Elbert County, Georgia

Elbert County, Georgia
Elbert County courthouse in Elberton, 1973
Location in the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1790
Named for	Samuel Elbert
Seat	Elberton
Largest city	Elberton
Area
• Total	374 sq mi (969 km2)
• Land	351 sq mi (909 km2)
• Water	23 sq mi (60 km2), 6.2%
Population
• (2010)	20,166
• Density	57/sq mi (22/km²)
Congressional district	9th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.elbertco.net

Elbert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,166.^[1] The county seat is Elberton.^[2] The county was established on December 10, 1790 and was named for Samuel Elbert.^[3][4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 374 square miles (970 km²), of which 351 square miles (910 km²) is land and 23 square miles (60 km²) (6.2%) is water.^[5]

The northern half of Elbert County, north of a line made by following State Route 17 from Bowman southeast to Elberton, and then following State Route 72 east to just before the South Carolina border, and then heading south along the shores of Lake Richard B. Russell & Clarkes Hill to the county's southeastern tip, is located in the Upper Savannah River sub-basin of the larger Savannah River basin. The portion of the county south of this line is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.^[6]

Major highways

• State Route 17
• State Route 72
• State Route 77
• State Route 77 Connector
• State Route 79
• State Route 172
• State Route 368

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census^[12] of 2000, there were 20,511 people, 8,004 households, and 5,770 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 9,136 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 66.94% White, 30.85% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 2.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,004 households out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.90% were married couples living together, 15.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,724, and the median income for a family was $34,276. Males had a median income of $27,221 versus $19,737 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,535. About 14.60% of families and 17.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 17.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,166 people, 8,063 households, and 5,604 families residing in the county.^[13] The population density was 57.4 inhabitants per square mile (22.2/km²). There were 9,583 housing units at an average density of 27.3 per square mile (10.5/km²).^[14] The racial makeup of the county was 65.9% white, 29.5% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.7% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population.^[13] In terms of ancestry, 18.1% were American, 6.0% were Irish, 5.7% were English, and 5.5% were German.^[15]

Of the 8,063 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.5% were non-families, and 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 41.1 years.^[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $30,543 and the median income for a family was $35,550. Males had a median income of $31,556 versus $25,562 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,100. About 17.0% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.^[16]

Judiciary and government

Elbert County is part of the Northern Judicial Circuit of Georgia, which also includes the counties of Hart, Franklin, Madison, and Oglethorpe. Superior Court Judges for the Circuit are Hon. R. Chris Phelps of Elbert County, Hon. Jeffery S. Malcom of Hart County, and Hon. Thomas L. Hodges of Elbert County. The District Attorney for the Northern Judicial Circuit is Hon. Parks White and the Public Defender for the circuit is Harvey Wasserman of Franklin County. Elbert County also has a State Court (jurisdictionally similar to the "District Courts" of other states), and the Elbert County State Court is served by Hon. Steve Jenkins, Judge, and Hon. Jimmy Webb, Solicitor-General. Hon. Lanie Simmons is the Chief Judge of the Elbert County Magistrate Court, and Hon. Stephanie Hewell is the Judge of the Elbert County Probate Court.

Elbert County's governing authority, the Elbert County Board of Commissioners, has five Commissioners elected in districts, a Chairperson elected County-wide, and an appointed County Administrator. Current members of the Board of Commissioners are Tommy Lyon - Chairman, Horace Harper - Vice-Chairman, Kenneth Ashworth, Chris Alexander, Freddie Jones, and Lee Vaughn. The current County Administrator is Bob Thomas. The County Chief Financial Officer is Phil Pitts. County officials include Hon. Melvin T. Andrews, Sheriff, Hon. Chuck Almond, Coroner, County Clerk Tamara Butler, County Attorney Bill Daughtry, Hon. Stephanie Hewell, Election Superintendent, Chief Registrar Charlotte Ward, Hon. Leigh Starrett, Clerk of Courts, Hon. Lorrie Higginbotham, Tax Commissioner, Board of Assessors Members Jim Purcell, Edwin Shive, and Horace Baker, and Chief Appraiser Kevin Cameron.

