By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

Shelby County has again been named the best county in the state for children, according to the 2011 Alabama Kids Count Data Book released today by VOICES for Alabama’s Children.

Rankings for all 67 Alabama counties were determined based on five indicators: low weight births, births to unmarried teenagers, children in single-parent families, children in poverty and the high school graduation rate.

Shelby County ranked first in three categories: births to unmarried teenagers, children in single-parent families and children in poverty.

In 2009, 3.7 percent of Shelby County children were born to unmarried teens, compared to 10.6 percent statewide.

In 2010, 17.2 percent of Shelby County children were living in single-parent families, compared to 34 percent statewide.

In 2009, 9.9 percent of Shelby County children were living in poverty, compared to 24.6 percent statewide.

Shelby County ranked seventh in low weight births, with eight percent in 2009, compared to 10.4 percent statewide.

Shelby County’s 2010 graduation rate of 79.7 percent is higher than the state graduation rate of 65.8 percent.

Overall, Blount County ranked second, followed by Lee, Limestone, Cleburne, St. Clair, Madison, Lauderdale, Baldwin and Autauga counties.