Madison County | |
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Madison County Courthouse in Danielsville | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Georgia | |
![]() Georgia's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 34°08′N83°13′W / 34.13°N 83.21°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | December 5, 1811 |
Named for | James Madison |
Seat | Danielsville |
Largest city | Comer |
Area | |
• Total | 286 sq mi (740 km2) |
• Land | 282 sq mi (730 km2) |
• Water | 3.3 sq mi (9 km2) 1.1% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 30,120 |
• Density | 107/sq mi (41/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 9th |
Website | www |
Madison County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,120. [1] The county seat is Danielsville. [2] The county was created on December 5, 1811. The county's largest city is Comer with a population of 1,200.
Madison County was included in the Athens–Clarke County metropolitan area, which is included in the Atlanta–Athens–Clarke County–Sandy Springs CSA.
Madison County was organized by an act of the General Assembly of Georgia on December 11, 1811. It was named for James Madison, [3] who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. It was the 38th county formed in Georgia, and began to function as a county in 1812. Madison County was formed from the counties of Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Jackson, Oglethorpe. [4]
Early agriculture in Madison County was devoted to food crops and livestock (cattle, hogs, and sheep), which were sufficient to feed the population. Just after the Civil War ended, the demand for a cash crop led to major reliance on cotton. [5] The soils of Madison County were heavily damaged by this cotton monoculture. From the 1930s on, agriculture became more diverse. Today, agribusiness dominates the local economy, with poultry production particularly important.
Madison and Oglethorpe counties share Watson Mill Bridge State Park, the site of the longest covered bridge in Georgia. The bridge, which is over 100 years old, spans 229 feet of the South Fork of the Broad River. There are also facilities for camping, hiking trails, picnicking, and fishing in the park.
The Madison County Courthouse, one of the most ornate in Georgia, was built in 1901 for the sum of $18,314. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. New Hope Presbyterian Church, established in 1788, is the third oldest church in Georgia. [6]
Lt. Col. Lemuel Penn, a decorated veteran of World War II and a United States Army Reserve officer, was murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan on July 11, 1964, nine days after passage of the Civil Rights Act, on a Broad River bridge on the Georgia State Route 172 in Madison County. [7] [8]
In 1879, there were only four post offices in Madison County: Danielsville, Fort Lamar, Madison Springs and Paoli. [9] In 1889, Madison county had post offices at Carlton, Danielsville, Dowdy, Fort Lamar, Gholston (Gholston's Stand), Hix, Ila, Madison Springs, Medicus, Paoli and Planter. [10]
By 1900, additional post offices had been opened in Alvin, Berea, Boggs, Carruth, Comer, Fiveforks (now Comer), Jeptha, Larkin, Monitor, Neese, Pocataligo and Sorrells, while the offices in Gholston and Medicus had been closed. [11] By 1910, most of these post offices had closed; the only remaining ones were in Carlton, Colbert, Comer, Danielsville and Hull. [12]
By 1920, the office in Ila had reopened. [13] The county would retain these six post offices into the 21st century. [update] [14]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 square miles (740 km2), of which 282 square miles (730 km2) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2) (1.1%) is water. [15]
The vast majority of Madison County is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin, with just a very small portion of the county's western edge located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. [16]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1820 | 3,735 | — | |
1830 | 4,646 | 24.4% | |
1840 | 4,510 | −2.9% | |
1850 | 5,703 | 26.5% | |
1860 | 5,933 | 4.0% | |
1870 | 5,227 | −11.9% | |
1880 | 7,977 | 52.6% | |
1890 | 11,024 | 38.2% | |
1900 | 13,224 | 20.0% | |
1910 | 16,851 | 27.4% | |
1920 | 18,803 | 11.6% | |
1930 | 14,921 | −20.6% | |
1940 | 13,431 | −10.0% | |
1950 | 12,238 | −8.9% | |
1960 | 11,246 | −8.1% | |
1970 | 13,517 | 20.2% | |
1980 | 17,747 | 31.3% | |
1990 | 21,050 | 18.6% | |
2000 | 25,730 | 22.2% | |
2010 | 28,120 | 9.3% | |
2020 | 30,120 | 7.1% | |
2023 (est.) | 32,191 | [17] | 6.9% |
U.S. Decennial Census [18] 1790-1880 [19] 1890-1910 [20] 1920-1930 [21] 1930-1940 [22] 1940-1950 [23] 1960-1980 [24] 1980-2000 [25] 2010 [26] |
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White | 23,549 | 78.18% |
Black or African American | 2,753 | 9.14% |
Native American | 44 | 0.15% |
Asian | 521 | 1.73% |
Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.01% |
Other/Mixed | 1,293 | 4.29% |
Hispanic or Latino | 1,956 | 6.49% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 30,120 people, 10,744 households, and 8,153 families residing in the county.
