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Elbert County, Georgia facts for kids

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Elbert County
Elbert County courthouse in Elberton, 1973
Elbert County courthouse in Elberton, 1973
Map of Georgia highlighting Elbert County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Georgia
Founded 1790; 234 years ago (1790)
Named for Samuel Elbert
Seat Elberton
Largest city Elberton
Area
 • Total 374 sq mi (970 km2)
 • Land 351 sq mi (910 km2)
 • Water 23 sq mi (60 km2)  6.2%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
19,194
 • Density 57/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 9th

Elbert County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,166. The county seat is Elberton. The county was established on December 10, 1790, and was named for Samuel Elbert.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 374 square miles (970 km2), of which 351 square miles (910 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (6.2%) is water.

The northern half of Elbert County, north of a line made by following State Route 17 from Bowman southeast to Elberton, and then following State Route 72 east to just before the South Carolina border, and then heading south along the shores of Lake Richard B. Russell & Clarkes Hill to the county's southeastern tip, is located in the Upper Savannah River sub-basin of the larger Savannah River basin. The portion of the county south of this line is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.

Major highways

  • Georgia 17.svg State Route 17
  • Georgia 72.svg State Route 72
  • Georgia 77.svg State Route 77
  • Georgia 77 Connector.svg State Route 77 Connector
  • Georgia 79.svg State Route 79
  • Georgia 172.svg State Route 172
  • Georgia 368.svg State Route 368

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1800 10,094
1810 12,156 20.4%
1820 11,788 −3.0%
1830 12,354 4.8%
1840 11,125 −9.9%
1850 12,959 16.5%
1860 10,433 −19.5%
1870 9,249 −11.3%
1880 12,957 40.1%
1890 15,376 18.7%
1900 19,729 28.3%
1910 24,125 22.3%
1920 23,905 −0.9%
1930 18,485 −22.7%
1940 19,618 6.1%
1950 18,585 −5.3%
1960 17,835 −4.0%
1970 17,262 −3.2%
1980 18,758 8.7%
1990 18,949 1.0%
2000 20,511 8.2%
2010 20,166 −1.7%
2019 (est.) 19,194 −4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2019

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,166 people, 8,063 households, and 5,604 families living in the county. The population density was 57.4 inhabitants per square mile (22.2/km2). There were 9,583 housing units at an average density of 27.3 per square mile (10.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.9% white, 29.5% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.7% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 18.1% were American, 6.0% were Irish, 5.7% were English, and 5.5% were German.

Of the 8,063 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.5% were non-families, and 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 41.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,543 and the median income for a family was $35,550. Males had a median income of $31,556 versus $25,562 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,100. About 17.0% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

Elbert County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White 12,610 64.22%
Black or African American 5,253 26.75%
Native American 26 0.13%
Asian 182 0.93%
Pacific Islander 3 0.02%
Other/Mixed 567 2.89%
Hispanic or Latino 996 5.07%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 19,637 people, 7,559 households, and 5,065 families residing in the county.

Civic

Elbert County has many active civic organizations including, but not limited to, the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce, Elbert County Historical Society, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Pilot Club, Elbert Theatre Foundation (part of the Georgia Council for the Arts), NAACP, Boys and Girls Club, Elbert Civic League (part of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs), and Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, many local churches have very active missions programs, and many trade organizations, such as the Elbert Granite Association, are active.

Historical and cultural sites

Historical and cultural sites in Elbert County include the Nancy Hart cabin, the Dan Tucker gravesite, the Stephen Heard Cemetery, the Petersburg Township site, Vans Creek Church, the Elbert County Courthouse, the Elberton Seaboard-Airline Depot, the Rock Gym, the Granite Bowl, the Elberton Granite Museum and Exhibit, the Richard B. Russell Dam, the Elbert Theatre, the Georgia Guidestones, Richard B. Russell State Park, and Bobby Brown State Park.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Notable people

Though a rural county, Elbert County has been home to many notable people. Included in these are Revolutionary War heroine Nancy Hart, who resided in southern Elbert County, and the Rev. Daniel Tucker, a popular minister and ferry operator, who may have been the inspiration for the song "Old Dan Tucker". The county was also home to Corra Harris, author of "A Circuit Rider's Wife," a book that later inspired the popular movie "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain." Stephen Heard, deceased, was Governor of Georgia from 1780 to 1781. Hon. Joseph Rucker Lamar, deceased, who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1910 to 1916, was born in Elbert County. Statesman and Judge Young L.G. Harris, deceased, for whom Young Harris College is named, was born in Elbert County. Former U.S. Secretary of War and 1824 U.S. presidential candidate William Harris Crawford, as well as famed American explorer Meriwether Lewis during his youth; his family owned lands along the Broad River in The Broad River Valley located in Wilkes (now Oglethorpe) County which borders Elbert County. Clark Gaines, NFL record holder and former executive director of the NFL Players Association, was raised in Elbert County and played football for Elbert County Comprehensive High School. Blues guitarist Baby Tate was born in Elbert County. Recording artists Modern Skirts, popular on the college music circuit, include two members from Elbert County, JoJo Glidewell and Jay Gulley. Leroy Brewer, grandfather of Governor Earl Leroy Brewer of Mississippi was born in Elbert County in 1793. Mecole Hardman, who played college football at The University of Georgia and drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, played football for Elbert County Comprehensive High School.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Elbert (Georgia) para niños

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