Monticello, Georgia

Monticello was founded in 1808 as seat of the newly formed Jasper County. The city was named after Monticello, the estate of Thomas Jefferson.[7] It was incorporated as a town in 1810 and as a city in 1901.[8]

On January 14, 1915, about 100 white men of Monticello formed a lynch mob and lynched a black family of four, including two married women. They took Dan Barber, his son Jesse Barber, and two married daughters Bula and Ella (Barber) Charles from the county jail, where they had been put after being arrested for attacking the chief of police. He had challenged Dan Barber in his house for making liquor illegally. The mob shot and hung each of the four.[9]

Monticello is located in the center of Jasper County at 33°18′12″N 83°41′9″W (33.303247, -83.685766).[10] Georgia State Routes 11, 16, 83, and 212 all meet at the center of town. SR 11 leads north 18 miles (29 km) to Mansfield and south 25 miles (40 km) to Gray, SR 16 leads east 17 miles (27 km) to Eatonton and west the same distance to Jackson, SR 83 leads northeast 9 miles (14 km) to Shady Dale and southwest 26 miles (42 km) to Forsyth, and SR 212 leads northwest 42 miles (68 km) to the outskirts of Atlanta and southeast 32 miles (51 km) to Milledgeville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.4 km²), of which 0.03 square miles (0.07 km²), or 0.89%, are water.[6] The city is part of the Oconee River watershed.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 2,428 people, 927 households, and 609 families residing in the city. The population density was 805.8 people per square mile (311.4/km²). There were 1,006 housing units at an average density of 333.9 per square mile (129.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 44.77% White, 53.50% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.70% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.17% of the population.

There were 927 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 22.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,058, and the median income for a family was $46,705. Males had a median income of $30,565 versus $21,793 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,743. About 16.9% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.

• The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976) had many scenes filmed in Monticello. The exteriors of buildings on the town square were remodeled to appear of the era of the movie.
• Murder in Coweta County (1982) starring Andy Griffith, Johnny Cash, and June Carter Cash.
• Many scenes of My Cousin Vinny (1992) were set at the courthouse and town square, and other scenes were also shot in town.

The climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).[15]

The bedrock under Monticello is an intermediate-to-mafic type on which dark red clay with dark reddish brown loam topsoil is mapped as Lloyd series.[17][18]

• William A. Connelly, sixth Sergeant Major of the Army
• Elizabeth Otis Dannelly (1838–1896), poet
• Rob Evan, singer, actor in many Broadway musicals, including The Dream Engine
• Willis Flournoy, Negro league baseball player
• Luke Gallows, Professional wrestler
• Buckshot Jones, NASCAR driver
• Ulysses Norris, University of Georgia football player; seven-year NFL career with the Detroit Lions (5 years) and Buffalo Bills (2 years)[19]
• John Gill Shorter, 17th governor of Alabama
• Sherry Smith, Major League Baseball player, pitched in two World Series
• Odell Thurman, University of Georgia and NFL football player
• Trisha Yearwood, country singer

• City of Monticello official website
• Hebron Baptist Church historical marker
• Jackson Springs historical marker
• Site of Inn historical marker