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Wilkes County, Georgia
Wilkes County Courthouse, Washington, Georgia
Wilkes County Courthouse
Map of Georgia highlighting Wilkes County
Location in the state of Georgia (U.S. state)
Map of the U.S
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded February 5, 1777; 246 years ago (1777)
Named for John Wilkes
Seat Washington
Largest city Washington
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

474 sq mi (1,228 km²)
469 sq mi (1,215 km²)
4.6 sq mi (12 km²), 1.0%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

9,565
20/sq mi (8/km²)
Congressional district 10th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website http://www.washingtonwilkes.org/

Wilkes County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,565.[1] The county seat is the city of Washington.[2]

Referred to as "Washington-Wilkes", the county seat and county are commonly treated as a single entity by locals, including the area's historical society[3] and the Chamber of Commerce.[4] It is part of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).

History[]

Wilkes County, named for British politician and supporter of American independence, John Wilkes, is considered Georgia's first county established by European Americans; it was the first of eight original counties created in the first state constitution on February 5, 1777. The other seven counties were organized from existing colonial parishes.

Wilkes was unique in being made up of land ceded in 1773 by the indigenous Creek and Cherokee Native American nations in their respective Treaties of Augusta.[5] Its location was unique due to its close proximity to the Atlantic seaboard fall line.

Between 1790 and 1854, Wilkes County's area was reduced as it was divided to organize new counties following the growth of population in the area. The Georgia legislature formed the counties of Elbert, Oglethorpe, and Lincoln entirely from portions of Wilkes County. Wilkes also contributed part of the lands used in the creation of Madison, Warren, Taliaferro, Hart, McDuffie, and Greene Counties.[6]

Wilkes County was the site of one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War to be fought in Georgia. During the Battle of Kettle Creek in 1779, the American Patriot forces were victorious over British Loyalists.[7]

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, colonists depended on enslaved African-American workers and whites to clear land, develop plantations, and cultivate and process cotton in this area. Long-staple cotton would not grow in this upland areas and short-staple cotton was originally too labor-intensive to be profitable.

In 1793, American Eli Whitney perfected his revolutionary invention of the cotton gin at Mount Pleasant, a cotton plantation east of Washington. It allowed mechanization of the processing of short-staple cotton, making its cultivation profitable in the upland areas. As a result, there was a dramatic increase in the development of new cotton plantations throughout the Deep South to cultivate short-staple cotton.

Settlers increased pressure on the federal government to remove Native Americans from the region, including the Five Civilized Tribes from the Southeast. In 1794, Revolutionary War veteran Elijah Clarke, led a group of men from Wilkes County into traditionally Creek lands and established a town and several forts and called it the Trans-Oconee Republic.[8] While short lived, the incursion was part of a broader movement of incursion into traditionally native lands. Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830 and the government forcibly removed most of the members of these tribes to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.

Production of short-staple cotton in the Deep South soon superseded that of long-staple cotton, grown primarily on the Sea Islands and in the Low Country.[9] Such expansion dramatically increased the demand for slave labor in the Deep South, resulting in a longstanding domestic slave trade that transported more than a million slaves in forced migrations from the Upper South. King Cotton brought great wealth to many planters in the decades before the Civil War.

None of the battles of the American Civil War was fought in or near Wilkes County. But here President Jefferson Davis met for the final time with the Confederate Cabinet, and they officially dissolved the government of the Confederate States of America.[10] Wilkes County was the last-known location of the gold rumored to have been lost from the Confederate Treasury.[11][12] The present-day Wilkes County Courthouse was built in Washington at the site of the cabinet meeting.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 474 square miles (1,230 km2), of which 469 square miles (1,210 km2) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km2) (1.0%) is water.[13] It is located in the Piedmont region above the fall line.

