 About 10.30% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 21.00% of those age 65 or over.While most of North Alabama became solidly Republican during the 1970s, Jackson County up through the 2000s remained a stronghold of the Democratic Party for elections to local office (residents are not usually liberal, however; see Dixiecrat and Southern Democrat).Until November 2012, Democrats were elected to Jackson County government.