Wilkes County, Georgia

Wilkes County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,593.[1] The county seat is the city of Washington.[2]

Wilkes County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°47′N 82°44′W
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedFebruary 5, 1777
Named forJohn Wilkes
SeatWashington
Largest cityWashington
Area
 • Total474 sq mi (1,230 km2)
 • Land469 sq mi (1,210 km2)
 • Water4.6 sq mi (12 km2)  1.0%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
9,876
 • Density23/sq mi (9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district10th
Websitewww.washingtonwilkes.org

Referred to as "Washington-Wilkes", the county seat and county are commonly treated as a single entity by locals, including the area's historical society[3] and the Chamber of Commerce.[4] It is part of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).

History

Wilkes County, named for British politician and supporter of American independence, John Wilkes, is considered Georgia's first county established by European Americans; it was the first of eight original counties created in the first state constitution on February 5, 1777. The other seven counties were organized from existing colonial parishes.

Wilkes was unique in being made up of land ceded in 1773 by the indigenous Creek and Cherokee Native American nations in their respective Treaties of Augusta.[5] Its location was unique due to its close proximity to the Atlantic seaboard fall line.

Between 1790 and 1854, Wilkes County's area was reduced as it was divided to organize new counties following the growth of population in the area. The Georgia legislature formed the counties of Elbert, Oglethorpe, and Lincoln entirely from portions of Wilkes County. Wilkes also contributed part of the lands used in the creation of Madison, Warren, Taliaferro, Hart, McDuffie, and Greene Counties.[6]

Wilkes County was the site of one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War to be fought in Georgia. During the Battle of Kettle Creek in 1779, the American Patriot forces were victorious over British Loyalists.[7]

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, colonists depended on enslaved African-American workers and whites to clear land, develop plantations, and cultivate and process cotton in this area. Long-staple cotton would not grow in this upland areas and short-staple cotton was originally too labor-intensive to be profitable.

In 1793, American Eli Whitney perfected his revolutionary invention of the cotton gin at Mount Pleasant, a cotton plantation east of Washington. It allowed mechanization of the processing of short-staple cotton, making its cultivation profitable in the upland areas. As a result, there was a dramatic increase in the development of new cotton plantations throughout the Deep South to cultivate short-staple cotton. Settlers increased pressure on the federal government to remove Native Americans from the region, including the Five Civilized Tribes from the Southeast. Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830 and the government forcibly removed most of the members of these tribes to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.

Production of short-staple cotton in the Deep South soon superseded that of long-staple cotton, grown primarily on the Sea Islands and in the Low Country.[8] Such expansion dramatically increased the demand for slave labor in the Deep South, resulting in a longstanding domestic slave trade that transported more than a million slaves in forced migrations from the Upper South. King Cotton brought great wealth to many planters in the decades before the Civil War.

None of the battles of the American Civil War was fought in or near Wilkes County. But here President Jefferson Davis met for the final time with the Confederate Cabinet, and they officially dissolved the government of the Confederate States of America.[9] Wilkes County was the last-known location of the gold rumored to have been lost from the Confederate Treasury.[10][11] The present-day Wilkes County Courthouse was built in Washington at the site of the cabinet meeting.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 474 square miles (1,230 km2), of which 469 square miles (1,210 km2) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km2) (1.0%) is water.[12] It is located in the Piedmont region above the fall line.

The northern quarter of Wilkes County, in a curved line from Rayle through Tignall to the northeastern corner of the county, is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin. The eastern portion of the county, from Washington east, and bordered to the north and west by the Broad River sub-basin, is located in the Upper Savannah River sub-basin of the larger Savannah River basin. The rest of the county, south of Washington, is located in the Little River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.[13]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Changes in agriculture through mechanization, the Great Depression, and a mass migration of African Americans from the area in the mid-20th century have resulted in a decline of population in the rural county since 1930.

