Greene County, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Georgia
. It was created on February 3, 1786. As of 2000, the population is 14,406. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,662. The county seat
is Greensboro
. The county is named for Nathanael Greene
, an American Revolutionary War
major general
.
of 2000, there were 14,406 people, 5,477 households, and 4,042 families residing in the county. The population density
was 37 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 6,653 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 52.95% White
, 44.45% Black
or African American
, 0.25% Native American
, 0.25% Asian
, 0.06% Pacific Islander
, 1.49% from other races
, and 0.56% from two or more races. 2.92% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 5,477 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples
living together, 18.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 27.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,479, and the median income for a family was $39,794. Males had a median income of $31,295 versus $20,232 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $23,389. About 16.00% of families and 22.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 20.20% of those age 65 or over.
and the Southern Center for Human Rights
, contributed to the formation of this commission. The commission discovered during its investigation that indigent defendents in Greene County were routinely pled guilty by judges without the presence of counsel and sometimes without even being present in court to make their pleas, violations of the Sixth Amendment
. Excessive bail, e.g. $50,000 for loitering, was often set as well, a violation of the Eight Amendment
. After two years of investigation, the committee's recommendations led to the passage of the Georgia Indigent Defense Act.
in 1954. It lasted on campus less than two days. After repeated pranks attacks by students, the sculpture was loaned to an agriculture professor, L.C. Curtis, who placed it on his farm in Greene County. This Iron Horse is located in a cornfield on Highway 15 North approximately 11 miles from Greensboro's city limits on the right just after crossing over the Oconee River
bridge. It can be seen seasonally as the cornfields in the late summer cover most of the horse. The Order of the Greek Horsemen
, a UGA secret society
founded in 1955, carries the Iron Horse as a symbol of the organization.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. It was created on February 3, 1786. As of 2000, the population is 14,406. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,662. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Greensboro
Greensboro, Georgia
Greensboro is a town in Greene County, Georgia, United States. Its population was 3,238 at the time of the 2000 U.S. census. This town is the county seat of Greene County.-Geography:Greensboro is located at .According to the U.S...
. The county is named for Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United...
, an American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 406.24 square miles (1,052.2 km²), of which 388.28 square miles (1,005.6 km²) (or 95.58%) is land and 17.96 square miles (46.5 km²) (or 4.42%) is water.Major highways
-
Interstate 20Interstate 20Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95... -
U.S. Route 278U.S. Route 278U.S. Route 278 is a parallel route of U.S. Route 78. It currently runs for 1,074 miles from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to Wickes, Arkansas at U.S. Highway 71/U.S. Highway 59. It might be notable that it is longer than its parent highway, US Hwy-78. US Hwy-278 passes through the states of... -
State Route 12 -
State Route 15 -
State Route 44 -
State Route 77
Adjacent counties
- Oglethorpe CountyOglethorpe County, GeorgiaOglethorpe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the largest county in Northeast Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 12,635. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 13,963...
(north) - Taliaferro CountyTaliaferro County, GeorgiaTaliaferro County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 2,077, making it the least populous county east of the Mississippi River. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 1,884. The county seat is Crawfordville.The spelling of the...
(east) - Hancock CountyHancock County, Georgia-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,076 people, 3,237 households, and 2,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 4,287 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
(southeast) - Putnam CountyPutnam County, GeorgiaPutnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 18,812. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,251...
(southwest) - Morgan CountyMorgan County, GeorgiaMorgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 15,457. The 2005 Census Estimate shows a population of 17,492. The county seat is Madison, Georgia.-Geography:...
(west) - Oconee CountyOconee County, GeorgiaOconee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 25, 1875. As of the 2000 census, the population was 26,225. Census estimates for 2007 show a population of 31,367...
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 14,406 people, 5,477 households, and 4,042 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 37 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 6,653 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 52.95% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 44.45% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.25% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.25% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.06% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.49% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.56% from two or more races. 2.92% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 5,477 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 27.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,479, and the median income for a family was $39,794. Males had a median income of $31,295 versus $20,232 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $23,389. About 16.00% of families and 22.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 20.20% of those age 65 or over.
Role in Passage of Georgia Indigent Defense Act
In 2001, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Benham convened a committee to investigate indigent defense in the state of Georgia. An avalanche of complaints about the state of public defense in Greene County, along with a number of lawsuits filed by Stephen BrightStephen Bright
Stephen Bright is president and senior counsel for the Southern Center for Human Rights and teaches at Harvard University and Yale University Law Schools and the Georgetown University Law Center...
and the Southern Center for Human Rights
Southern Center for Human Rights
The Southern Center for Human Rights is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to enforcing the civil and human rights of people in the criminal justice system in the South...
, contributed to the formation of this commission. The commission discovered during its investigation that indigent defendents in Greene County were routinely pled guilty by judges without the presence of counsel and sometimes without even being present in court to make their pleas, violations of the Sixth Amendment
Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights which sets forth rights related to criminal prosecutions...
. Excessive bail, e.g. $50,000 for loitering, was often set as well, a violation of the Eight Amendment
Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights which prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that this amendment's Cruel and Unusual...
. After two years of investigation, the committee's recommendations led to the passage of the Georgia Indigent Defense Act.
The Iron Horse
A 2,000 pound horse sculpture created by Abbot Pattison was placed at the University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in 1954. It lasted on campus less than two days. After repeated pranks attacks by students, the sculpture was loaned to an agriculture professor, L.C. Curtis, who placed it on his farm in Greene County. This Iron Horse is located in a cornfield on Highway 15 North approximately 11 miles from Greensboro's city limits on the right just after crossing over the Oconee River
Oconee River
The Oconee River is a river which has its origin in Hall County, Georgia, and terminates where it joins the Ocmulgee River to form the Altamaha River near Lumber City at the borders of Montgomery County, Wheeler County, and Jeff Davis County. South of Athens, two forks, known as the North Oconee...
bridge. It can be seen seasonally as the cornfields in the late summer cover most of the horse. The Order of the Greek Horsemen
Order of the Greek Horsemen
Order of the Greek Horsemen is a secret society at the University of Georgia, in Athens, Georgia. Founded in 1955, the organization annually inducts five new members from among the male leaders of the Greek system at the University of Georgia...
, a UGA secret society
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
founded in 1955, carries the Iron Horse as a symbol of the organization.
Cities and towns
- GreensboroGreensboro, GeorgiaGreensboro is a town in Greene County, Georgia, United States. Its population was 3,238 at the time of the 2000 U.S. census. This town is the county seat of Greene County.-Geography:Greensboro is located at .According to the U.S...
- Scull ShoalsScull Shoals, GeorgiaScull Shoals is a ghost town in northwestern Greene County, Georgia, United States.The ruins of Scull Shoals Mill village are located halfway between Athens and Greensboro on the Oconee River, just north of where Georgia State Route 15 now crosses the river. Recent archaeological findings and...
- SiloamSiloam, GeorgiaSiloam is a town in Greene County, Georgia, United States. The population was 331 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Siloam is located at ....
- Union PointUnion Point, GeorgiaUnion Point is a city in Greene County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,669.-Geography:Union Point is located at ....
- White PlainsWhite Plains, GeorgiaWhite Plains is a city in Greene County, Georgia, United States. The population was 283 at the 2000 census.-Geography:White Plains is located at ....
- WoodvilleWoodville, GeorgiaWoodville is a city in Greene County, Georgia, United States. The population was 400 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Woodville is located at ....