The northern quarter of Wilkes County, in a curved line from Rayle through Tignall to the northeastern corner of the county, is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin. The eastern portion of the county, from Washington east, and bordered to the north and west by the Broad River sub-basin, is located in the Upper Savannah River sub-basin of the larger Savannah River basin. The rest of the county, south of Washington, is located in the Little River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.[14]

Major highways[]

  • US 78 U.S. Route 78
  • Business plate
    US 78 U.S. Route 78 Business
  • US 378 U.S. Route 378
  • Georgia 10 State Route 10
  • Georgia 10 Business State Route 10 Business
  • Georgia 17 State Route 17
  • Georgia 44 State Route 44
  • Georgia 47 State Route 47
  • Georgia 80 State Route 80

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Changes in agriculture through mechanization, the Great Depression, and a mass migration of African Americans from the area in the mid-20th century have resulted in a decline of population in the rural county since 1930.

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 31,500
1800 13,103 −58.4%
1810 14,887 13.6%
1820 17,607 18.3%
1830 14,237 −19.1%
1840 10,148 −28.7%
1850 12,107 19.3%
1860 11,420 −5.7%
1870 11,796 3.3%
1880 15,985 35.5%
1890 18,081 13.1%
1900 20,866 15.4%
1910 23,441 12.3%
1920 24,210 3.3%
1930 15,944 −34.1%
1940 15,084 −5.4%
1950 12,388 −17.9%
1960 10,961 −11.5%
1970 10,184 −7.1%
1980 10,951 7.5%
1990 10,597 −3.2%
2000 10,687 0.8%
2010 10,593 −0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790-1960[16] 1900-1990[17]
1990-2000[18] 2010-2020[19]

2000 census[]

As of the census[20] of 2000, there were 10,687 people, 4,314 households, and 2,968 families living in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km2). There were 5,022 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 55.12% White, 43.05% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,314 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.10% were married couples living together, 17.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,644, and the median income for a family was $36,219. Males had a median income of $27,355 versus $21,298 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,020. About 13.00% of families and 17.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.20% of those under age 18 and 19.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,593 people, 4,263 households, and 2,841 families living in the county.[21] The population density was 22.6 inhabitants per square mile (8.7 /km2). There were 5,158 housing units at an average density of 11.0 per square mile (4.2 /km2).[22] The racial makeup of the county was 53.0% white, 42.8% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.4% of the population.[21] In terms of ancestry, 10.3% were American, and 9.1% were English.[23]

Of the 4,263 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.4% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 43.4 years.[21]

The median income for a household in the county was $28,022 and the median income for a family was $39,109. Males had a median income of $36,993 versus $24,874 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,993. About 21.2% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.7% of those under age 18 and 17.2% of those age 65 or over.[24]

2020 census[]

Wilkes County Racial Composition[25]
Race Num. Perc.
White 4,952 51.77%
Black or African American 3,838 40.13%
Native American 22 0.23%
Asian 59 0.62%
Other/Mixed 295 3.08%
Hispanic or Latino 399 4.17%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 9,565 people, 3,979 households, and 2,421 families residing in the county.

Communities[]

Notable people[]

  • Edward Porter Alexander
  • Eliza Frances Andrews
  • Benjamin F. Bryant, captain in the Battle of San Jacinto, founder of the Bryant Station frontier fort and Texas Ranger
  • John Clark, Georgia governor
  • Elijah Clarke
  • Peter Early
  • Frank Edwards, blues musician
  • Stephen Heard
  • Hosea Hudson (1898-1988) Black communist labor organizer and author of Black Worker in the Deep South
  • George Mathews, Continental Army officer, Governor of Georgia, and US Congressman; member of the Mathews family
  • Jesse Mercer
  • David Meriwether, Continental Army officer, member United States Congress, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, Major General - Georgia Militia
  • Paul Jones Semmes
  • Alexander H. Stephens
  • Matthew Talbot
  • Benjamin Taliaferro
  • Robert Toombs
  • George W. Towns

Politics[]

