Francophone Population of Alabama/Population francophone

de l’Alabama
Glossary:
Franco-Alabamian – a French-descended
and/or French-speaking Alabamian
Francophone – French-speaking

Where are French people located in Alabama?

Most Alabamians with French ancestry are located in two counties of
Alabama: Mobile and Baldwin counties.
- 3.05% of Mobile County claimed French ancestry.
- 2.99% of Baldwin County claimed French ancestry.
However, there are significant minorities of French people in the following
counties:
- Shelby County – 2.27%
- Madison County – 2.06%
- Geneva County – 2.02%
- Lee County – 1.78%
The cities that have the most French people are the following (this list
includes French Canadians as well):
- Tillmans Corner (Mobile County) – 8.2%
- Fairhope (Baldwin County) – 6.4%
- Alabaster (Shelby County) – 3.8%
- Mountain Brook (Jefferson County) – 3.6%
- Saraland (Mobile County) – 3.3%
There is a notable Cajun population in southern Alabama. The Cajuns are
a French-speaking ethnic group primarily residing in Louisiana and Texas.
They speak a unique variety of French known as Cajun French, which is
distinct from Metropolitan French (European French), much like how
American and British English differ.
How many people speak French in Alabama?
Statewide, 6,848 individuals speak French in Alabama. That is 0.2% of the
population. Although there is a lack of information about francophones per
county, it is safe to assume that they are mostly situated in the Franco-
Alabamian counties. Mon Louis Island located around Tillmans Corner has
a significant French-speaking population (pop: 2,791). The population is
descended from the Creoles, who are Frenchmen born in the Americas.
However, more Franco-Alabamians speak English than French. There are
675,000 Franco-Alabamians, and thus, approximately 663,000 are unable
to speak their ancestral language.
Why has French declined in Alabama?
Much like in Louisiana and New England, the French language in Alabama,
and countrywide, is in decline because of historical discrimination. English-
speaking Americans would often tell the Francophone population that
speaking French was a sign of ignorance and that doing so is shameful.
Many state constitutions across the country forbade the use of any
language in schools beside English. Due to this discrimination,
Francophones did not pass their language down to their children, thus
reducing the number of speakers. Some Francophones in other states
have preserved or brought revival to their language, as French is the
second-most spoken language in the states of Louisiana, Maine, New
Hampshire, and Vermont.
Why are the Franco-Alabamians important?
They are under the effects of transgenerational trauma. This word is
defined as the as trauma that passes through generations. People who
have experienced war, famine, discrimination, or other distressing events,
will be passed on to the generations after. Even though modern
Francophones have likely not experienced the discrimination their
ancestors did, they still feel the trauma and hurt that they experienced. This
is why our Francophone population needs us.