Glynn County, Georgia

Last updated

Glynn County, Georgia
County
Glynn County Courthouse, Brunswick, GA, US.jpg
Glynn County Courthouse
GlynnCountyGAseal.png
Seal
Map of Georgia highlighting Glynn County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°13′N81°29′W / 31.22°N 81.49°W / 31.22; -81.49
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia
Founded1777;248 years ago (1777)
Named after John Glynn
Seat Brunswick
Largest cityBrunswick
Government
 • Chairman, Board of CommissionersDavid O'Quinn
Area
 • Total
585 sq mi (1,520 km2)
 • Land420 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Water165 sq mi (430 km2)  28.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
84,499
 • Density201/sq mi (78/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 1st
Website glynncounty.org

Glynn County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 84,499. [1] The county seat is Brunswick. [2] Glynn County is part of the Brunswick, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

History

Glynn County, one of the state's original eight counties created on February 5, 1777, was named after John Glynn, [3] a member of the British House of Commons who defended the cause of the American Colonies before the American Revolution. The Battle of Bloody Marsh was fought in Glynn County. James Oglethorpe built Fort Frederica, which was used a base in the American Revolutionary War. Glynn Academy, established to educate boys, is the second oldest school in Georgia.

Glynn County includes the most prominent of the Sea Islands of Georgia, including Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, and Sea Island. The Georgia poet Sidney Lanier immortalized the seacoast there in his poem, "The Marshes of Glynn", which begins:

Glooms of the live-oaks, beautiful-braided and woven
With intricate shades of the vines that myriad-cloven
Clamber the forks of the multiform boughs,--
Emerald twilights,--
Virginal shy lights,
Wrought of the leaves to allure to the whisper of vows,
When lovers pace timidly down through the green colonnades
Of the dim sweet woods, of the dear dark woods,
Of the heavenly woods and glades,
That run to the radiant marginal sand-beach within
The wide sea-marshes of Glynn;--

During World War II, Naval Air Station Glynco, named for the county, was a major base for training for blimps and anti-submarine warfare. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) now uses a substantial part of the former NAS as its main campus.

Geography

Old Glynn County Courthouse Old Glynn County Courthouse, Brunswick, GA, USA.jpg
Old Glynn County Courthouse
Historical marker Glynn County, Georgia historical marker.JPG
Historical marker

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 585 square miles (1,520 km2), of which 420 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 165 square miles (430 km2) (28.3%) is water. [4]

The majority of Glynn County is located in the Cumberland-St. Simons sub-basin of the St. Marys- Satilla River basin. Most of the county's northern and northwestern border area is located in the Altamaha River sub-basin of the basin by the same name. [5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790 413—
1800 1,874353.8%
1810 3,41782.3%
1820 3,4180.0%
1830 4,56733.6%
1840 5,30216.1%
1850 4,933−7.0%
1860 3,889−21.2%
1870 5,37638.2%
1880 6,49720.9%
1890 13,420106.6%
1900 14,3176.7%
1910 15,7209.8%
1920 19,37023.2%
1930 19,4000.2%
1940 21,92013.0%
1950 29,04632.5%
1960 41,95444.4%
1970 50,52820.4%
1980 54,9818.8%
1990 62,49613.7%
2000 67,5688.1%
2010 79,62617.8%
2020 84,4996.1%
2024 (est.)86,540 [7] 2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790-1880 [9] 1890-1910 [10]
1920-1930 [11] 1930-1940 [12]
1940-1950 [13] 1960-1980 [14]
1980-2000 [15] 2010 [16]
Glynn County racial composition as of 2020 [17]
RaceNum.Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)52,98762.71%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)20,46924.22%
Native American 1750.21%
Asian 1,1751.39%
Pacific Islander 920.11%
Other/Mixed 3,2653.86%
Hispanic or Latino 6,3367.5%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 84,499, 34,339 households, and 22,352 families residing in the county. [18] The median age was 43.7 years; 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. [18]

For every 100 females there were 88.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.3 males age 18 and over. [18] 81.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 18.6% lived in rural areas. [19]

The racial makeup of the county was 64.2% White, 24.5% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.7% from some other race, and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.5% of the population. [20]

There were 34,339 households in the county, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 32.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [18]

There were 42,156 housing units, of which 18.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.5% were owner-occupied and 36.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.2%. [18]

2015

In terms of European ancestry, 40.8% were English, 10.6% were "American", 10.2% were Irish, and 7.9% were German. [21]

Education

Glynn County's public schools are operated by Glynn County School System.

