Etowah County, Alabama

Etowah County
Etowah County Courthouse in Gadsden
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°03′00″N 86°02′00″W / 34.05°N 86.033333333333°W / 34.05; -86.033333333333
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 1, 1868
SeatGadsden
Largest cityGadsden
Area
  Total
549 sq mi (1,420 km2)
  Land535 sq mi (1,390 km2)
  Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.5%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
103,436
  Estimate 
(2023)
103,241
  Density190/sq mi (73/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.etowahcounty.org
  • County Number 31 on Alabama License Plates

Etowah County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 103,436. Its county seat is Gadsden. Its name is from a Cherokee word meaning 'edible tree'. In total area, it is the smallest county in Alabama, albeit one of the most densely populated. Etowah County comprises the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area.