Wilcox County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilcox County
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Wilcox County Courthouse in Abbeville
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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 22, 1857 |
| Named for | Mark Wilcox |
| Seat | Abbeville |
| Largest city | Abbeville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 382 sq mi (990 km2) |
| • Land | 378 sq mi (980 km2) |
| • Water | 4.4 sq mi (11 km2) 1.2%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,766 |
| • Density | 23/sq mi (9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
Wilcox County is a county located in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,766. The county seat is Abbeville.
Contents
History
Wilcox County was formed on December 22, 1857, from parts of Irwin, Pulaski, and Dooly counties. The county was named for General Mark Wilcox, a Georgia state legislator and one of the founders of the Georgia Supreme Court.
The first county courthouse was built in 1858; the present courthouse dates from 1903.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 382 square miles (990 km2), of which 378 square miles (980 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (1.2%) is water.
The northern and eastern three-quarters of Wilcox County, from State Route 215 southeast to Rochelle, then due south, are located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The southwestern portion of the county, west of Rochelle, and roughly centered on Pitts, is located in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin.
Adjacent counties
- Pulaski County - north
- Dodge County - east
- Telfair County - east
- Ben Hill County - south
- Turner County - southwest
- Crisp County - west
- Dooly County - northwest
Major highways
U.S. Route 129
U.S. Route 280
State Route 11
State Route 30
State Route 90
State Route 112
State Route 159
State Route 215
State Route 233
State Route 257
Communities
Cities
Town
Census-designated place
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 2,115 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,439 | 15.3% | |
| 1880 | 3,109 | 27.5% | |
| 1890 | 7,980 | 156.7% | |
| 1900 | 11,097 | 39.1% | |
| 1910 | 13,486 | 21.5% | |
| 1920 | 15,511 | 15.0% | |
| 1930 | 13,439 | −13.4% | |
| 1940 | 12,755 | −5.1% | |
| 1950 | 10,167 | −20.3% | |
| 1960 | 7,905 | −22.2% | |
| 1970 | 6,998 | −11.5% | |
| 1980 | 7,682 | 9.8% | |
| 1990 | 7,008 | −8.8% | |
| 2000 | 8,577 | 22.4% | |
| 2010 | 9,255 | 7.9% | |
| 2020 | 8,766 | −5.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 8,779 | −5.1% | |
| 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 (non-Hispanic) | 5,185 | 59.15% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 3,096 | 35.32% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.03% |
| Asian | 49 | 0.56% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.03% |
| Other/mixed | 158 | 1.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 272 | 3.1% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,766 people, 2,575 households, and 1,807 families residing in the county.
Education
The county is served by Wilcox County Schools. The district headquarters are in Abbeville and the schools, including Wilcox County High School, are in Rochelle.
Notable event
The Ocmulgee Wild Hog Festival takes place in Abbeville annually on the Saturday before Mother's Day.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Wilcox (Georgia) para niños