Civic

Elbert County has many active civic organizations including, but not limited to, the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce, Elbert County Historical Society, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Pilot Club, Elbert Theatre Foundation (part of the Georgia Council for the Arts), NAACP, Boys and Girls Club, Elbert Civic League (part of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs), and Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, many local churches have very active missions programs, and many trade organizations, such as the Elbert Granite Association, are active. Elbert attorney Robert M. Heard, deceased, served as President of the State Bar of Georgia. Elberton has produced two past international presidents of Pilot Club International, attorney (now judge) Cindy Weaver from 2005–06, and Pat Jarvis from 2009–2010, and two past Governors of the Georgia District of Kiwanis International, Bob Lambertson and the Hon. William F. Grant, deceased. John Stephen Jenkins, an Elbert County resident and attorney, served as District Governor for Rotary International District 6910, 2000-2001. Elbert County resident John Clarke has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia NAACP, and has also been awarded the prestigious Justice Robert Benham Public Service Award. Elbert County resident and Historical Society member Joyce Davis has published a number of books on the history and architecture of Elbert County.

Historical and cultural sites

Historical and cultural sites in Elbert County include the Nancy Hart cabin, the Dan Tucker gravesite, the Stephen Heard Cemetery, the Petersburg Township site, Vans Creek Church, the Elbert County Courthouse, the Elberton Seaboard-Airline Depot, the Rock Gym, the Granite Bowl, the Elberton Granite Museum and Exhibit, the Richard B. Russell Dam, the Elbert Theatre, the Georgia Guidestones, Richard B. Russell State Park, and Bobby Brown State Park.

Communities

Cities

• Bowman
• Elberton

Census-designated place

• Ruckersville

Unincorporated communities

• Fortsonia
• Hard Cash
• Middleton
• Ruckersville

Ghost town

• Petersburg

Notable people

Though a rural county, Elbert County has been home to many legends. Included in these are Revolutionary War heroine Nancy Hart, who resided in southern Elbert County, and the Rev. Daniel Tucker, a popular minister and ferry operator, who may have been the inspiration for the song "Old Dan Tucker". The county was also home to Corra Harris, author of "A Circuit Rider's Wife," a book that later inspired the popular movie "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain." Stephen Heard, deceased, was Governor of Georgia from 1780-1781. Hon. Joseph Rucker Lamar, deceased, who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1910–1916, was born in Elbert County. Statesman and Judge Young L.G. Harris, deceased, for whom Young Harris College is named, was born in Elbert County. Former U.S. Secretary of War and 1824 U.S. Presidential candidate William Harris Crawford, as well as famed American explorer Meriwether Lewis during his youth; his family owned lands along the Broad River in The Broad River Valley located in Wilkes (now Oglethorpe) County which borders Elbert County. Clark Gaines, NFL record holder and former Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, was raised in Elbert County and played football for Elbert County Comprehensive High School. Blues guitarist Baby Tate was born in Elbert County. Recording artists Modern Skirts, popular on the college music circuit, include two members from Elbert County, JoJo Glidewell and Jay Gulley.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Elbert County, Georgia
• Georgia Guidestones

References

External links

• Official website

		Hart County	Anderson County, South Carolina
	Madison County		Abbeville County, South Carolina
		Elbert County, Georgia
	Oglethorpe County	Wilkes County	McCormick County, South Carolina

Municipalities and communities of Elbert County, Georgia, United States
County seat: Elberton
Cities	Bowman Elberton
CDP	Dewy Rose
Unincorporated community	Hard Cash

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Coordinates: 34°07′N 82°50′W / 34.11°N 82.84°W / 34.11; -82.84