Burke County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Burke County
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Burke County courthouse in Waynesboro, Georgia
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Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
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Georgia's location within the U.S. |
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Country | United States |
State | Georgia |
Founded | 1777 |
Named for | Edmund Burke |
Seat | Waynesboro |
Largest city | Waynesboro |
Area | |
• Total | 835 sq mi (2,160 km2) |
• Land | 827 sq mi (2,140 km2) |
• Water | 8.0 sq mi (21 km2) 1.0%% |
Population | |
• Estimate
(2019)
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22,383 |
• Density | 27/sq mi (10/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 12th |
Burke County is a county located along the eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia in the Piedmont. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,316. The county seat is Waynesboro.
Burke County is part of the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Burke County is an original county of Georgia, created February 5, 1777. In 1779, Col. John Twiggs and Col. William Few and Benjamin Few, along with 250 men, victoriously defended the Cause of the American Revolution at the Battle of Burke Jail. During the American Civil War, Burke County provided the 2nd Regiment Georgia Infantry Company D (Burke Sharpshooters), 3rd Regiment Georgia Infantry Company A (Burke Guards), 32nd Regiment Georgia Infantry Company C (Williams Volunteers), 32nd Regiment Georgia Infantry Company K (Alexander Greys), 48th Regiment Georgia Infantry Company D (Burke Volunteers), Cobb's Legion Infantry company E (Poythress Volunteers) and the Cobb's Legion Cavalry Company F (Grubb's Hussars).
Burke County is located within the CSRA (the Central Savannah River Area) and was developed for large cotton plantations in the antebellum period. The county became majority African American in population, as most laborers were slaves. It continued to rely on agriculture for decades after the American Civil War. In the early 20th century, mechanization of agriculture caused many workers to lose their jobs.
As can be seen from the census tables below, the county lost population from 1910-1920, and from 1930-1970. Part of the outflow was related to the Great Migration, as millions of African Americans left the rural South and Jim Crow segregation for jobs and opportunities in the Midwest, North, and from World War II on, the West Coast. In addition, whites left rural areas for industrial jobs in the North as well, in cities such as Chicago and Detroit.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 835 square miles (2,160 km2), of which 827 square miles (2,140 km2) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km2) (1.0%) is water. It is the second-largest county by area in Georgia.
The southern half of Burke County, defined by a line running along State Route 80 to Waynesboro, then southeast to east of Perkins, is located in the Upper Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin. North of Waynesboro, and bordered on the north by a line running from Keysville southeast to Girard, is located in the Brier Creek sub-basin of the Savannah River basin. The very northern sliver of Burke County is located in the Middle Savannah River sub-basin of the same Savannah River basin.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Richmond County (north)
- Aiken County, South Carolina (northeast)
- Barnwell County, South Carolina (east-northeast)
- Allendale County, South Carolina (east)
- Screven County (southeast)
- Jenkins County (south)
- Emanuel County (southwest)
- Jefferson County (west)
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1790 | 9,467 | — | |
1800 | 9,504 | 0.4% | |
1810 | 10,858 | 14.2% | |
1820 | 11,577 | 6.6% | |
1830 | 11,833 | 2.2% | |
1840 | 13,176 | 11.3% | |
1850 | 16,100 | 22.2% | |
1860 | 17,165 | 6.6% | |
1870 | 17,679 | 3.0% | |
1880 | 27,128 | 53.4% | |
1890 | 28,501 | 5.1% | |
1900 | 30,165 | 5.8% | |
1910 | 27,268 | −9.6% | |
1920 | 30,836 | 13.1% | |
1930 | 29,224 | −5.2% | |
1940 | 26,520 | −9.3% | |
1950 | 23,458 | −11.5% | |
1960 | 20,596 | −12.2% | |
1970 | 18,255 | −11.4% | |
1980 | 19,349 | 6.0% | |
1990 | 20,579 | 6.4% | |
2000 | 22,243 | 8.1% | |
2010 | 23,316 | 4.8% | |
2019 (est.) | 22,383 | −4.0% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 |
2020 census
Race | Num. | Perc. |
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White (non-Hispanic) | 11,941 | 48.55% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 10,957 | 44.55% |
Native American | 45 | 0.18% |
Asian | 97 | 0.39% |
Pacific Islander | 10 | 0.04% |
Other/Mixed | 769 | 3.13% |
Hispanic or Latino | 777 | 3.16% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 24,596 people, 8,193 households, and 5,939 families residing in the county.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 23,316 people, 8,533 households, and 6,110 families living in the county. The population density was 28.2 inhabitants per square mile (10.9/km2). There were 9,865 housing units at an average density of 11.9 per square mile (4.6/km2). As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 23,316 people living in the county. 49.5% were Black or African American, 47.5% White, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race and 1.3% from two or more races. 2.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
In terms of ancestry, 49.5% have some African ancestry, 11.0% identify as of American, 9.3% are Irish, 5.5% were English, and 5.1% were German.
Of the 8,533 households, 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 24.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.4% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.20. The median age was 35.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,155 and the median income for a family was $41,659. Males had a median income of $37,061 versus $24,952 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,934. About 20.0% of families and 25.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.0% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Education
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Burke (Georgia) para niños