Thomas County, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Thomas County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Georgia
. The 2010 Census showed a population of 44,720. The county seat
is Thomasville
.
on December 24, 1825, from portions of Decatur
and Irwin
counties. Colquitt
(1856), Brooks
(1858), and Grady
(1905) counties all were formed partially from lands within Thomas County's original borders.
The county is named for Jett Thomas
, officer in the War of 1812
who is also known for overseeing the construction of the first building at the University of Georgia
(originally referred to as Franklin College and known today as Old College) as well as the state capitol at Milledgeville
.
of 2000, there were 42,737 people, 16,309 households, and 11,465 families residing in the county. The population density
was 78 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 18,285 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 58.98% White
, 38.86% Black
or African American
, 0.29% Native American
, 0.41% Asian
, 0.06% Pacific Islander
, 0.54% from other races
, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.72% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 16,309 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.90% were married couples
living together, 18.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.80 males.
As of 2007, the median income for a household in the county was $40,498, and the median income for a family was $52,392. Males had a median income of $28,395 versus $21,344 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $21,540. About 13.60% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 19.30% of those age 65 or over.
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...
. The 2010 Census showed a population of 44,720. 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 Thomasville
Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville is the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The city is the second largest in Southwest Georgia after Albany.The city deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival. The town features plantations open to the public, a historic downtown, a large...
.
History
Thomas County was created by an act of the Georgia General AssemblyGeorgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
on December 24, 1825, from portions of Decatur
Decatur County, Georgia
Decatur County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 28,240. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 28,544. The county seat is Bainbridge.-History:...
and Irwin
Irwin County, Georgia
Irwin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818. As of 2000, the population was 9,931. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 9,934...
counties. Colquitt
Colquitt County, Georgia
Colquitt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 25, 1856. As of 2000, the population was 42,053. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 45,744. The county seat is Moultrie...
(1856), Brooks
Brooks County, Georgia
Brooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 16,243. The county seat is Quitman...
(1858), and Grady
Grady County, Georgia
Grady County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 23,659. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 25,042. The county seat is Cairo.- History :...
(1905) counties all were formed partially from lands within Thomas County's original borders.
The county is named for Jett Thomas
Jett Thomas
Jett Thomas was an American military officer and builder.-Biography:Jett Thomas was born in Culpepper County, Virginia and moved with his family to Oglethorpe County, Georgia in 1784. He fought in the War of 1812 under Brigadier General John Floyd in the First Brigade of Georgia Militia...
, officer in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
who is also known for overseeing the construction of the first building at the University of Georgia
University 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...
(originally referred to as Franklin College and known today as Old College) as well as the state capitol at Milledgeville
Milledgeville, Georgia
Milledgeville is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is northeast of Macon, located just before Eatonton on the way to Athens along U.S. Highway 441, and it is located on the Oconee River. The relatively rapid current of the Oconee here made this an...
.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 552.08 square miles (1,429.9 km²), of which 548.3 square miles (1,420.1 km²) (or 99.32%) is land and 3.78 square miles (9.8 km²) (or 0.68%) is water.Major highways
U.S. Highway 19
U.S. Highway 84
U.S. Highway 319
Georgia State Route 3Georgia State Route 3State Route 3 runs in a generally north–south orientation from Georgia's northern border to its southern border. Its northern terminus is at the Tennessee state line just southeast of Chattanooga , and its southern terminus is at the Florida state line about twelve miles south-southeast of...
Georgia State Route 33Georgia State Route 33State Route 33 is a north–south state route located in the southern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The route travels from U.S. 84/SR 38 in Boston to U.S. 41/SR 7 south of Cordele.-Route description:...
Georgia State Route 35Georgia State Route 35State Route 35 is a north–south state route located in the southern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The route travels from the Florida state line south of Cairo northeast to SR 32 in Ocilla. The route is cosigned with U.S...
Georgia State Route 38
Georgia State Route 111
Georgia State Route 122Georgia State Route 122State Route 122 is a East–West route located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The route runs from its Eastern terminus at US 1/SR 4/US 23/US 84/SR 38 in Waycross West to its Western terminus at US 19/SR 3/US 84/SR 38/SR 300 in Thomasville....
Georgia State Route 188
Georgia State Route 300Georgia State Route 300State Route 300, also called the Georgia-Florida Parkway, is a long route that runs from Florida State Road 57 at the Florida-Georgia state line south of Thomasville in Thomas County, north to I-75 in Cordele in Crisp County.-Route description:...
Adjacent counties
- Colquitt CountyColquitt County, GeorgiaColquitt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 25, 1856. As of 2000, the population was 42,053. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 45,744. The county seat is Moultrie...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (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...
- northeast - Brooks CountyBrooks County, GeorgiaBrooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 16,243. The county seat is Quitman...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (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...
- east - Jefferson CountyJefferson County, FloridaJefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population is 12,902. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 14,490 . Its county seat is Monticello, Florida....
, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
- south - Leon CountyLeon County, FloridaLeon County is a county located in the state of Florida, named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. At the 2010 Census, the population was 275,487. The county seat of Leon County is Tallahassee which also serves as the state capital. The county seat is home to two of Florida's major...
, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
- southwest - Grady CountyGrady County, GeorgiaGrady County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 23,659. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 25,042. The county seat is Cairo.- History :...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (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...
- west - Mitchell CountyMitchell County, GeorgiaMitchell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 21, 1857. As of 2000, the population was 23,932. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 24,139. The county seat is Camilla.-Geography:...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (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...
- 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 42,737 people, 16,309 households, and 11,465 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 78 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 18,285 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 58.98% 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...
, 38.86% 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...
, 0.29% 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...
, 0.41% 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...
, 0.54% 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 0.85% from two or more races. 1.72% 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 16,309 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.90% 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, 18.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.80 males.
As of 2007, the median income for a household in the county was $40,498, and the median income for a family was $52,392. Males had a median income of $28,395 versus $21,344 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 $21,540. About 13.60% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 19.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- BarwickBarwick, GeorgiaBarwick is a town divided by the county line between Brooks County and Thomas County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.The population was 444 at the 2000 census – 328 of the town's 444 residents lived in Thomas County and 116 in...
is partially in Brooks County, GeorgiaBrooks County, GeorgiaBrooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 16,243. The county seat is Quitman...
and Thomas County, Georgia. - BostonBoston, GeorgiaBoston is a city in Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,417 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Boston is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
- CoolidgeCoolidge, GeorgiaCoolidge is a city in Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The population was 552 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Coolidge is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
- MeigsMeigs, GeorgiaMeigs is a city in Mitchell and Thomas counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 1,090 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Meigs is located at ....
- OchlockneeOchlocknee, GeorgiaOchlocknee is a town in Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The population was 605 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ochlocknee is located at ....
- PavoPavo, GeorgiaPavo is a city that is divided by the county line between Brooks County and Thomas County, Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area...
is partially in Brooks County, GeorgiaBrooks County, GeorgiaBrooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 16,243. The county seat is Quitman...
and Thomas County, Georgia. - ThomasvilleThomasville, GeorgiaThomasville is the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The city is the second largest in Southwest Georgia after Albany.The city deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival. The town features plantations open to the public, a historic downtown, a large...
Education
- Thomas UniversityThomas UniversityThomas University is a four-year coeducational private university located in Thomasville, Georgia, United States. Thomas University offers students associate, bachelor, and master’s degrees. Thomas University provides education to traditional and non-traditional students...
- Southwest Georgia Technical College
- Thomasville City Schools
- Thomas County Schools