Hall County, Georgia

Last updated

Hall County
Hall County Georgia Courthouse.jpg
Hall County courthouse in Gainesville
HallCountyGAseal.png
HallCountyGAlogo.png
Map of Georgia highlighting Hall County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia in United States.svg
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°19′N83°49′W / 34.32°N 83.82°W / 34.32; -83.82
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia
FoundedDecember 15, 1818;206 years ago (1818-12-15)
Named after Lyman Hall
Seat Gainesville
Largest cityGainesville
Area
  Total
429 sq mi (1,110 km2)
  Land393 sq mi (1,020 km2)
  Water37 sq mi (100 km2)  8.5%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
203,136
  Estimate 
(2024)
221,745 Increase2.svg
  Density470/sq mi (180/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 9th, 7th
Website hallcounty.org

Hall County is a county in the Northeast region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 203,136, [1] up from 179,684 at the 2010 census. [2] The county seat is Gainesville. [3] The entirety of Hall County comprises the Gainesville, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also part of the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, Combined Statistical Area.

Contents

History

Hall County was created on December 15, 1818, from Cherokee lands ceded by the Treaty of Cherokee Agency (1817) and Treaty of Washington (1819). [4]

The county is named for Lyman Hall, [5] a signer of the Declaration of Independence and governor of Georgia as both colony and state.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 429 square miles (1,110 km2), of which 393 square miles (1,020 km2) is land and 37 square miles (96 km2) (8.5%) is water. [6] The county is located in the upper Piedmont region of the state in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north.

Slightly more than half of Hall County, the eastern portion of the county, is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin, while the western half of the county is located in the Upper Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). [7]

The Chattahoochee River gathers strength in Hall County, as immortalized in Sidney Lanier's poem, "Song of the Chattahoochee":

OUT of the hills of Habersham,
Down the valleys of Hall,
I hurry amain to reach the plain,
Run the rapid and leap the fall,
Split at the rock and together again,

Adjacent counties

Attractions

Transportation

Major highways

Mass transit

Pedestrians and cycling

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1820 5,086
1830 11,748131.0%
1840 7,875−33.0%
1850 8,71310.6%
1860 9,3667.5%
1870 9,6072.6%
1880 15,29859.2%
1890 18,04718.0%
1900 20,75215.0%
1910 25,73024.0%
1920 26,8224.2%
1930 30,31313.0%
1940 34,82214.9%
1950 40,11315.2%
1960 49,73924.0%
1970 59,40519.4%
1980 75,64927.3%
1990 95,42826.1%
2000 139,27745.9%
2010 179,68429.0%
2020 203,13613.1%
2024 (est.)221,745 [11] 9.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [12]
1790-1880 [13] 1890-1910 [14]
1920-1930 [15] 1930-1940 [16]
1940-1950 [17] 1960-1980 [18]
1980-2000 [19] 2010 [2] 2020 [1]

Hall County remains extremely rural and many of its residents reside in unincorporated areas, accounting for more than half of the county's population.

2020 census

Hall County racial composition [20]
RaceNum.Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)120,41859.28%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)14,2567.02%
Native American 3410.17%
Asian 4,1982.07%
Pacific Islander 850.04%
Other/mixed 6,8283.36%
Hispanic or Latino 57,01028.06%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 203,136 people, 65,625 households, and 48,776 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 179,684 people, 60,691 households, and 45,275 families residing in the county. [21] The population density was 457.5 inhabitants per square mile (176.6/km2). There were 68,825 housing units at an average density of 175.2 per square mile (67.6/km2). [22] The racial makeup of the county was 74.1% white, 7.4% black or African American, 1.8% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 13.9% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 26.1% of the population. [21] In terms of ancestry, 16.8% were American, 10.6% were Irish, 9.3% were English, and 8.9% were German. [23]

Of the 60,691 households, 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.4% were non-families, and 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.35. The median age was 34.5 years. [21]

The median income for a household in the county was $50,876 and the median income for a family was $57,774. Males had a median income of $38,671 versus $31,378 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,675. About 11.3% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over. [24]

2000 census

At the 2000 census, [25] 139,277 people, 80,381 households and 80,009 families resided in the county. The population density was 354 inhabitants per square mile (137/km2). There were 51,046 housing units at an average density of 130 per square mile (50/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.75% White, 7.27% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.35% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 8.75% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. About 19.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 80,381 households, 37.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were not families. About 19.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.26.

