Washington County, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Georgia
. It was established on February 25, 1784. As of 2000, the population was 21,176. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,937. The county seat
is Sandersville
.
Washington County, Georgia, was named for General George Washington prior to him becoming President and is the only county in the U.S. to be named for him as a General.
of 2000, there were 21,176 people, 7,435 households, and 5,382 families residing in the county. The population density
was 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 8,327 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 45.73% White
, 53.20% Black
or African American
, 0.17% Native American
, 0.26% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.20% from other races
, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 7,435 households out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.70% were married couples
living together, 21.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.80% 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 2.65 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 81.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,910, and the median income for a family was $36,325. Males had a median income of $33,263 versus $21,388 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,565. About 18.70% of families and 22.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.00% of those under age 18 and 23.20% of those age 65 or over.
The county is also the location of one privately run school:
The 1933 short story The People's Choice by Erskine Caldwell
is set in Washington County, where the story's protagonist is a popular local politician elected again and again as the county's tax assesor.
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 established on February 25, 1784. As of 2000, the population was 21,176. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,937. 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 Sandersville
Sandersville, Georgia
Sandersville is a city in Washington County, Georgia, United States. The population was 6,097 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Washington County...
.
Washington County, Georgia, was named for General George Washington prior to him becoming President and is the only county in the U.S. to be named for him as a General.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 684.37 square miles (1,772.5 km²), of which 680.34 square miles (1,762.1 km²) (or 99.41%) is land and 4.03 square miles (10.4 km²) (or 0.59%) is water. As for the county itself it is mostly made up of farms and rural areas.Major highways
Georgia State Route 15Georgia State Route 15State Route 15 is a north–south route that transects the U.S. state of Georgia, east of its centerline. Its northern end is at the border of North Carolina just north of Dilliard; its southern end is at the Florida border just south of Folkston, where the actual highway continues southwards...
Georgia State Route 24
Georgia State Route 68Georgia State Route 68Georgia State Route 68 is a north–south state route located entirely in Washington County. The route begins at State route 57 near the Oconee River. The route intersects State Route 272 South of Oconee and State Route 15 in Tennille before reaching its end at State Route 24 just west of...
Georgia State Route 88Georgia State Route 88State Route 88 is a north-south state route located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The route travels from U.S. Route 25 in Hephzibah to State Route 24 in Sandersville....
Georgia State Route 242Georgia State Route 242State Route 242 is a west–east state route located in the central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. From the route's western terminus at the intersection of State Route 24 and State Route 88, the route travels east, cosigned with State Route 24 east to Sandersville...
Adjacent counties
- Glascock CountyGlascock County, GeorgiaGlascock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 19, 1857. As of 2000, the population is 2,556. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 2,771. The county seat is Gibson.-History:...
(northeast) - Jefferson CountyJefferson County, GeorgiaJefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 20, 1796. As of 2000, the population was 17,266. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,454...
(east) - Johnson CountyJohnson County, GeorgiaJohnson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 8,560. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 9,533...
(south) - Wilkinson CountyWilkinson County, GeorgiaWilkinson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on May 11, 1803. As of 2000, the population was 10,220. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 10,064...
(southwest) - Baldwin CountyBaldwin County, GeorgiaBaldwin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2010, the population was 46,337. The county seat is Milledgeville.Baldwin County is part of the Milledgeville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes neighboring Hancock County....
(west) - 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...
(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 21,176 people, 7,435 households, and 5,382 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 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 8,327 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 45.73% 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...
, 53.20% 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...
, 0.17% 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...
, 0.26% 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...
, 0.01% 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...
, 0.20% 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 0.43% from two or more races. 0.63% 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 7,435 households out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.70% 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, 21.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.80% 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 2.65 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 81.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,910, and the median income for a family was $36,325. Males had a median income of $33,263 versus $21,388 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 $15,565. About 18.70% of families and 22.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.00% of those under age 18 and 23.20% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The county is served by the Washington County School District, which includes:- Ridge Road Elementary School
- T.J. Elder Middle School
- Washington County High SchoolWashington County High School (Georgia)Washington County High School, in Sandersville, Georgia, was founded in 1959, from a county-wide consolidation of the small community high schools. Because segregation was still active, only white students could attend, and as a result, a twin school for the black students, Thomas Jefferson High...
.
The county is also the location of one privately run school:
- Brentwood School
Cities and towns
- Warthen
- DavisboroDavisboro, GeorgiaDavisboro is a city in Washington County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,544 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Davisboro is located at ....
- DeepstepDeepstep, GeorgiaDeepstep is a town in Washington County, Georgia, United States. The population was 132 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Deepstep is located at ....
- HarrisonHarrison, GeorgiaHarrison is a town in Washington County, Georgia, United States. The population was 509 at the 2000 census. Its name is a pun on musician George Harrison.-Geography:Harrison is located at ....
- OconeeOconee, GeorgiaOconee is a city in Washington County, Georgia, United States. The population was 280 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Oconee is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
- RiddlevilleRiddleville, GeorgiaRiddleville is a town in Washington County, Georgia, United States. The population was 124 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Riddleville is located at ....
- SandersvilleSandersville, GeorgiaSandersville is a city in Washington County, Georgia, United States. The population was 6,097 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Washington County...
- TennilleTennille, GeorgiaTennille is a city in Washington County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,505 at the 2000 census.It was home for 10 years to noted architect Charles E...
In fiction
242The 1933 short story The People's Choice by Erskine Caldwell
Erskine Caldwell
Erskine Preston Caldwell was an American author. His writings about poverty, racism and social problems in his native South like the novels Tobacco Road and God's Little Acre won him critical acclaim, but they also made him controversial among fellow Southerners of the time who felt he was...
is set in Washington County, where the story's protagonist is a popular local politician elected again and again as the county's tax assesor.
See also
- Central Savannah River AreaCentral Savannah River AreaThe Central Savannah River Area is a 13-county region in the U.S. state of Georgia, and is also considered to include five to eight counties in South Carolina. The term was coined in 1950 by C.C. McCollum, the winner of a $250 contest held by The Augusta Chronicle to generate the best name for the...