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Walker County, Georgia facts for kids

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Walker County
U.S. county
Walker County Courthouse in LaFayette
Walker County Courthouse in LaFayette
WalkerCountyGAseal.png
Seal
Map of Georgia highlighting Walker 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 December 18, 1833; 192 years ago (1833)
Named for Freeman Walker
Seat LaFayette
Largest city LaFayette
Area
 • Total 447 sq mi (1,160 km2)
 • Land 446 sq mi (1,160 km2)
 • Water 0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 67,654
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 69,489 Increase
 • Density 151.35/sq mi (58.44/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 14th

Walker County is a county in the Northwest region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,654, down from 68,756 in 2010. The county seat is LaFayette. The county was created on December 18, 1833, from land formerly belonging to the Cherokee Indian Nation. Walker County is part of the Chattanooga TN/GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Walker County was named after Georgia's U.S. Senator, Freeman Walker (1780–1827).

Civil War battles fought in Walker County were part of the Chickamauga Campaign fought between August 21 and September 20, 1863:

In 2002 the Tri-State Crematory scandal in Noble came to national attention when 339 bodies that were consigned to be cremated were discovered on the property. The owner, Ray Brent Marsh, was convicted of several charges and sentenced to twelve years in prison.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 447 square miles (1,160 km2), of which 446 square miles (1,160 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.1%) is water. The northern two-thirds of Walker County is located in the Middle Tennessee-Chickamauga sub-basin of the Middle Tennessee-Hiwassee basin. Most of the southeastern portion of the county is located in the Oostanaula River sub-basin in the ACT River Basin (Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin), with a very small southeastern sliver located in the Conasauga River sub-basin in the larger ACT River Basin. The rest of the southern portion of Walker County is located in the Upper Coosa River sub-basin in the ACT River Basin.

Adjacent counties

Natural attractions and features

Transportation

Major highways

  • US 27.svg U.S. Route 27
  • Business plate.svg
    US 27.svg U.S. Route 27 Business
  • Georgia 1.svg State Route 1
  • Georgia 1 Business.svg State Route 1 Business
  • Georgia 2.svg State Route 2
  • Georgia 95.svg State Route 95
  • Georgia 136.svg State Route 136
  • Georgia 151.svg State Route 151
  • Georgia 157.svg State Route 157
  • Georgia 189.svg State Route 189
  • Georgia 193.svg State Route 193
  • Georgia 201.svg State Route 201
  • Georgia 337.svg State Route 337
  • Georgia 341.svg State Route 341

Railroads

Current

Defunct

  • Chattanooga Southern Railway (became Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway)
  • Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway (merged into Southern Railway, then abandoned )
  • Chickamauga and Durham Railroad (merged into Chattanooga & Durham)
  • Chattanooga and Durham Railroad (merged by Chattanooga, Rome and Southern)
  • Chattanooga, Rome and Southern Railroad (merged into Central of GA Railway)
  • Central of Georgia Railway (merged into Southern Railway)
  • Southern Railway (merged into Norfolk Southern, Walker County line transferred to State of Georgia, leased to Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1840 6,572 —
1850 13,109 99.5%
1860 10,082 −23.1%
1870 9,925 −1.6%
1880 11,056 11.4%
1890 13,282 20.1%
1900 15,661 17.9%
1910 18,692 19.4%
1920 23,370 25.0%
1930 26,206 12.1%
1940 31,024 18.4%
1950 38,198 23.1%
1960 45,264 18.5%
1970 50,691 12.0%
1980 56,470 11.4%
1990 58,340 3.3%
2000 61,053 4.7%
2010 68,756 12.6%
2020 67,654 −1.6%
2023 (est.) 69,489 1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1880 1890-1910
1920-1930 1930-1940
1940-1950 1960-1980
1980-2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Walker County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 57,336 63,343 59,654 93.91% 92.13% 88.18%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,300 2,809 2,840 3.77% 4.09% 4.20%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 172 170 149 0.28% 0.25% 0.22%
Asian alone (NH) 165 291 293 0.27% 0.42% 0.43%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 13 30 25 0.02% 0.04% 0.04%
Other race alone (NH) 48 53 204 0.08% 0.08% 0.30%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 454 947 2,804 0.74% 1.38% 4.14%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 565 1,113 1,685 0.93% 1.62% 2.49%
Total 61,053 68,756 67,654 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 67,654 people, 26,760 households, and 17,810 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 68,756 people, 26,497 households, and 18,898 families living in the county. The population density was 154.0 inhabitants per square mile (59.5/km2). There were 30,100 housing units at an average density of 67.4 per square mile (26.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.0% white, 4.1% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.9% were American, 15.3% were Irish, 11.2% were English, and 9.3% were German.

Of the 26,497 households, 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.7% were non-families, and 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 39.7 years.

The county's population age groups were spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 20 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15% who were 65 years of age or older. The gender ratio of the county's population was 50.9% female versus 49.1% male.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,723 and the median income for a family was $46,307. Males had a median income of $38,297 versus $29,285 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,440. About 11.6% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Media

  • Walker County Messenger

Education

Walker County School District includes most areas, while areas in the Chickamauga city limits are in the Chickamauga City School District.

See also

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

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