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
179031,500—
180013,103−58.4%
181014,88713.6%
182017,60718.3%
183014,237−19.1%
184010,148−28.7%
185012,10719.3%
186011,420−5.7%
187011,7963.3%
188015,98535.5%
189018,08113.1%
190020,86615.4%
191023,44112.3%
192024,2103.3%
193015,944−34.1%
194015,084−5.4%
195012,388−17.9%
196010,961−11.5%
197010,184−7.1%
198010,9517.5%
199010,597−3.2%
200010,6870.8%
201010,593−0.9%
Est. 20189,876[14]−6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790-1960[16] 1900-1990[17]
1990-2000[18] 2010-2013[1]

2000 census

As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 10,687 people, 4,314 households, and 2,968 families living in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 5,022 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 55.12% White, 43.05% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,314 households out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.10% were married couples living together, 17.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,644, and the median income for a family was $36,219. Males had a median income of $27,355 versus $21,298 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,020. About 13.00% of families and 17.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.20% of those under age 18 and 19.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,593 people, 4,263 households, and 2,841 families living in the county.[20] The population density was 22.6 inhabitants per square mile (8.7/km2). There were 5,158 housing units at an average density of 11.0 per square mile (4.2/km2).[21] The racial makeup of the county was 53.0% white, 42.8% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.4% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 10.3% were American, and 9.1% were English.[22]

Of the 4,263 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.4% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 43.4 years.[20]

The median income for a household in the county was $28,022 and the median income for a family was $39,109. Males had a median income of $36,993 versus $24,874 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,993. About 21.2% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.7% of those under age 18 and 17.2% of those age 65 or over.[23]

Communities

Notable people

Politics
Presidential elections results
Previous presidential elections results[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 57.3% 2,572 41.2% 1,848 1.5% 66
2012 55.3% 2,635 43.8% 2,087 0.9% 43
2008 53.5% 2,705 45.8% 2,315 0.8% 40
2004 54.8% 2,490 44.6% 2,028 0.7% 30
2000 50.8% 2,044 48.2% 1,940 1.0% 42
1996 39.5% 1,417 55.0% 1,971 5.5% 198
1992 38.7% 1,535 49.3% 1,955 11.9% 472
1988 53.7% 1,810 46.0% 1,549 0.3% 11
1984 53.7% 1,837 46.3% 1,586
1980 33.5% 1,212 64.9% 2,350 1.7% 61
1976 30.2% 1,067 69.8% 2,461
1972 77.3% 2,195 22.7% 646
1968 24.7% 873 27.0% 953 48.4% 1,709
1964 53.5% 1,652 46.5% 1,437
1960 18.1% 395 81.9% 1,786
1956 15.1% 304 84.9% 1,714
1952 16.0% 286 84.0% 1,500
1948 28.5% 345 63.6% 771 7.9% 96
1944 14.4% 159 85.6% 946
1940 10.7% 123 88.7% 1,022 0.6% 7
1936 7.0% 78 91.9% 1,031 1.2% 13
1932 3.4% 42 95.8% 1,172 0.8% 10
1928 51.7% 798 48.4% 747
1924 4.1% 44 77.8% 836 18.1% 195
1920 1.4% 12 98.7% 876
1916 6.1% 52 91.9% 785 2.0% 17
1912 9.1% 66 90.5% 657 0.4% 3

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Foundation, The Washington-Wilkes Historical. "The Washington-Wilkes Historical Foundation". www.historyofwilkes.org. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  4. "Home - Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, GA". www.washingtonwilkes.org. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  5. "County of Wilkes - GeorgiaInfo". georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  6. "A Brief History, 1790: A booming area of the state", Washington, Georgia Virtual Tourist, accessed January 13, 2010
  7. "A Brief History, 1779: The Decisive Revolutionary War Battle of Kettle Creek", Washington, Georgia Virtual Tourist, accessed January 13, 2010
  8. Willingham, Robert. "AN OVERVIEW OF LOCAL HISTORY" Archived 2010-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, accessed January 13, 2010
  9. "A Brief History, 1865: Last Meeting of the Confederate Cabinet", Washington, Georgia Virtual Tourist, accessed January 13, 2010
  10. "Legend of the Lost Gold of the Confederacy", Washington, Georgia Virtual Tourist, accessed January 13, 2010
  11. Davis, Robert Scott (2002). "The Georgia Odyssey of the Confederate Gold". Georgia Historical Quarterly. 86 (4). Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  12. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  13. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  14. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  15. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  16. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  17. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  18. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  20. "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.
  21. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  22. "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.
  23. "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.
  24. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 24, 2018.

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