Superfund sites

Glynn County is home to four Superfund sites. Those include the "LCP Chemicals Georgia" site, [22] the "Brunswick Wood Preserving" site, [23] the "Hercules 009 Landfill" site, [24] and the "Terry Creek Dredge Spoil Areas/Hercules Outfall" site. [25]

The Hanlin Group, Inc., which maintained a facility named "LCP Chemicals" in Glynn County just outside the corporate limits of Brunswick, was convicted of dumping 150 tons of mercury into Purvis Creek, a tributary of the Turtle River and surrounding tidal marshes between the mid-1980s and its closure in 1994. Three executives were sentenced to prison time over the incident. [26]

The LCP facility had been declared a Superfund site when it closed in 1994. It had been under scrutiny by the EPA after Service biologists discovered mercury poisoning in endangered wood storks on St. Simons Island. Fish, shellfish, crabs, and shrimps taken in coastal waters, as well as other bird species, also contained the toxic metal. The Service traced the source of the contamination to the LCP plant and documented the extent of the damage to wildlife resources. Their effort resulted in the addition of Endangered Species Act charges to those that would be brought against Hanlin and its officers. [27]

Crime

In 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ranked the Brunswick metropolitan area (which includes the counties of Glynn, Brantley and McIntosh) as the 7th most dangerous metropolitan area in the state of Georgia. [28]

On August 29, 2009, Glynn County resident Guy Heinze Jr. murdered eight members of his extended family including his father, Guy Heinze Sr. in the family's trailer located in New Hope Plantation Mobile Home Park near Brunswick. Two others were critically injured, with one dying later in a hospital in Savannah. Heinze Jr. avoided the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole on October 30, 2013. [29]

Politics

As of the 2020s, Glynn County is a Republican stronghold, voting 64.5% for Donald Trump in 2024. Similar to Southeast Georgia, Glynn County is heavily Republican, having last voted Democratic in 1980, when the Democratic nominee was Georgia native Jimmy Carter. Democratic strength is concentrated in Brunswick, while the rural parts of Glynn County lean more Republican.

For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Glynn County is part of Georgia's 1st congressional district, currently represented by Buddy Carter. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Glynn County is part of District 3. [30] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Glynn County is covered by districts 167, 179 and 180. [31]

United States presidential election results for Glynn County, Georgia [32]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
1912 163.21%47094.19%132.61%
1916 366.45%47785.48%458.06%
1920 13223.83%42276.17%00.00%
1924 28329.18%61263.09%757.73%
1928 79959.27%54940.73%00.00%
1932 18612.81%1,26286.91%40.28%
1936 26011.88%1,92587.98%30.14%
1940 27411.94%2,01487.76%70.31%
1944 38516.18%1,99583.82%00.00%
1948 1,09023.80%2,44453.36%1,04622.84%
1952 2,57543.47%3,34856.53%00.00%
1956 3,09850.22%3,07149.78%00.00%
1960 2,92644.95%3,58455.05%00.00%
1964 7,34156.22%5,71243.75%40.03%
1968 3,72530.24%3,25126.39%5,34143.36%
1972 9,44375.88%3,00224.12%00.00%
1976 5,40336.35%9,45963.65%00.00%
1980 7,21447.54%7,54049.69%4192.76%
1984 11,72464.07%6,57435.93%00.00%
1988 11,12663.18%6,33935.99%1460.83%
1992 11,24249.02%8,58137.42%3,10913.56%
1996 12,30556.96%8,05837.30%1,2395.74%
2000 14,34664.09%7,77834.75%2601.16%
2004 18,60867.08%8,96232.31%1690.61%
2008 20,47961.31%12,67637.95%2480.74%
2012 20,89362.95%11,95036.00%3481.05%
2016 21,51262.47%11,77534.19%1,1503.34%
2020 25,61761.00%15,88237.82%4951.18%
2024 27,55862.62%16,14436.69%3030.69%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Glynn County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  139.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  6. ↑ Thalmann, Georgia Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide – Train Web)
  7. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ↑ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  10. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  11. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  12. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  13. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  14. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  15. ↑ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  16. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  19. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  20. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  21. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  22. ↑ "LCP Chemicals Georgia". EPA. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Brunswick Wood Preserving". EPA. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Hercules 009 Landfill". EPA. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Terry Creek Dredge Spoil Areas/Hercules Outfall". EPA. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Former LCP Official Gets Jail Time, Fine". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  27. ↑ "LCP Chemicals Georgia - Site Details". EPA. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  28. ↑ Lashway, Zachery. "FBI ranks Brunswick 7th most dangerous metro area in Georgia". News 4 Jax. Graham Media Group. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  29. ↑ Bynum, Russ. "Georgia man gets life sentence in beating deaths of 8". OnlineAthens. Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  32. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 20, 2018.

31°13′N81°29′W / 31.22°N 81.49°W / 31.22; -81.49

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