United States presidential election results for Wilkes County, Georgia[26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,823 56.11% 2,160 42.93% 48 0.95%
2016 2,572 57.33% 1,848 41.19% 66 1.47%
2012 2,635 55.30% 2,087 43.80% 43 0.90%
2008 2,705 53.46% 2,315 45.75% 40 0.79%
2004 2,490 54.75% 2,028 44.59% 30 0.66%
2000 2,044 50.77% 1,940 48.19% 42 1.04%
1996 1,417 39.51% 1,971 54.96% 198 5.52%
1992 1,535 38.74% 1,955 49.34% 472 11.91%
1988 1,810 53.71% 1,549 45.96% 11 0.33%
1984 1,837 53.67% 1,586 46.33% 0 0.00%
1980 1,212 33.45% 2,350 64.86% 61 1.68%
1976 1,067 30.24% 2,461 69.76% 0 0.00%
1972 2,195 77.26% 646 22.74% 0 0.00%
1968 873 24.70% 953 26.96% 1,709 48.35%
1964 1,652 53.48% 1,437 46.52% 0 0.00%
1960 395 18.11% 1,786 81.89% 0 0.00%
1956 304 15.06% 1,714 84.94% 0 0.00%
1952 286 16.01% 1,500 83.99% 0 0.00%
1948 95 7.84% 771 63.61% 346 28.55%
1944 159 14.39% 946 85.61% 0 0.00%
1940 123 10.68% 1,022 88.72% 7 0.61%
1936 78 6.95% 1,031 91.89% 13 1.16%
1932 42 3.43% 1,172 95.75% 10 0.82%
1928 798 51.65% 747 48.35% 0 0.00%
1924 44 4.09% 836 77.77% 195 18.14%
1920 12 1.35% 876 98.65% 0 0.00%
1916 17 1.99% 785 91.92% 52 6.09%
1912 3 0.41% 657 90.50% 66 9.09%
1908 65 7.65% 557 65.53% 228 26.82%
1904 6 0.72% 622 74.94% 202 24.34%
1900 4 0.62% 581 89.80% 62 9.58%
1896 104 7.99% 1,063 81.64% 135 10.37%
1892 5 0.28% 1,622 90.61% 163 9.11%
1888 0 0.00% 683 97.85% 15 2.15%
1884 0 0.00% 785 100.00% 0 0.00%
1880 193 20.98% 727 79.02% 0 0.00%



See also[]

  • Wilkes County Courthouse
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilkes County, Georgia
  • Central Savannah River Area

References[]

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Wilkes County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. https://data.census.gov/profile/Wilkes_County,_Georgia?g=0500000US13317. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Foundation, The Washington-Wilkes Historical. "The Washington-Wilkes Historical Foundation". http://www.historyofwilkes.org/. 
  4. ^ "Home - Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, GA" (in en-US). http://www.washingtonwilkes.org/. 
  5. ^ "County of Wilkes - GeorgiaInfo" (in en). https://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/counties/wilkes. 
  6. ^ "A Brief History, 1790: A booming area of the state", Washington, Georgia Virtual Tourist, accessed January 13, 2010
  7. ^ "A Brief History, 1779: The Decisive Revolutionary War Battle of Kettle Creek", Washington, Georgia Virtual Tourist, accessed January 13, 2010
  8. ^ Crompton, S. Clarke, Elijah (1742?–15 January 1799), Georgia patriot. American National Biography. Retrieved 10 Mar. 2022, from https://www-anb-org.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/view/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.001.0001/anb-9780198606697-e-0200068.
  9. ^ Willingham, Robert. "AN OVERVIEW OF LOCAL HISTORY" Archived 2010-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, accessed January 13, 2010
  10. ^ "A Brief History, 1865: Last Meeting of the Confederate Cabinet", Washington, Georgia Virtual Tourist, accessed January 13, 2010
  11. ^ "Legend of the Lost Gold of the Confederacy", Washington, Georgia Virtual Tourist, accessed January 13, 2010
  12. ^ (2002) "The Georgia Odyssey of the Confederate Gold". Georgia Historical Quarterly 86 (4). 
  13. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html. 
  14. ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/. 
  15. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  16. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  17. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ga190090.txt. 
  18. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  19. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/13301.html. 
  20. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  21. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US13317. 
  22. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US13317. 
  23. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US13317. 
  24. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13317. 
  25. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US13317&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  26. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

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Coordinates: 33°47′N 82°44′W / 33.79, -82.74


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Wilkes County, Georgia. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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