Houston County, Georgia

Houston County (/ˈhaʊstən/ HOW-stən) is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. The estimated 2019 population is 157,863.[1] Its county seat is Perry, although the city of Warner Robins is substantially larger in both area and population.[2]

Not to be confused with Houston, Georgia.

Houston County
U.S. county
Houston County courthouse in Perry
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°28′N 83°40′W
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedMay 15, 1821
Named forJohn Houstoun
SeatPerry
Largest cityWarner Robins
Area
 • Total380 sq mi (1,000 km2)
 • Land376 sq mi (970 km2)
 • Water4.4 sq mi (11 km2)  1.2%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
157,863
 • Density373/sq mi (144/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.houstoncountyga.com

The county was created on May 15, 1821, along with 4 other counties in the state, and later reduced in size with the formation of Bibb, Crawford, Pike, Macon, and Peach counties.[3] It was named after Georgia governor John Houstoun, with the spelling being a common 19th-century variation that later evolved to "Houston".[4] The pronunciation, however, remains to this day "howston." [5] The geographic center of the county was given the name Wattsville, which was later changed to Perry.[5]

Houston County is included in the Warner Robins, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is included in the Macon-Warner Robins-Fort Valley Combined Statistical Area. Flat Creek Public Fishing Area is in Houston County, south west of Perry.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 380 square miles (980 km2), of which 376 square miles (970 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (1.2%) is water.[6] The county is located in the upper Atlantic coastal plain region of the state.

The vast majority of Houston County is located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The very northern edge of the county, north of Centerville and Warner Robins, is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin. The very southwestern corner of Houston County, well west of Interstate 75, is located in the Middle Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin).[7]

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

Pedestrians and cycling
  • Big Indian Creek Trail (Proposed)[8]
  • Walker's Pond Trail
  • Wellston Trail
  • The Walk at Sandy Run Creek

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18307,369—
18409,71131.8%
185016,45069.4%
186015,611−5.1%
187020,40630.7%
188022,4149.8%
189021,613−3.6%
190022,6414.8%
191023,6094.3%
192021,964−7.0%
193011,280−48.6%
194011,3030.2%
195020,96485.5%
196039,15486.8%
197062,92460.7%
198077,60523.3%
199089,20815.0%
2000110,76524.2%
2010139,90026.3%
2019 (est.)157,863[9]12.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2019[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 139,900 people, 53,051 households, and 37,874 families residing in the county.[14] The population density was 372.5 inhabitants per square mile (143.8/km2). There were 58,325 housing units at an average density of 155.3 per square mile (60.0/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 63.3% white, 28.6% black or African American, 2.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.4% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.1% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 12.9% were American, 10.3% were German, 10.0% were English, and 9.1% were Irish.[16]

Of the 53,051 households, 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.6% were non-families, and 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 34.5 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $55,098 and the median income for a family was $67,227. Males had a median income of $47,557 versus $34,239 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,206. About 10.3% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Education
Houston County Schools headquarters

Houston County Schools operates public schools.

Flat Creek Public Fishing Area

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Houston County voted for conservative Democrats for most of the twentieth century, and gradually switched to voting for conservative Republicans closer to the century's end and into the twenty-first. In the 2018 gubernatorial election, while she did not carry Houston County, Stacey Abrams improved on Democratic margins in the county, improving five percent compared to Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential run and by four percent compared to Barack Obama's 2008 run. Houston was one of five counties not carried by Abrams which improved their Democratic margins.[18] Joe Biden improved Democratic margins to their best since 1980.

Previous presidential elections results[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 55.5% 41,540 43.1% 32,239 1.4% 1,059
2016 59.0% 35,430 37.5% 22,553 3.5% 2096
2012 59.6% 34,662 39.0% 22,702 1.4% 811
2008 59.6% 33,392 39.4% 22,094 1.0% 548
2004 66.0% 29,862 33.3% 15,054 0.7% 310
2000 62.7% 23,174 36.0% 13,301 1.4% 513
1996 52.2% 17,050 39.1% 12,760 8.8% 2868
1992 43.1% 14,119 37.5% 12,270 19.4% 6359
1988 64.0% 15,748 35.2% 8,664 0.8% 185
1984 60.7% 14,255 39.3% 9,226
1980 43.5% 9,005 52.7% 10,915 3.7% 775
1976 29.1% 5,404 70.9% 13,164
1972 84.2% 13,576 15.8% 2,556
1968 29.6% 4,285 19.6% 2833 50.8% 7,339
1964 60.5% 6,532 39.5% 4,258 0.0% 1
1960 30.4% 1,757 69.7% 4,033
1956 19.1% 1,060 80.9% 4,483
1952 15.5% 511 84.5% 2,789
1948 9.8% 204 69.4% 1,437 20.8% 431
1944 26.2% 190 73.8% 535
1940 19.3% 149 80.6% 622 0.1% 1
1936 4.4% 37 95.6% 796
1932 5.5% 27 94.5% 460
1928 22.2% 92 77.8% 323
1924 4.4% 75 94.3% 1,611 1.4% 23
1920 5.1% 39 94.9% 723
1916 1.4% 12 92.6% 806 6.0% 52
1912 2.0% 16 95.0% 760 3.0% 24
1908 2.6% 27 81.6% 855 15.8% 166
1904 9.0% 78 88.5% 768 2.5% 22
1900 9.1% 81 89.8% 798 1.1% 10
1896 17.6% 192 80.4% 875 2.0% 22
1892 20.5% 507 78.9% 1,953 0.7% 16
1888 32.9% 466 66.9% 949 0.2% 3
1884 25.0% 433 75.0% 1,300
1880 39.7% 909 60.3% 1,382

See also

References
  1. "2016 Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Houston County". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council, in partnership with the University of Georgia Press, the University System of Georgia/GALILEO, and the Office of the Governor. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
  4. "Houston County, Georgia - Centerville, Perry, Warner Robins - Georgia's Most Progressive County!".
  5. "Houston County". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council, in partnership with the University of Georgia Press, the University System of Georgia/GALILEO, and the Office of the Governor. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  8. "Perry, Houston County considering 7.5 mile recreation trail".
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  14. "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 30, 2015.
  15. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  16. "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 30, 2015.
  17. "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 30, 2015.
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 20, 2018.

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