Jefferson, Georgia Facts for Kids

Jefferson is a city and the county seat of Jackson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 13,233 at the 2020 census, up from 9,432 at the 2010 census. As of 2024 the estimated population was 17,215.

History
Geography
Demographics
Education
Notable people
See also

History

Jefferson was founded in 1800. That same year, the seat of Jackson County was transferred to Jefferson from Clarkesboro. Jefferson was incorporated as a town in 1806 and as a city in 1896. The city was named after Thomas Jefferson.

Geography

View of the north side of the city's central square

Jefferson is located in central Jackson County at 34°7′36″N 83°35′25″W / 34.12667°N 83.59028°W / 34.12667; -83.59028 (34.126736, -83.590297). It is bordered to the northwest by Pendergrass and to the southeast by Arcade. U.S. Route 129 passes through the southwest side of the city, leading northwest 21 miles (34 km) to Gainesville and southeast 19 miles (31 km) to Athens. Interstate 85 runs through the northern end of Jefferson, 5 miles (8 km) northwest of the center of town, with access from Exits 137 and 140. I-85 leads southwest 55 miles (89 km) to Atlanta and northeast 90 miles (140 km) to Greenville, South Carolina.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Jefferson has a total area of 22.0 square miles (57.0 km²), of which 21.7 square miles (56.1 km²) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²), or 1.53%, are water. Curry Creek, a tributary of the North Oconee River, flows just to the east of downtown, and the Middle Oconee River runs along the western edge of the city.

Demographics

View towards the east side of the square showing the Confederate Memorial and the highway leading to Commerce, Georgia

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	419	—
1890	540	28.9%
1900	726	34.4%
1910	1,207	66.3%
1920	1,626	34.7%
1930	1,869	14.9%
1940	1,839	−1.6%
1950	2,040	10.9%
1960	1,746	−14.4%
1970	1,647	−5.7%
1980	1,820	10.5%
1990	2,763	51.8%
2000	3,825	38.4%
2010	9,432	146.6%
2020	13,233	40.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

Jefferson racial composition as of 2020
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	10,240	77.38%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	1,087	8.21%
Native American	22	0.17%
Asian	269	2.03%
Pacific Islander	3	0.02%
Other/mixed	572	4.32%
Hispanic or Latino	1,040	7.86%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,233 people, 3,933 households, and 2,885 families residing in the city.

Education

Jackson County School District

View of the southeast side of the square with shops and parking

The Jackson County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools, and one charter school. As of December 2020, the district had a total of 8,611 students.

East Jackson Elementary School
Gum Springs Elementary School
Maysville Elementary School
North Jackson Elementary School
South Jackson Elementary School
West Jackson Elementary School
East Jackson Middle School
West Jackson Middle School
East Jackson Comprehensive High School
Jackson County Comprehensive High School
EMPOWER College and Career Center (charter school)

Jefferson City School District

The Jefferson City School District holds kindergarten to grade twelve, and consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 115 full-time teachers and over 1,525 students.

Jefferson Elementary School
Jefferson Academy
Jefferson Middle School
Jefferson High School

Martin Institute

The Martin Institute was a school in Jefferson from 1818 to 1942.

Notable people

Chris Beck, pitcher for the New York Mets
Hiram Parks Bell, U.S. Representative
Damon Jesse Gause, World War II war hero
Brantley Gilbert, country music singer, songwriter
Crawford W. Long, physician who first used ether for surgical anesthesia
Brandon Mosley, former Auburn University and former New York Giants offensive lineman
Corey Smith, country music singer, songwriter
Malaki Starks, Safety for the Georgia Bulldogs

Jefferson, Georgia facts for kids

Contents