Macon County, Georgia

Macon County is a county located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,740.[1] The county seat is Oglethorpe.[2][3]

Not to be confused with Macon, Georgia.

Macon County
U.S. county
Macon County Courthouse in Oglethorpe, Georgia
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°21′N 84°02′W
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 14, 1837
Named forNathaniel Macon
SeatOglethorpe
Largest cityMontezuma
Area
 • Total406 sq mi (1,050 km2)
 • Land401 sq mi (1,040 km2)
 • Water5.4 sq mi (14 km2)  1.3%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
13,143
 • Density37/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
WebsiteMacon County government

The Macon County Courthouse is located in Oglethorpe.

History

Macon County was created in 1837 from parts of Houston ("house-ton") and Marion counties, effective December 14 of that year. The 91st county, it was named for the recently deceased General Nathaniel Macon[4] of North Carolina, who served in the U.S. Congress for 37 years and ran for U.S. vice president. (The city of Macon, Georgia was also named for him, but is the seat of a different county.) The county was later reduced when parts were separated to organize Taylor and Peach counties, in 1852 and 1924, respectively.

The first county seat was not chosen until 1838, when the county's inferior court selected Lanier. The Georgia General Assembly (state legislature) designated it on December 29 of that year and incorporated it as a town.

In the 1850s, the Central of Georgia Railroad was built through Oglethorpe, changing county dynamics. As a result, the Georgia Assembly called for a referendum on moving the Macon County seat to Oglethorpe in February of both 1854 and 1856. Little is known about the first vote, but the second vote resulted in approval for a change to the county seat, and Oglethorpe was designated the following year in 1857.

During the American Civil War, 13,000 Union soldiers who were prisoners of war died at the Confederate camp in Andersonville, Georgia from starvation and disease. In the late period of the war, Georgia also had difficulty supplying its own troops and people with food. Throughout the Civil War, more men on both sides died of disease than of their wounds. Commandants of the camp were prosecuted after the war for poor treatment of prisoners. The Andersonville National Cemetery, established for the many Union dead, is at the southwestern tip of the county.[5]

The county has an active Mennonite community. The area code for Macon County is currently 478.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 406 square miles (1,050 km2), of which 401 square miles (1,040 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) (1.3%) is water.[6] The county is located in the upper Atlantic coastal plain region of the state.

Most of the southern half of Macon County, from west of Ideal to State Route 49 north of Montezuma, then running north along State Route 49 to Marshallville, and then running southeast in the direction of Unadilla, is located in the Middle Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The northern and northwestern portion of the county, from north of Marshallville heading west, is located in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the same ACF River Basin. The northeastern corner of Macon County, east of Marshallville, is located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18405,045—
18507,05239.8%
18608,44919.8%
187011,45835.6%
188011,6751.9%
189013,18312.9%
190014,0936.9%
191015,0166.5%
192017,66717.7%
193016,643−5.8%
194015,947−4.2%
195014,213−10.9%
196013,170−7.3%
197012,933−1.8%
198014,0038.3%
199013,114−6.3%
200014,0747.3%
201014,7404.7%
2018 (est.)13,143[8]−10.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2013[1]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,740 people, 4,999 households, and 3,363 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 36.8 inhabitants per square mile (14.2/km2). There were 6,136 housing units at an average density of 15.3 per square mile (5.9/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 60.6% black or African American, 35.1% white, 1.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.6% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.6% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, and 7.1% were American.[15]

Of the 4,999 households, 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 24.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.7% were non-families, and 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 38.2 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $27,950 and the median income for a family was $37,218. Males had a median income of $27,274 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,902. About 24.1% of families and 33.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.8% of those under age 18 and 27.2% of those age 65 or over.[16]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census[17] of 2000, there were 14,074 people, 4,834 households, and 3,485 families living in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (13/km2). There were 5,495 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 59.48% Black or African American, 37.37% White or Caucasian, 0.22% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 2.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,834 households, out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.70% were married couples living together, 24.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.60% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,224, and the median income for a family was $29,402. Males had a median income of $26,922 versus $18,611 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,820. About 22.10% of families and 25.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.00% of those under age 18 and 22.60% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Main article: Oglethorpe, Georgia § Education

Communities

Politics
Presidential elections results
Previous presidential elections results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 38.2% 1,783 61.3% 2,857 0.5% 22
2016 35.9% 1,540 63.1% 2,705 1.0% 42
2012 32.3% 1,545 67.1% 3,211 0.6% 30
2008 34.4% 1,712 65.2% 3,251 0.4% 21
2004 38.7% 1,851 60.8% 2,906 0.5% 23
2000 36.0% 1,566 63.3% 2,757 0.7% 32
1996 26.5% 1,006 69.1% 2,618 4.4% 167
1992 24.8% 944 65.5% 2,491 9.8% 371
1988 38.2% 1,412 61.4% 2,268 0.5% 17
1984 37.5% 1,515 62.5% 2,521
1980 22.5% 894 76.0% 3,025 1.5% 60
1976 17.5% 638 82.5% 3,013
1972 70.6% 2,005 29.5% 837
1968 19.2% 598 30.7% 954 50.1% 1,559
1964 61.6% 1,723 38.4% 1,076
1960 22.7% 438 77.3% 1,488
1956 15.5% 363 84.5% 1,984
1952 17.8% 319 82.2% 1,472
1948 10.7% 127 57.1% 675 32.1% 380
1944 15.9% 168 84.1% 889
1940 7.8% 72 91.8% 852 0.4% 4
1936 8.7% 92 91.0% 958 0.3% 3
1932 3.7% 55 96.1% 1,438 0.3% 4
1928 24.0% 258 76.0% 819
1924 6.9% 52 86.5% 649 6.5% 49
1920 12.3% 68 87.7% 483
1916 17.4% 97 78.9% 440 3.8% 21
1912 16.5% 85 79.8% 411 3.7% 19

Macon County has been an important setting for season 4 of AMC's hit TV show, The Walking Dead.
Macon County was a shooting place for the 2013 movie, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The Mountain Goats reference Macon County, Alabama in their song, "Going to Georgia".

In the season 7 episode of The Simpsons titled "Bart on the Road", Nelson Muntz says that he has "always wanted to see Macon, Georgia."

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 12, 2000. Retrieved August 7, 2005.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 195.
  5. "Macon County". Georgia.gov. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  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. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  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 30, 2015.
  14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 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 30, 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 30, 2015.
  17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.

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