The citizens of Madison County are represented by an elected six member board of commissioners. Each commissioner represents one of five districts plus a chairman of the board elected at large for the whole county.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 11,326 | 75.78% | 3,411 | 22.82% | 208 | 1.39% |
2016 | 9,201 | 76.16% | 2,425 | 20.07% | 455 | 3.77% |
2012 | 8,443 | 75.84% | 2,494 | 22.40% | 196 | 1.76% |
2008 | 8,226 | 72.38% | 2,965 | 26.09% | 174 | 1.53% |
2004 | 7,254 | 73.60% | 2,527 | 25.64% | 75 | 0.76% |
2000 | 5,529 | 69.17% | 2,285 | 28.59% | 179 | 2.24% |
1996 | 3,992 | 53.40% | 2,571 | 34.39% | 913 | 12.21% |
1992 | 3,351 | 48.61% | 2,393 | 34.72% | 1,149 | 16.67% |
1988 | 3,724 | 69.10% | 1,639 | 30.41% | 26 | 0.48% |
1984 | 3,768 | 69.04% | 1,690 | 30.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
1980 | 2,330 | 43.14% | 2,980 | 55.17% | 91 | 1.68% |
1976 | 1,115 | 24.88% | 3,367 | 75.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
1972 | 2,606 | 82.00% | 572 | 18.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 600 | 16.00% | 622 | 16.58% | 2,529 | 67.42% |
1964 | 1,190 | 33.70% | 2,341 | 66.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 205 | 7.82% | 2,418 | 92.18% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 161 | 6.76% | 2,222 | 93.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 225 | 10.59% | 1,899 | 89.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 62 | 4.31% | 1,160 | 80.61% | 217 | 15.08% |
1944 | 265 | 17.64% | 1,235 | 82.22% | 2 | 0.13% |
1940 | 185 | 13.61% | 1,160 | 85.36% | 14 | 1.03% |
1936 | 393 | 18.73% | 1,697 | 80.89% | 8 | 0.38% |
1932 | 38 | 1.75% | 2,124 | 97.88% | 8 | 0.37% |
1928 | 527 | 52.65% | 474 | 47.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 121 | 17.64% | 504 | 73.47% | 61 | 8.89% |
1920 | 281 | 28.85% | 693 | 71.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
1916 | 19 | 1.32% | 1,241 | 86.12% | 181 | 12.56% |
1912 | 13 | 1.80% | 564 | 78.01% | 146 | 20.19% |
Madison County public education is served by the Madison County School District. The Madison County Board of Education oversees and operates the public charter school system in the School District. Madison County Board of Education operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 high school and 1 career academy.
The Madison County Board of Education is overseen by 5 elected board members, from 5 districts in the county. The Board appoints a School Superintendent who works at the pleasure of the Board as a whole.
The district has 290 full-time teachers and over 4,621 students.
Oglethorpe County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,825. The county seat is Lexington.
Oconee County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 41,799. The county seat is Watkinsville.
Murray County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,973. The county seat is Chatsworth.
Elbert County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,637. The county seat is Elberton. The county was established on December 10, 1790, and was named for Samuel Elbert.
Catoosa County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,872. The county seat is Ringgold. The county was created on December 5, 1853. The meaning of the Cherokee language name "Catoosa" is obscure: "Catoosa" may come from the Cherokee words gatusi or gatu'gitse.
Oglethorpe is a city in Macon County, Georgia, United States. The population was 995 at the 2020 census, down from 1,328 in 2010. The city is the county seat of Macon County. It was named for Georgia's founder, James Oglethorpe.
Colbert is a city in Madison County, Georgia, United States. The population was 630 at the 2020 census.
Comer is a city in Madison County, Georgia, United States. It had a population of 1,512 as of the 2020 census, up from 1,126 in 2010. Comer is the largest city in Madison County based on population and total land area. The city is included in the Athens-Clarke County Metropolitan Statistical Area, part of the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs Combined Statistical Area.
Danielsville is a city in Madison County, Georgia, United States. The population was 654 at the 2020 census, up from 560 in 2010. The city is the county seat of Madison County.
Ila is a city in Madison County, Georgia, United States. The population was 350 at the 2020 census.
The city of Lexington is the county seat of Oglethorpe County, Georgia, United States. The population was 239 at the 2000 census.
Ellaville is a city in Schley County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,812 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Schley County.
Collins is a city in Tattnall County, Georgia, United States. The population was 540 in 2020.
Soperton is a city in Treutlen County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,889 in 2020. The city is the county seat of Treutlen County.
Pineview is a town in Wilcox County, Georgia, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 454.
State Route 98 (SR 98) is a 36.6-mile-long (58.9 km) state highway that travels southeast-to-northwest through portions of Madison, Jackson, and Banks counties in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The highway connects Comer and Homer, via Danielsville, Commerce, and Maysville.
The Athens-Clarke County Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of four counties - Clarke, Madison, Oconee, and Oglethorpe - in northeastern Georgia, anchored by the city of Athens. As of the 2020 census, the MSA had a population of 215,479.
Ellerslie is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Harris County, Georgia, United States. Ellerslie is a part of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area.
The Madison County School District is a public school district in Madison County, Georgia, United States, based in Danielsville. In addition to Danielsville, the district also serves the cities of Carlton, Colbert, Comer, Hull, Ila. Madison County public education is served by the Madison County School District. The Madison County Board of Education oversees and operates the public schools in the School District. Madison County Board of Education operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 high school and 1 career academy.
Tazewell is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Marion County, in the U.S. state of Georgia.