Alabama's 8th congressional district, now obsolete, was established in 1877.
Alabama currently has seven congressional districts represented in the United States House of Representatives.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Alabama was apportioned eight congressional seats as a result of the 1880 census. In 1893-1913 there were nine seats, and in 1913-1933 there were ten seats, the maximum ever for Alabama. In 1970, Alabama lost its eighth seat when population growth slowed to qualify for only seven seats.
The 8th seat was elected at-large from the entire state until the 45th Congress, when an 8th district was established as a separate district in the northwestern part of the state.Official Congressional Directory. 45th Congress, 2nd session. 3rd edition. Page 5 (1878) The district occupied an area now held by Alabama's 5th congressional district, with the exception of a portion of Morgan County, which is part of the 4th district. Franklin County, which was part of the 8th district until after the 1890 census, is also part of the modern 4th district.
The district was eliminated in reapportionment at the end of the 92nd United States Congress in 1973. Robert E. Jones Jr. was the district's last representative.
History The district was eliminated in the 1970 redistricting cycle after the 1970 United States census.
List of members representing the district
Member Party Years Congress Electoral history Population / Counties District created March 3, 1877 William W. Garth Democratic March 4, 1877 –March 3, 1879 Elected in 1876.Lost re-election. 1877–1883:Population 130,173Colbert, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan William M. Lowe Greenback March 4, 1879 –March 3, 1881 Elected in 1878.Lost re-election. Joseph Wheeler Democratic March 4, 1881 –June 3, 1882 Elected in 1880.Lost election contest. William M. Lowe Greenback June 3, 1882 –October 12, 1882 Won election contest.Died. Vacant October 12, 1882 –January 15, 1883 Joseph Wheeler Democratic January 15, 1883 –March 3, 1883 Elected January 3, 1883 to finish Lowe's term and seated January 15, 1883.Had not been elected to the next term. Luke Pryor Democratic March 4, 1883 –March 3, 1885 Elected in 1882.Retired. 1883–1893:Population 168,502Colbert, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan Joseph Wheeler Democratic March 4, 1885 –April 20, 1900 Elected in 1884.Re-elected in 1886.Re-elected in 1888.Re-elected in 1890.Re-elected in 1892.Re-elected in 1894.Re-elected in 1896.Re-elected in 1898.Re-elected in 1900.Resigned. 1893–1903:Population 176,088Colbert, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan Vacant April 20, 1900 –August 6, 1900 William N. Richardson Democratic August 6, 1900 –March 31, 1914 Elected to finish Wheeler's term.Re-elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Re-elected in 1912.Died. 1903–1913:Population 194,491Colbert, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan 1913–1923:Population 218,342Colbert, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan Vacant March 31, 1914 –May 11, 1914 Christopher C. Harris Democratic May 11, 1914 –March 3, 1915 Elected to finish Richardson's term.Retired. Edward B. Almon Democratic March 4, 1915 –June 22, 1933 Elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Re-elected in 1932.Died. 1923–1933:Population 254,529Colbert, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan 1923–1943:Population 282,241Colbert, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan Vacant June 22, 1933 –November 14, 1933 Archibald H. Carmichael Democratic November 14, 1933 –January 3, 1937 Elected to finish Almon's term.Re-elected in 1934.Retired. John Sparkman Democratic January 3, 1937 –November 5, 1946 Elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946 but resigned when elected U.S. Senator. 1943–1953:Population 300,112Colbert, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan Vacant November 5, 1946 –January 28, 1947 Robert E. Jones Jr. Democratic January 28, 1947 –January 3, 1963 Elected to finish Sparkman's term.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Redistricted to the . 1953–1963:Population 321,459Colbert, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan District inactive January 3, 1963 –January 3, 1965 All representatives elected . Robert E. Jones Jr. Democratic January 3, 1965 –January 3, 1973 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Redistricted to the . 1965–1973:Population 383,625Colbert, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan District eliminated January 3, 1973
References Specific
General Population data from U.S. Census Bureau: Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 1880 and 1870 Census data from U.S. Census Bureau: Compendium of the Tenth Census, Volume 1. (1883) Additional population data and counties from the Official Congressional Directories of the 45th Congress (1878); 48th Congress (1883); 53rd Congress (1893); 58th Congress (1903); 81st Congress (1950); 83rd Congress (1953); and 89th Congress (1965).
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present