Elbert County, Georgia

Elbert County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,166.[1] The county seat is Elberton.[2] The county was established on December 10, 1790 and was named for Samuel Elbert.[3][4]

Elbert County
Elbert County courthouse in Elberton, 1973
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°07′N 82°50′W
Country United States
State Georgia
Founded1790
Named forSamuel Elbert
SeatElberton
Largest cityElberton
Area
  Total374 sq mi (970 km2)
  Land351 sq mi (910 km2)
  Water23 sq mi (60 km2)  6.2%%
Population
  Estimate 
(2019)
19,194
  Density57/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.elbertco.net

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 374 square miles (970 km2), of which 351 square miles (910 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (6.2%) is water.[5] The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state.

The northern half of Elbert County, north of a line made by following State Route 17 from Bowman southeast to Elberton, and then following State Route 72 east to just before the South Carolina border, and then heading south along the shores of Lake Richard B. Russell & Clarkes Hill to the county's southeastern tip, is located in the Upper Savannah River sub-basin of the larger Savannah River basin. The portion of the county south of this line is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.
180010,094
181012,15620.4%
182011,788−3.0%
183012,3544.8%
184011,125−9.9%
185012,95916.5%
186010,433−19.5%
18709,249−11.3%
188012,95740.1%
189015,37618.7%
190019,72928.3%
191024,12522.3%
192023,905−0.9%
193018,485−22.7%
194019,6186.1%
195018,585−5.3%
196017,835−4.0%
197017,262−3.2%
198018,7588.7%
199018,9491.0%
200020,5118.2%
201020,166−1.7%
2019 (est.)19,194[7]−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2019[1]

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 20,511 people, 8,004 households, and 5,770 families living in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile (21/km2). There were 9,136 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 66.94% White, 30.85% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 2.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,004 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.90% were married couples living together, 15.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,724, and the median income for a family was $34,276. Males had a median income of $27,221 versus $19,737 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,535. About 14.60% of families and 17.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 17.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,166 people, 8,063 households, and 5,604 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 57.4 inhabitants per square mile (22.2/km2). There were 9,583 housing units at an average density of 27.3 per square mile (10.5/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 65.9% white, 29.5% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.7% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 18.1% were American, 6.0% were Irish, 5.7% were English, and 5.5% were German.[15]

Of the 8,063 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.5% were non-families, and 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 41.1 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $30,543 and the median income for a family was $35,550. Males had a median income of $31,556 versus $25,562 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,100. About 17.0% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Judiciary and government

Elbert County is part of the Northern Judicial Circuit of Georgia, which also includes the counties of Hart, Franklin, Madison, and Oglethorpe. Elbert County's governing authority, the Elbert County Board of Commissioners, has five Commissioners elected in districts, a Chairperson elected County-wide, and an appointed County Administrator.

Politics

Presidential elections results
Previous presidential elections results[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 67.9% 6,226 31.4% 2,879 0.7% 66
2016 66.3% 5,292 31.8% 2,539 2.0% 156
2012 59.6% 4,859 39.0% 3,181 1.4% 116
2008 58.4% 4,868 40.4% 3,366 1.2% 98
2004 60.3% 4,626 38.9% 2,984 0.8% 58
2000 55.7% 3,262 43.2% 2,527 1.1% 64
1996 40.9% 2,393 49.5% 2,900 9.6% 564
1992 38.5% 2,372 49.1% 3,025 12.5% 770
1988 56.8% 2,796 43.0% 2,118 0.2% 11
1984 55.8% 3,366 44.2% 2,670
1980 32.5% 1,967 66.2% 4,014 1.3% 80
1976 16.9% 961 83.1% 4,730
1972 76.5% 2,875 23.5% 884
1968 17.0% 914 22.6% 1216 60.4% 3,252
1964 37.3% 1,887 62.7% 3,172
1960 14.2% 609 85.8% 3,672
1956 11.0% 447 89.1% 3,635
1952 14.4% 552 85.6% 3,279
1948 7.2% 152 76.2% 1,617 16.7% 354
1944 19.1% 370 80.8% 1,564 0.1% 2
1940 14.7% 357 84.5% 2,052 0.8% 20
1936 19.6% 438 79.4% 1,772 1.0% 22
1932 3.6% 77 95.5% 2,023 0.9% 19
1928 47.0% 931 53.1% 1,052
1924 5.6% 72 79.6% 1,024 14.8% 191
1920 13.0% 187 87.0% 1,247
1916 9.4% 183 90.6% 1,756
1912 21.0% 238 77.9% 882 1.2% 13

Civic

Elbert County has many active civic organizations including, but not limited to, the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce, Elbert County Historical Society, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Pilot Club, Elbert Theatre Foundation (part of the Georgia Council for the Arts), NAACP, Boys and Girls Club, Elbert Civic League (part of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs), and Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, many local churches have very active missions programs, and many trade organizations, such as the Elbert Granite Association, are active.

Historical and cultural sites

Historical and cultural sites in Elbert County include the Nancy Hart cabin, the Dan Tucker gravesite, the Stephen Heard Cemetery, the Petersburg Township site, Vans Creek Church, the Elbert County Courthouse, the Elberton Seaboard-Airline Depot, the Rock Gym, the Granite Bowl, the Elberton Granite Museum and Exhibit, the Richard B. Russell Dam, the Elbert Theatre, the Georgia Guidestones, Richard B. Russell State Park, and Bobby Brown State Park.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Notable people

Though a rural county, Elbert County has been home to many notable people. Included in these are Revolutionary War heroine Nancy Hart, who resided in southern Elbert County, and the Rev. Daniel Tucker, a popular minister and ferry operator, who may have been the inspiration for the song "Old Dan Tucker". The county was also home to Corra Harris, author of "A Circuit Rider's Wife," a book that later inspired the popular movie "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain." Stephen Heard, deceased, was Governor of Georgia from 1780 to 1781. Hon. Joseph Rucker Lamar, deceased, who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1910 to 1916, was born in Elbert County. Statesman and Judge Young L.G. Harris, deceased, for whom Young Harris College is named, was born in Elbert County. Former U.S. Secretary of War and 1824 U.S. presidential candidate William Harris Crawford, as well as famed American explorer Meriwether Lewis during his youth; his family owned lands along the Broad River in The Broad River Valley located in Wilkes (now Oglethorpe) County which borders Elbert County. Clark Gaines, NFL record holder and former Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, was raised in Elbert County and played football for Elbert County Comprehensive High School. Blues guitarist Baby Tate was born in Elbert County. Recording artists Modern Skirts, popular on the college music circuit, include two members from Elbert County, JoJo Glidewell and Jay Gulley. Leroy Brewer, grandfather of Governor Earl Leroy Brewer of Mississippi was born in Elbert County in 1793. Mecole Hardman, who played college football at The University of Georgia and drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, played football for Elbert County Comprehensive High School.

See also

References

  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Elbert County". georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 116.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  15. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  16. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 19, 2018.

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