Jasper County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jasper County
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Jasper County Courthouse
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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 | December 10, 1807 | |
| Named for | William Jasper | |
| Seat | Monticello | |
| Largest city | Monticello | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 373 sq mi (970 km2) | |
| • Land | 368 sq mi (950 km2) | |
| • Water | 5.3 sq mi (14 km2) 1.4%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,588 | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 10th | |
Jasper County is a special area called a county in the central part of Georgia, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 14,588 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, where the county government is located, is Monticello. Jasper County is also part of the larger Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell area.
Contents
History of Jasper County
Early Inhabitants and County Creation
Long ago, for thousands of years before Europeans arrived, Native American groups lived in this area. When European-Americans started settling here, the land was home to the Cherokee and Muscogee Creek peoples. These groups were known as some of the "Five Civilized Tribes" in the Southeast.
Jasper County was officially created on December 10, 1807. It was formed from land that used to be part of Baldwin County. This new area became known for its large farms, called plantations, where a lot of short-staple cotton was grown. Growing this type of cotton became very profitable after the cotton gin was invented in the late 1700s.
As more people moved west, the number of people living in the county changed a lot during the 1800s. In the 1830s, a law called the Indian Removal Act was passed. This law eventually forced most Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi River.
Name Change and Neighboring Counties
Jasper County was first named Randolph County, after a person from Virginia named John Randolph. However, Randolph was against the U.S. joining the War of 1812. Because of this, the Georgia government changed the county's name to Jasper County on December 10, 1812. The new name honored Sergeant William Jasper, a brave hero from South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. Later, in 1828, a new Randolph County was created in Georgia.
Part of Jasper County was also used to create Newton County in 1821.
Jasper County in Movies
You might recognize the Jasper County Courthouse! It was used for filming scenes in the comedy movie "My Cousin Vinny." Even though the movie was set in a made-up place in Alabama, the sheriff in the movie actually mentions Jasper County, Georgia, by name.
Geography of Jasper County
Land and Water
Jasper County covers a total area of about 373 square miles (about 966 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 368 square miles (953 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 5.3 square miles (13.7 square kilometers), is water.
The western part of Jasper County is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River area. The eastern part of the county is in the Upper Oconee River area. Both of these rivers are part of the larger Altamaha River basin.
Main Roads
Here are some of the main roads that go through Jasper County:
State Route 11
State Route 16
State Route 83
State Route 142
State Route 212
State Route 380
Neighboring Counties
Jasper County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Morgan County to the northeast
- Putnam County to the east
- Jones County to the south
- Monroe County to the southwest
- Butts County to the west
- Newton County to the northwest
Protected Natural Areas
Parts of two important natural areas are located in Jasper County:
- Oconee National Forest
- Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge
Communities in Jasper County
The main towns and communities in Jasper County include:
- Monticello (the county seat)
- Shady Dale
- Hillsboro
Population and People
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Jasper County has changed a lot over the years. Here's a look at the population from different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 7,573 | — | |
| 1820 | 14,614 | 93.0% | |
| 1830 | 13,131 | −10.1% | |
| 1840 | 11,111 | −15.4% | |
| 1850 | 11,486 | 3.4% | |
| 1860 | 10,743 | −6.5% | |
| 1870 | 10,439 | −2.8% | |
| 1880 | 11,851 | 13.5% | |
| 1890 | 13,879 | 17.1% | |
| 1900 | 15,033 | 8.3% | |
| 1910 | 16,552 | 10.1% | |
| 1920 | 16,362 | −1.1% | |
| 1930 | 8,594 | −47.5% | |
| 1940 | 8,772 | 2.1% | |
| 1950 | 7,473 | −14.8% | |
| 1960 | 6,135 | −17.9% | |
| 1970 | 5,760 | −6.1% | |
| 1980 | 7,553 | 31.1% | |
| 1990 | 8,453 | 11.9% | |
| 2000 | 11,426 | 35.2% | |
| 2010 | 13,900 | 21.7% | |
| 2020 | 14,588 | 4.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 16,455 | 18.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 2020 |
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Who Lives in Jasper County?
The 2020 United States census found that there were 14,588 people living in Jasper County. These people made up 5,171 households and 3,807 families.
Here's a breakdown of the different groups of people living in Jasper County as of 2020:
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic or Latino) | 10,771 | 73.83% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino) | 2,442 | 16.74% |
| Native American | 34 | 0.23% |
| Asian | 22 | 0.15% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 634 | 4.35% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 684 | 4.69% |
Famous People from Jasper County
Some well-known people have connections to Jasper County:
- Susan Holmes - An American politician who was born in Jasper County. She was named Jasper County Citizen of the Year in 2001.
- Roy "Buckshot" Jones - A NASCAR race car driver.
- Odell Thurman - An NFL (National Football League) player.
- Trisha Yearwood - A famous country music singer. In 2005, she even released an album called Jasper County.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Jasper (Georgia) para niños