Age distribution was 26.90% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 32.30% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.90 males.

The median household income was $44,908, and the median family income was $50,100. Males had a median income of $31,769 versus $24,550 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,690. About 8.50% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 14.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Most of the county is in the Hall County School District. Portions in the city limits of Buford and Gainesville are in the Buford City School District and the Gainesville City School District, respectively. [26]

Colleges and universities

High schools

Middle schools

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Hall County had voting patterns similar to the Solid South, voting Democrat in all presidential elections until 1968, with the exception of narrowly supporting Herbert Hoover against Catholic Democrat Al Smith in 1928. Since then, it has been won by the GOP by landslide margins, in stark contrast to nearby inner suburban counties of Atlanta, with the exception of segregationist George Wallace in 1968 and favorite son Jimmy Carter in both of his campaigns. As a measure of how rapidly it turned to the GOP, Carter's 21-point victory in 1980 is the last time a Democrat managed even 40 percent of the county's vote. However, conservative Democrats held most state and local offices as late as 2000.

In 2022, local media reported that Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard was under investigation for allegations of theft and misuse of public funds. [28] [29]

United States presidential election results for Hall County, Georgia [30]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1880 26913.36%1,74586.64%00.00%
1884 25917.26%1,24282.74%00.00%
1888 27411.02%2,17087.29%421.69%
1892 2379.51%1,52661.26%72829.23%
1896 58231.49%1,13461.36%1327.14%
1900 26221.72%88072.97%645.31%
1904 1909.61%1,13557.41%65232.98%
1908 63442.81%70747.74%1409.45%
1912 1167.55%1,14574.54%27517.90%
1916 1416.50%1,66276.59%36716.91%
1920 85236.61%1,47563.39%00.00%
1924 29015.57%1,39875.04%1759.39%
1928 1,57350.81%1,52349.19%00.00%
1932 1204.32%2,64995.29%110.40%
1936 44413.96%2,73185.85%60.19%
1940 51314.73%2,94384.52%260.75%
1944 79620.61%3,06679.37%10.03%
1948 60614.57%3,09374.37%46011.06%
1952 1,84523.16%6,12176.84%00.00%
1956 2,75231.48%5,98968.52%00.00%
1960 2,90331.53%6,30368.47%00.00%
1964 4,29634.90%8,00365.01%110.09%
1968 4,92336.08%3,17423.26%5,54640.65%
1972 10,68681.41%2,44018.59%00.00%
1976 5,09328.46%12,80471.54%00.00%
1980 7,76037.81%12,12459.08%6373.10%
1984 15,07667.01%7,42132.99%00.00%
1988 17,41568.71%7,78230.71%1470.58%
1992 16,10849.67%11,21434.58%5,11115.76%
1996 19,28059.84%10,36232.16%2,5778.00%
2000 26,84170.36%10,25926.89%1,0502.75%
2004 38,88378.09%10,51421.12%3950.79%
2008 44,96274.77%14,45724.04%7111.18%
2012 47,48177.19%12,99921.13%1,0321.68%
2016 51,73372.72%16,18022.74%3,2294.54%
2020 64,18370.84%25,03327.63%1,3861.53%
2024 72,99171.20%28,34727.65%1,1721.14%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "QuickFacts - Hall County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 101. ISBN   0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  147.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. "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 18, 2015.
  8. Gainesville Theatre Alliance
  9. "Hall Area Transit Bus Services | City of Gainesville, Georgia". www.gainesville.org. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  10. "History | City of Gainesville, Georgia". www.gainesville.org. Archived from the original on November 23, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  11. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  12. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  13. "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  14. "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024.
  15. "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  16. "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  17. "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  18. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  19. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  20. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  21. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  22. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  23. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  24. "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.
  25. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  26. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hall County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved May 7, 2023. - Text list
  27. 1 2 North Georgia Christian School
  28. Travis, Randy (February 22, 2023). "Search warrant: Hall County solicitor suspected of theft". FOX 5 Atlanta. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  29. Travis, Randy (October 27, 2022). "Hall County solicitor spent public money on herself while claiming it was for victims". FOX 5 Atlanta. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  30. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 20, 2018.