Thomas County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas County
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Former Thomas County Courthouse in Thomasville
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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 | December 23, 1825 |
| Named for | Jett Thomas |
| Seat | Thomasville |
| Largest city | Thomasville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 552 sq mi (1,430 km2) |
| • Land | 545 sq mi (1,410 km2) |
| • Water | 7.6 sq mi (20 km2) 1.4%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 45,798 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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45,649  |
| • Density | 82.97/sq mi (32.034/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
Thomas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census the population was 45,798. The county seat is Thomasville. Thomas County comprises the Thomasville, GA micropolitan statistical area.
Contents
History
Thomas County was created by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on December 23, 1825, from portions of Decatur and Irwin Counties. Colquitt (1856), Brooks (1858), and Grady (1905) Counties all were formed partially from lands within Thomas County's original borders.
The county is named for Jett Thomas, an officer in the War of 1812 who is also known for overseeing the construction of the first building at the University of Georgia (originally referred to as Franklin College and known today as Old College) as well as the state capital at Milledgeville.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 552 square miles (1,430 km2), of which 545 square miles (1,410 km2) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) (1.4%) is water.
The northwestern half of Thomas County, bordered by U.S. Route 319 southwest of Thomasville, and a line that ends up bisecting the distance between Coolidge and Pavo in the northeast, is located in the Upper Ochlockonee River sub-basin of the larger Ochlockonee River basin. The northeastern edge of the county, from north of Pavo to Boston, is located in the Withlacoochee River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. The southeastern portion of Thomas County, running southeast from Thomasville, is located in the Aucilla River sub-basin of the larger Aucilla-Waccasassa basin. Almost all of the southwestern portion of the county is located in the Apalachee Bay-St. Marks sub-basin of the Ochlockonee River basin, with the exception of the tiny southwesternmost corner, which is located in the Lower Ochlockonee River sub-basin of the same Ochlockonee River basin.
The Aucilla River rises in Thomas County. The Red Hills Region is centered on Thomas County.
Major highways
U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 84
U.S. Route 84 Business
U.S. Route 319
State Route 3
State Route 3 Alternate
State Route 33
State Route 35
State Route 35 Connector
State Route 38
State Route 38 Business
State Route 111
State Route 122
State Route 188
State Route 202
State Route 300
Adjacent counties
- Colquitt County - northeast
- Brooks County - east
- Jefferson County, Florida - south
- Leon County, Florida - southwest
- Grady County - west
- Mitchell County - northwest
Communities
Cities
- Barwick (partly in Brooks County)
- Boston
- Coolidge
- Meigs (partly in Mitchell County)
- Pavo (partly in Brooks County)
- Thomasville
Town
Unincorporated community
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 3,299 | — | |
| 1840 | 6,766 | 105.1% | |
| 1850 | 10,103 | 49.3% | |
| 1860 | 10,766 | 6.6% | |
| 1870 | 14,523 | 34.9% | |
| 1880 | 20,597 | 41.8% | |
| 1890 | 26,154 | 27.0% | |
| 1900 | 31,076 | 18.8% | |
| 1910 | 29,071 | −6.5% | |
| 1920 | 33,044 | 13.7% | |
| 1930 | 32,612 | −1.3% | |
| 1940 | 31,289 | −4.1% | |
| 1950 | 33,932 | 8.4% | |
| 1960 | 34,319 | 1.1% | |
| 1970 | 34,515 | 0.6% | |
| 1980 | 38,098 | 10.4% | |
| 1990 | 38,986 | 2.3% | |
| 2000 | 42,737 | 9.6% | |
| 2010 | 44,720 | 4.6% | |
| 2020 | 45,798 | 2.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 45,649 | 2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 |
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| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 25,994 | 56.76% |
| Black or African American | 16,259 | 35.5% |
| Native American | 150 | 0.33% |
| Asian | 406 | 0.89% |
| Pacific Islander | 9 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,403 | 3.06% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,577 | 3.44% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 45,798 people, 17,595 households, and 12,161 families residing in the county.
Education
Colleges and universities:
- Thomas University
- Southern Regional Technical College
There are two school districts:
- Thomasville City School District (areas in Thomasville City)
- Thomas County School District (areas not in Thomasville City)
Private schools:
- Brookwood School
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Thomas (Georgia) para niños
