Key facts
- Country
- United States
- State
- Alabama
- Founded
- February 6, 1818
- Named after
- Tuskaloosa
- Seat
- Tuscaloosa
- Largest city
- Tuscaloosa
- Total
- 1,351 sq mi (3,500 km )
- Land
- 1,322 sq mi (3,420 km )
- Water
- 30 sq mi (78 km ) 2.2%
- Estimate 2025
- 241,368
- Density
- 171.7/sq mi (66.31/km )
- Time zone
- UTC−6 ( Central )
- Summer dst
- UTC−5 ( CDT )
Article
Tuscaloosa County is a county in the northwest-central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama and is the center of commerce, education, industry, health care, and entertainment for the region.
As of the 2020 census, its population was 227,036, making it the fifth-most populous county in Alabama. The county seat and largest city is Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa County is part of the Tuscaloosa, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which also includes Hale and Pickens counties. The community gained international attention in 1993 when it landed Mercedes-Benz's first North American assembly plant, and as of 2021, the company employs over 4,000 people at the facility. Even so, Tier-1 research university the University of Alabama remains the county's largest employer and dominant economic and cultural engine.