Warthen, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Warthen, Georgia
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 Warthen, Georgia
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Washington |
| Elevation | 479 ft (146 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 132 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
31094
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| Area code(s) | 478 |
| GNIS feature ID | 342360 |
Warthen is a small community in Washington County, Georgia, United States. It's a place that isn't officially a city or town, but it's recognized for census purposes. You can find Warthen where Georgia State Route 15 and Georgia State Route 102 meet. It's about 8.3 miles north of Sandersville. Warthen even has its own post office with the ZIP code 31094. In 2020, about 132 people lived here.
Contents
Warthen's Early History
Warthen holds a special place in history as the very first settlement in Washington County. It was founded in 1754. The community was originally set up to be the home for the county's main courts and its jail. Warthen is located in a flat area known as a coastal plain. Long ago, it even included land that was once part of the Cherokee territory.
From County Seat to Historic Site
For a while, Warthen was the most important town in Washington County. It served as the county seat, which means it was where the county's government was located. However, in 1796, the county seat was moved to Sandersville.
In 1812, the state government of Georgia officially recognized Warthen as an incorporated town. This gave it its own local government. But over time, the community lost this special status. Today, it's an unincorporated community, meaning it's not governed by its own local city council.
Even though it's not a city anymore, Warthen is still very important historically. It has been named a historic site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Warthen Historic District.
The Oldest Log Jail
One of the most interesting historical spots in Warthen is the oldest hewn log jail in Georgia. This old jail has a fascinating story! In 1804, a famous person named Aaron Burr was held here. He was on his way to Richmond, Virginia, for a trial.
Cotton and Community Growth
Warthen, Georgia, was once a big part of Washington County's cotton farming. The idea of growing cotton brought many settlers to the area. Farmers grew various crops, but after the cotton gin was invented, cotton became a huge crop for the county. This industry helped the community grow.
Religion was also a very important part of early life in Warthen. By 1865, Baptists and Methodists had built churches. Later, around 1900, Catholic and Episcopal churches were also formed. Bethlehem Baptist Church, founded in 1790, is the oldest Baptist church in Washington County and one of the first churches established in the area.
Warthen's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 132 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 |
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Warthen was first officially counted as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. Census. At that time, its population was 132 people.
