Butts County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Butts County
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Butts County Courthouse in Jackson
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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 |
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| State |  Georgia |
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| Founded | 1825 | |
| Named for | Samuel Butts | |
| Seat | Jackson | |
| Largest city | Jackson | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 188 sq mi (490 km2) | |
| • Land | 184 sq mi (480 km2) | |
| • Water | 3.6 sq mi (9 km2) 1.9%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 25,434 | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 10th | |
Butts County is a county located in the central part of Georgia, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 25,434 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Jackson. Butts County was officially created on December 24, 1825. It is also part of the larger Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell area.
Contents
History of Butts County
Butts County was formed on December 24, 1825. It was the 64th county in Georgia. Parts of Henry County and Monroe County were used to create it. The county was named after Samuel Butts. He was an officer who died in a war called the Creek War in 1814.
A year after the county was formed, the town of Jackson was created. It became the county seat, which is like the main administrative town. Other towns grew later, including Indian Springs (1837), Flovilla (1883), and Jenkinsburg (1889). Pepperton was also founded in 1897. Over time, Indian Springs stopped being an official town. Pepperton later joined with Jackson in 1966. Today, there are three main towns in Butts County. Indian Springs has become a popular place for tourists again. It has historic sites, shops, and the famous Indian Springs Hotel.
During the American Civil War, much of Butts County was damaged. General William T. Sherman's army marched through the area. After the war, the county worked hard to rebuild its economy. Things started to get better when the first train arrived on May 5, 1882. This helped the county grow again.
In 1898, a large courthouse was built in Butts County. It was designed by Bruce & Morgan. This building was used as a courthouse until 2019. After some updates, it is now a museum and a visitor center. Another important project was the Lloyd Shoals dam, built in 1910. This dam created Jackson Lake, which is a popular spot for fun activities.
Butts County also saw many modern changes. The first telephones arrived in 1884. Water systems were built in 1905. Electric lights came on February 19, 1907. Traffic lights were installed in 1926. In 2007, Butts County and Flovilla were recognized as "Georgia Signature Communities." This was a special award given to only 12 communities that year.
Geography and Location
Butts County covers a total area of about 188 square miles. Most of this area, about 184 square miles, is land. The rest, about 3.6 square miles, is water. This means about 1.9% of the county is water. All of Butts County is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River area. This river flows into the larger Altamaha River.
Main Roads in Butts County
Many important roads pass through Butts County. These roads help people travel and connect different areas.
Interstate 75
U.S. Route 23
State Route 16
State Route 36
State Route 42
State Route 87
State Route 401 (This is another name for I-75)
Neighboring Counties
Butts County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Newton County (to the north)
- Jasper County (to the east)
- Monroe County (to the south)
- Lamar County (to the southwest)
- Spalding County (to the west)
- Henry County (to the northwest)
Communities in Butts County
Butts County has several towns and smaller communities.
Cities
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially cities.
- Stark
- Worthville
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 4,944 | — | |
| 1840 | 5,308 | 7.4% | |
| 1850 | 6,488 | 22.2% | |
| 1860 | 6,455 | −0.5% | |
| 1870 | 6,941 | 7.5% | |
| 1880 | 8,311 | 19.7% | |
| 1890 | 10,565 | 27.1% | |
| 1900 | 12,805 | 21.2% | |
| 1910 | 13,624 | 6.4% | |
| 1920 | 12,327 | −9.5% | |
| 1930 | 9,345 | −24.2% | |
| 1940 | 9,182 | −1.7% | |
| 1950 | 9,079 | −1.1% | |
| 1960 | 8,976 | −1.1% | |
| 1970 | 10,560 | 17.6% | |
| 1980 | 13,665 | 29.4% | |
| 1990 | 15,326 | 12.2% | |
| 2000 | 19,522 | 27.4% | |
| 2010 | 23,655 | 21.2% | |
| 2020 | 25,434 | 7.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 26,887 | 13.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-18801890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 2020 |
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The table above shows how the population of Butts County has changed over many years. In 2020, the county had 25,434 people living there. There were 8,279 households and 5,823 families.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 16,628 | 65.38% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 6,808 | 26.77% |
| Native American | 39 | 0.15% |
| Asian | 102 | 0.4% |
| Pacific Islander | 9 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,045 | 4.11% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 803 | 3.16% |
Media and Entertainment
Butts County has its own local media. There is one radio station, WJGA FM 92.1. The county also has a local newspaper called the Jackson Progress-Argus.
In recent years, Butts County has become a popular place for filming movies and TV shows. For example, the Netflix series Stranger Things used the city of Jackson, Georgia as the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. The downtown area was changed to look like a small 1980s town. The outside of the Butts County Courthouse was even used as the Hawkins library in the show.
Because Stranger Things filmed there, many fans have visited Butts County. Other shows and movies have also filmed in the area. These include The Originals, a TV show, and a movie remake of Endless Love. Starting in October 2024, the Butts County Sheriff's Office began appearing on the live TV show "On Patrol: Live" on Reelz.
Education
All schools in Butts County are part of the Butts County School District.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Butts para niños
