Richmond County, Georgia

Richmond County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,549.[2] It is one of the original counties of Georgia, created February 5, 1777. Following an election in 1995, the city of Augusta (the county seat) consolidated governments with Richmond County. The consolidated entity is known as Augusta-Richmond County, or simply Augusta. Exempt are the cities of Hephzibah and Blythe, in southern Richmond County, which voted to remain separate. Richmond County is included in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Richmond County
Augusta-Richmond County
Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°22′N 82°04′W
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedFebruary 5, 1777[1]
Named forCharles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond
SeatAugusta
Largest cityAugusta
Area
  Total329 sq mi (850 km2)
  Land324 sq mi (840 km2)
  Water4.3 sq mi (11 km2)  1.3%%
Population
  Estimate 
(2019)
202,518
  Density618/sq mi (239/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitewww.augustaga.gov

History

The county is named for Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond, a British politician and office-holder sympathetic to the cause of the American colonies.[3] Richmond was also a first cousin to King George III.

Richmond County was established in 1777 by the first Constitution of the (newly independent) State of Georgia. As such, it is one of the original counties of the state. It was formed out of a portion of the colonial Parish of St. Paul, after the Revolution disestablished the Church of England in the (former) Royal Province of Georgia.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 329 square miles (850 km2), of which 324 square miles (840 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (1.3%) is water.[4]

The vast majority of Richmond County is located in the Middle Savannah River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin, with just the southwestern corner of the county, from a line running north from Blythe through the middle of Fort Gordon, located in the Brier Creek sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.[5]

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

Pedestrians and cycling

  • Augusta Canal Historic Trail
  • New Bartram Trail
  • Phinizy Swamp Constructed Wetlands Trail
  • River Levee Trail
  • Riverwalk Augusta Trail

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.
179011,317
18005,475−51.6%
18106,18913.0%
18208,60839.1%
183011,64435.3%
184011,9322.5%
185016,24636.2%
186021,28431.0%
187025,72420.9%
188034,66534.8%
189045,19430.4%
190053,73518.9%
191058,8869.6%
192063,6928.2%
193072,99014.6%
194081,86312.2%
1950108,87633.0%
1960135,60124.5%
1970162,43719.8%
1980181,62911.8%
1990189,7194.5%
2000199,7755.3%
2010200,5490.4%
2019 (est.)202,518[6]1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2019[2]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 200,549 people, 76,924 households, and 48,641 families residing in the county.[11] The population density was 618.4 inhabitants per square mile (238.8/km2). There were 86,331 housing units at an average density of 266.2 per square mile (102.8/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 54.2% black or African American, 39.7% white, 1.7% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Pacific islander, 1.3% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.1% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 8.0% were American, 7.0% were Irish, 6.7% were German, and 5.3% were English.[13]

Of the 76,924 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 22.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.8% were non-families, and 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 33.2 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,882 and the median income for a family was $45,220. Males had a median income of $37,368 versus $29,313 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,604. About 19.4% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.5% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Communities

Notable person

Politics

Similar to most urban counties in the state with majority African American populations, Richmond County has backed the Democratic Party candidate by increasing margins since 1992. However in every presidential election from 1952 to 1988 which did not have Georgian Jimmy Carter on the ballot, the county backed the Republican candidate for president. Prior to 1952, the county voted like a typical Solid South county, voting for Democratic presidential candidates by landslide margins until backing Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond in 1948. 1928 was an exception to this rule with Herbert Hoover beating Al Smith handily due to anti-Catholic sentiment.

Presidential election results
Previous presidential election results[15][16]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 30.8% 26,780 68.0% 59,119 1.3% 1,110
2016 32.2% 24,461 64.2% 48,814 3.6% 2,750
2012 32.6% 25,845 66.4% 52,560 1.0% 769
2008 33.8% 26,842 65.6% 52,100 0.6% 480
2004 42.9% 29,764 56.6% 39,262 0.5% 350
2000 44.3% 25,485 54.6% 31,413 1.1% 640
1996 41.6% 23,670 54.1% 30,738 4.3% 2,461
1992 40.7% 24,227 48.6% 28,910 10.7% 6,386
1988 57.1% 27,566 42.5% 20,489 0.4% 203
1984 58.5% 29,869 41.5% 21,208
1980 43.7% 19,619 53.7% 24,104 2.6% 1,148
1976 42.7% 17,893 57.3% 24,042
1972 72.6% 24,362 27.5% 9,219
1968 41.3% 14,993 32.4% 11,777 26.3% 9,532
1964 61.3% 21,481 38.7% 13,545 0.0% 3
1960 54.8% 11,978 45.2% 9,868
1956 60.1% 10,251 40.0% 6,819
1952 52.1% 9,347 47.9% 8,584
1948 11.9% 1,528 19.1% 2,450 69.0% 8,868
1944 14.3% 1,152 85.7% 6,918
1940 9.9% 641 90.0% 5,855 0.2% 12
1936 7.1% 551 92.7% 7,239 0.3% 20
1932 13.0% 738 85.6% 4,873 1.5% 83
1928 71.0% 5,104 29.0% 2,086
1924 33.7% 1,296 56.4% 2,169 9.9% 379
1920 16.1% 511 83.9% 2,656
1916 15.1% 524 78.0% 2,708 6.9% 238
1912 10.3% 234 82.0% 1,871 7.8% 177
1908 10.9% 267 70.6% 1,727 18.5% 454
1904 6.3% 174 65.8% 1,816 27.9% 769
1900 9.3% 215 88.8% 2,045 1.8% 42
1896 30.1% 1,698 65.8% 3,716 4.2% 235
1892 25.6% 3,224 65.9% 8,301 8.5% 1,073
1888 11.9% 113 85.1% 808 3.0% 28
1884 37.1% 1,945 62.9% 3,293
1880 38.1% 1,497 61.9% 2,430

See also

Footnotes

  1. "Richmond County". New Georgia Encyclopedia.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  3. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 188. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  11. "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.
  12. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  13. "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.
  14. "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.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  16. http://geoelections.free.fr/. Retrieved January 13, 2021. Missing or empty |title= (help)

Further reading

  • A. Ray Rowland (ed.), Historical Markers of Richmond County, Georgia. Augusta, GA: Richmond County Historical Society, 1966.
  • Richmond County History. Augusta, GA: Richmond County Historical Society, 1969-date. —Journal, established Winter 1969.

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