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Washington County, Georgia facts for kids

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Washington County
U.S. county
County courthouse
County courthouse
Map of Georgia highlighting Washington 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 February 25, 1784; 240 years ago (1784)
Named for George Washington
Seat Sandersville
Largest city Sandersville
Area
 • Total 684 sq mi (1,770 km2)
 • Land 678 sq mi (1,760 km2)
 • Water 5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  0.9%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 19,988
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 12th

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,988. The county seat is Sandersville. The county was established on February 25, 1784. It was named for Revolutionary War general (and afterward President of the United States) George Washington.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 684 square miles (1,770 km2), of which 678 square miles (1,760 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (0.9%) is water.

The western portion of Washington County, west of a north-to-south line running through Sandersville, is located in the Lower Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The northeastern portion of the county, north of Riddleville, is located in the Upper Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin, while the southeastern portion, centered on Harrison, is located in the Ohoopee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.

Major highways

  • Georgia 15.svg State Route 15
  • Georgia 24.svg State Route 24
  • Georgia 24 Spur.svg State Route 24 Spur
  • Georgia 57.svg State Route 57
  • Georgia 68.svg State Route 68
  • Georgia 88.svg State Route 88
  • Georgia 102.svg State Route 102
  • Georgia 231.svg State Route 231
  • Georgia 242.svg State Route 242
  • Georgia 272.svg State Route 272
  • Georgia 540.svg State Route 540 (Fall Line Freeway)

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

  • Goat Town
  • Irwins Crossroads
  • Pringle
  • Sun Hill

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 4,552 —
1800 10,300 126.3%
1810 9,940 −3.5%
1820 10,627 6.9%
1830 9,820 −7.6%
1840 10,565 7.6%
1850 11,766 11.4%
1860 12,698 7.9%
1870 15,842 24.8%
1880 21,964 38.6%
1890 25,237 14.9%
1900 28,227 11.8%
1910 28,174 −0.2%
1920 28,147 −0.1%
1930 25,030 −11.1%
1940 24,230 −3.2%
1950 21,012 −13.3%
1960 18,903 −10.0%
1970 17,480 −7.5%
1980 18,842 7.8%
1990 19,112 1.4%
2000 21,176 10.8%
2010 21,187 0.1%
2020 19,988 −5.7%
2023 (est.) 19,820 −6.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1880 1890-1910
1920-1930 1930-1940
1940-1950 1960-1980
1980-2000 2010 2020

2020 Census

Washington 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) 9,620 9,339 8,412 45.43% 44.08% 42.09%
Black or African American alone (NH) 11,233 11,124 10,698 53.05% 52.50% 53.52%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 35 19 37 0.17% 0.09% 0.19%
Asian alone (NH) 55 104 76 0.26% 0.49% 0.38%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 1 0 0.01% 0.00% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 11 26 30 0.05% 0.12% 0.15%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 86 167 401 0.41% 0.79% 2.01%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 134 407 334 0.63% 1.92% 1.67%
Total 21,176 21,187 19,988 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,988 people, 7,503 households, and 5,315 families residing in the county.

Kaolin mines in Washington County, Georgia
Kaolin mines are a major industry in Washington County. Kaolin has had a particularly strong impact on the town of Sandersville which brands itself as the “kaolin capital of the world.” Each October, the town hosts a festival that includes a parade of heavy mining machinery, kaolin mine tours, and a beauty pageant that crowns Miss Kaolin.

Education

The county is served by the Washington County School District, which includes:

  • Ridge Road Elementary School
  • T.J. Elder Middle School
  • Washington County High School.

The county is also the location of one privately run school:

  • Brentwood School

In popular culture

The 1933 short story "The People's Choice" by Erskine Caldwell is set in Washington County, where the story's protagonist is a popular local politician elected again and again as the county's tax assessor.

In 1992, the Pig Monument was erected in the county, near Oconee off of Georgia State Route 272. The monument commemorates a 1933 event where several residents of the county gathered together to help a local farmer rescue a pig that had fallen down a dry well.

The biography of one of the main characters (Grant Alexander) in the 2011 console game "X-Men: Destiny" states that they were born in Sandersville, Georgia.

See also

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

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