Elbert County, Georgia

Elbert County
Elbert County courthouse in Elberton, 1973
Elbert County courthouse in Elberton, 1973
Map of Georgia highlighting Elbert County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°07′N 82°50′W / 34.11°N 82.84°W / 34.11; -82.84
Country United States
State Georgia
Founded1790; 234 years ago (1790)
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
 (2020)
 • Total19,637
 • Density56/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.elbertga.us

Elbert County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,637.[1] The county seat is Elberton.[2] The county was established on December 10, 1790, and was named for Samuel Elbert.[3][4]

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.Note
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%
202019,637−2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1880[8]1890-1910[9]
1920-1930[10] 1930-1940[11]
1940-1950[12] 1960-1980[13]
1980-2000[14] 2010[15]

2000 census

As of the census[17] 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 (22 people/km2). There were 9,136 housing units at an average density of 25 units per square mile (9.7 units/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.[18] 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 units per square mile (10.5 units/km2).[19] 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.[18] In terms of ancestry, 18.1% were American, 6.0% were Irish, 5.7% were English, and 5.5% were German.[20]

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.[18]

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.[21]

2020 census

Elbert County Racial Composition[22]
Race Num. Perc.
White 12,610 64.22%
Black or African American 5,253 26.75%
Native American 26 0.13%
Asian 182 0.93%
Pacific Islander 3 0.02%
Other/Mixed 567 2.89%
Hispanic or Latino 996 5.07%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 19,637 people, 7,559 households, and 5,065 families residing in the county.

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

United States presidential election results for Elbert County, Georgia[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 6,226 67.85% 2,879 31.38% 71 0.77%
2016 5,292 65.93% 2,539 31.63% 196 2.44%
2012 4,859 59.58% 3,181 39.00% 116 1.42%
2008 4,868 58.43% 3,366 40.40% 98 1.18%
2004 4,626 60.33% 2,984 38.91% 58 0.76%
2000 3,262 55.73% 2,527 43.17% 64 1.09%
1996 2,393 40.86% 2,900 49.51% 564 9.63%
1992 2,372 38.46% 3,025 49.05% 770 12.49%
1988 2,796 56.77% 2,118 43.01% 11 0.22%
1984 3,366 55.77% 2,670 44.23% 0 0.00%
1980 1,967 32.45% 4,014 66.23% 80 1.32%
1976 961 16.89% 4,730 83.11% 0 0.00%
1972 2,875 76.48% 884 23.52% 0 0.00%
1968 914 16.98% 1,216 22.59% 3,252 60.42%
1964 1,887 37.30% 3,172 62.70% 0 0.00%
1960 609 14.23% 3,672 85.77% 0 0.00%
1956 447 10.95% 3,635 89.05% 0 0.00%
1952 552 14.41% 3,279 85.59% 0 0.00%
1948 152 7.16% 1,617 76.17% 354 16.67%
1944 370 19.11% 1,564 80.79% 2 0.10%
1940 357 14.70% 2,052 84.48% 20 0.82%
1936 438 19.62% 1,772 79.39% 22 0.99%
1932 77 3.63% 2,023 95.47% 19 0.90%
1928 931 46.95% 1,052 53.05% 0 0.00%
1924 72 5.59% 1,024 79.56% 191 14.84%
1920 187 13.04% 1,247 86.96% 0 0.00%
1916 0 0.00% 1,756 90.56% 183 9.44%
1912 13 1.15% 882 77.85% 238 21.01%

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, Richard B. Russell State Park, and Bobby Brown Park. The Georgia Guidestones stood in Elbert County from 1980 until their destruction in 2022.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Elbert County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  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. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  8. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1880.
  9. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1910.
  10. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930.
  11. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1940.
  12. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1950.
  13. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  14. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 2000.
  15. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  16. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  18. ^ a b c "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.
  19. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  23. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 19, 2018.

External links

34°07′N 82°50′W / 34.11°N 82.84°W / 34.11; -82.84