu Nihongo Hoshūkō), a part-time Japanese school, has its office at the Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC facility in unincorporated Talladega County, near Lincoln. It holds its classes at the Shelby-Hoover campus of Jefferson State Community College in Hoover. The school first opened on September 1, 2001.

• CSX Transportation
• Norfolk Southern Railway
• Amtrak
• Eastern Alabama Railway

• Childersburg
• Lincoln
• Oxford (part of Oxford is in Calhoun County)
• Sylacauga
• Talladega (county seat)

• Bon Air
• Munford
• Oak Grove
• Talladega Springs
• Vincent (part of Vincent is in Shelby County and in St. Clair County)
• Waldo

• Fayetteville
• Mignon

• Gantts Quarry

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Talladega County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Talladega County, Alabama

• Talladega County official website
• County community website
• Talladega County map of roads/towns (map © 2007 Univ. of Alabama)

33°23′N 86°10′W / 33.383°N 86.167°W / 33.383; -86.167