Meriwether County, Georgia

Meriwether County is a county located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 21,992.[1] The county seat is Greenville,[2] home of the Meriwether County Courthouse. The county was formed on December 14, 1827 as the 73rd county in Georgia. It was named for David Meriwether, a general in the American Revolutionary War and member of Congress from Georgia.[3]

Meriwether County
U.S. county
Meriwether County Courthouse in Greenville
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°02′N 84°41′W
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Founded	1827
Named for	David Meriwether
Seat	Greenville
Largest city	Manchester
Area
• Total	505 sq mi (1,310 km^2)
• Land	501 sq mi (1,300 km^2)
• Water	4.2 sq mi (11 km^2)  0.8%%
Population
• Estimate  (2018)	21,068
• Density	44/sq mi (17/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	meriwethercountyga.us

Meriwether County is part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 505 square miles (1,310 km²), of which 501 square miles (1,300 km²) is land and 4.2 square miles (11 km²) (0.8%) is water.[4]

The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state. Portions of the Pine Mountain Range are found in the southern parts of the county near the cities of Warm Springs and Manchester.

The eastern two-thirds of Meriwether County, going east from just west of U.S. Route 27 Alternate, is located in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The western third of the county is located in the Middle Chattahoochee River-Lake Harding sub-basin of the same ACF River Basin.[5]

Major highways

• Interstate 85
• 
  U.S. Route 27 Alternate
• State Route 18
• State Route 41
• State Route 54
• State Route 54 Spur
• State Route 74
• State Route 85
• State Route 85 Alternate
• State Route 85 Spur
• State Route 100
• State Route 109
• State Route 109 Spur
• State Route 173
• State Route 190
• State Route 194
• State Route 362
• State Route 403 (unsigned designation for I-85)

Adjacent counties

• Coweta County (north)
• Spalding County (northeast)
• Pike County (east)
• Upson County (southeast)
• Talbot County (south)
• Harris County (southwest)
• Troup County (west)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	4,422		—
1840	14,132		219.6%
1850	16,476		16.6%
1860	15,330		−7.0%
1870	13,756		−10.3%
1880	17,651		28.3%
1890	20,740		17.5%
1900	23,339		12.5%
1910	25,180		7.9%
1920	26,167		3.9%
1930	22,437		−14.3%
1940	22,055		−1.7%
1950	21,055		−4.5%
1960	19,756		−6.2%
1970	19,461		−1.5%
1980	21,229		9.1%
1990	22,411		5.6%
2000	22,534		0.5%
2010	21,992		−2.4%
Est. 2018	21,068	[6]	−4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010–2013[1]

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 22,534 people, 8,248 households, and 6,012 families living in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 9,211 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 58.9% White, 40.4% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Of the population 0.85% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,248 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.00% were married couples living together, 18.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 23.80% 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 2.68 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,870, and the median income for a family was $37,931. Males had a median income of $29,766 versus $21,444 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,708. About 13.60% of families and 17.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.90% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 21,992 people, 8,522 households, and 5,906 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 43.9 inhabitants per square mile (16.9/km²). There were 9,957 housing units at an average density of 19.9 per square mile (7.7/km²).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 57.9% white, 39.1% African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.6% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 14.3% were American, 12.7% were English, and 9.8% were Irish.[14]

Of the 8,522 households, 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.7% were non-families, and 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 41.0 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,845 and the median income for a family was $47,126. Males had a median income of $36,164 versus $28,873 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,295. About 12.8% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Politics

Meriwether County is a somewhat Republican-leaning county. The last Democrat to win the county was Al Gore.

Presidential election results

Previous presidential election results[16]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2016	56.7% 5,222	41.3% 3,804	2.1% 191
2012	52.4% 4,856	46.7% 4,331	0.9% 87
2008	52.3% 4,982	46.9% 4,465	0.8% 71
2004	54.0% 4,402	45.5% 3,709	0.5% 44
2000	47.1% 3,162	51.3% 3,441	1.6% 106
1996	36.1% 2,259	55.9% 3,492	8.0% 502
1992	32.3% 2,364	54.7% 4,002	13.0% 954
1988	51.3% 3,101	48.5% 2,934	0.2% 9
1984	52.7% 3,195	47.3% 2,864
1980	31.7% 1,838	66.8% 3,876	1.6% 91
1976	23.1% 1,450	76.9% 4,830
1972	73.8% 3,420	26.2% 1,213
1968	20.6% 1,120	32.3% 1760	47.2% 2,571
1964	48.1% 2,250	51.8% 2,423	0.0% 1
1960	18.6% 706	81.5% 3,100
1956	15.9% 592	84.1% 3,137
1952	13.0% 531	87.0% 3,551
1948	9.8% 237	81.7% 1,967	8.5% 205
1944	8.0% 189	92.1% 2,187
1940	6.0% 174	93.7% 2,726	0.3% 8
1936	5.4% 138	94.6% 2,438	0.0% 1
1932	2.0% 53	97.8% 2,604	0.2% 5
1928	15.9% 287	84.1% 1,515
1924	7.7% 103	66.6% 886	25.7% 342
1920	14.9% 186	85.1% 1,059
1916	7.7% 96	89.4% 1,118	2.9% 36
1912	9.3% 91	88.1% 862	2.7% 26

Media

The county is served by the Meriwether Vindicator newspaper.

Communities

• Alvaton
• Gay
• Greenville
• Lone Oak
• Luthersville
• Manchester
• Warm Springs
• Woodbury

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Meriwether County, Georgia

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 206.
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 19, 2015.
6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 31, 2019.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
12. "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.
13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
14. "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.
15. "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.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.

External links

• Official page