Jenkins County, Georgia

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Jenkins County, Georgia
Jenkins County Courthouse, in Millen
Location in the state of Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded	August 17, 1905 (1905-08-17)
Named for	Charles Jones Jenkins
Seat	Millen
Largest city	Millen
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	352 sq mi (912 km²) 347 sq mi (899 km²) 5.2 sq mi (13 km²), 1.5%
Population  - (2020)  - Density	8,674 25/sq mi (10/km²)
Congressional district	12th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	http://www.jenkinscountyga.com/

Jenkins County is a county located in the southeastern area of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,674. The county seat is Millen. The county was created on August 17, 1905, and named after the 44th Governor of Georgia, Charles Jones Jenkins.

History

During the Red Summer of 1919, there was a race riot on April 13, 1919 in Jenkins County, in which white mobs attacked the black community.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 352 square miles (910 km²), of which 347 square miles (900 km²) is land and 5.2 square miles (13 km²) (1.5%) is water.

Most of the southern portion of Jenkins County, from southwest of Millen to west of Hiltonia, is located in the Lower Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin, with the exception of very small parts of the southwestern corner of the county, north and east of Garfield, which are located in the Canoochee River sub-basin of the same Ogeechee River basin. The northwestern portion of Jenkins County is located in the Upper Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin, with just the northeastern corner of the county located in the Brier Creek sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.

Major highways

• U.S. Route 25
• State Route 17
• State Route 17 Bypass
• State Route 21
• State Route 23
• State Route 67
• State Route 121
• State Route 555 (Savannah River Parkway)
• State Route 565 (Savannah River Parkway)

Adjacent counties

• Burke County (north)
• Screven County (east)
• Bulloch County (south)
• Emanuel County (west)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	11,520		—
1920	14,328		24.4%
1930	12,908		−9.9%
1940	11,843		−8.3%
1950	10,264		−13.3%
1960	9,148		−10.9%
1970	8,332		−8.9%
1980	8,841		6.1%
1990	8,247		−6.7%
2000	8,575		4.0%
2010	8,340		−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,575 people, 3,214 households, and 2,269 families living in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 3,907 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.29% White, 40.49% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 2.06% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 3.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,214 households, out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.90% were married couples living together, 19.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,025, and the median income for a family was $29,539. Males had a median income of $28,804 versus $20,252 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,400. About 22.30% of families and 28.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.60% of those under age 18 and 25.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,340 people, 3,192 households, and 2,164 families living in the county. The population density was 24.0 inhabitants per square mile (9.3 /km²). There were 4,221 housing units at an average density of 12.2 per square mile (4.7 /km²). The racial makeup of the county was 54.9% white, 40.5% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 2.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 13.0% were American, 10.1% were English, 7.4% were Irish, and 6.3% were German.

Of the 3,192 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.2% were non-families, and 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.16. The median age was 38.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,686 and the median income for a family was $35,876. Males had a median income of $36,391 versus $25,814 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,629. About 17.6% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

Jenkins County racial composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	4,611	53.16%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	3,536	40.77%
Native American	29	0.33%
Asian	12	0.14%
Pacific Islander	5	0.06%
Other/Mixed	178	2.05%
Hispanic or Latino	303	3.49%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,674 people, 3,443 households, and 2,095 families residing in the county.

Communities

• Millen
• Perkins

Politics

United States presidential election results for Jenkins County, Georgia

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	2,161	62.55%	1,266	36.64%	28	0.81%
2016	1,895	62.01%	1,123	36.75%	38	1.24%
2012	1,887	55.60%	1,488	43.84%	19	0.56%
2008	1,936	56.25%	1,482	43.06%	24	0.70%
2004	1,898	55.74%	1,494	43.88%	13	0.38%
2000	1,317	50.79%	1,250	48.21%	26	1.00%
1996	955	38.77%	1,336	54.24%	172	6.98%
1992	929	34.05%	1,401	51.36%	398	14.59%
1988	1,288	57.30%	953	42.39%	7	0.31%
1984	1,399	55.80%	1,108	44.20%	0	0.00%
1980	824	33.05%	1,632	65.46%	37	1.48%
1976	563	23.63%	1,820	76.37%	0	0.00%
1972	1,769	78.52%	484	21.48%	0	0.00%
1968	574	22.71%	704	27.86%	1,249	49.43%
1964	1,509	62.43%	908	37.57%	0	0.00%
1960	313	18.78%	1,354	81.22%	0	0.00%
1956	261	20.70%	1,000	79.30%	0	0.00%
1952	368	23.99%	1,166	76.01%	0	0.00%
1948	98	10.11%	595	61.40%	276	28.48%
1944	101	12.64%	698	87.36%	0	0.00%
1940	69	6.82%	940	92.98%	2	0.20%
1936	32	3.51%	880	96.49%	0	0.00%
1932	20	3.77%	510	96.23%	0	0.00%
1928	332	44.80%	409	55.20%	0	0.00%
1924	16	6.67%	200	83.33%	24	10.00%
1920	49	12.89%	331	87.11%	0	0.00%
1916	7	1.63%	402	93.71%	20	4.66%
1912	9	3.02%	272	91.28%	17	5.70%
1908	53	16.72%	188	59.31%	76	23.97%

See also

• Camp Lawton (Georgia)
• Central Savannah River Area
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Jenkins County, Georgia