Thomas County, Georgia

Last updated

Thomas County, Georgia
County
Thomas County Courthouse.jpg
Former Thomas County Courthouse in Thomasville
Map of Georgia highlighting Thomas County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Coordinates: 30°52′N83°55′W / 30.86°N 83.92°W / 30.86; -83.92
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia
FoundedDecember 23, 1825;200 years ago (1825)
Named after Jett Thomas
Seat Thomasville
Largest cityThomasville
Area
 • Total
552 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Land545 sq mi (1,410 km2)
 • Water7.6 sq mi (20 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
45,798
 • Estimate 
(2024)
46,054 Increase2.svg
 • Density84.0/sq mi (32.4/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 8th
Website www.thomascountyboc.org

Thomas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census the population was 45,798. [1] The county seat is Thomasville. [2] Thomas County comprises the Thomasville, GA micropolitan statistical area.

Contents

History

Thomas County was created by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on December 23, 1825, from portions of Decatur and Irwin Counties. [3] Colquitt (1856), Brooks (1858), and Grady (1905) Counties all were formed partially from lands within Thomas County's original borders.

The county is named for Jett Thomas, an officer in the War of 1812 who is also known for overseeing the construction of the first building at the University of Georgia (originally referred to as Franklin College and known today as Old College) as well as the state capital at Milledgeville.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 552 square miles (1,430 km2), of which 545 square miles (1,410 km2) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) (1.4%) is water. [4]

The northwestern half of Thomas County, bordered by U.S. Route 319 southwest of Thomasville, and a line that ends up bisecting the distance between Coolidge and Pavo in the northeast, is located in the Upper Ochlockonee River sub-basin of the larger Ochlockonee River basin. The northeastern edge of the county, from north of Pavo to Boston, is located in the Withlacoochee River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. The southeastern portion of Thomas County, running southeast from Thomasville, is located in the Aucilla River sub-basin of the larger Aucilla-Waccasassa basin. Almost all of the southwestern portion of the county is located in the Apalachee Bay-St. Marks sub-basin of the Ochlockonee River basin, with the exception of the tiny southwesternmost corner, which is located in the Lower Ochlockonee River sub-basin of the same Ochlockonee River basin. [5]

The Aucilla River rises in Thomas County. The Red Hills Region is centered on Thomas County.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Town

Unincorporated community

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1830 3,299—
1840 6,766105.1%
1850 10,10349.3%
1860 10,7666.6%
1870 14,52334.9%
1880 20,59741.8%
1890 26,15427.0%
1900 31,07618.8%
1910 29,071−6.5%
1920 33,04413.7%
1930 32,612−1.3%
1940 31,289−4.1%
1950 33,9328.4%
1960 34,3191.1%
1970 34,5150.6%
1980 38,09810.4%
1990 38,9862.3%
2000 42,7379.6%
2010 44,7204.6%
2020 45,7982.4%
2024 (est.)46,054 [6] 0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790-1880 [8] 1890-1910 [9]
1920-1930 [10] 1930-1940 [11]
1940-1950 [12] 1960-1980 [13]
1980-2000 [14] 2010 [15]

2020 census

Thomas County racial makeup as of 2020 [16]
RaceNum.Perc.
White 25,99456.76%
Black or African American 16,25935.5%
Native American 1500.33%
Asian 4060.89%
Pacific Islander 90.02%
Other/Mixed 1,4033.06%
Hispanic or Latino 1,5773.44%

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 45,798 in 18,440 households, including 12,161 families. [17]

The median age was 40.8 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.6 males age 18 and over. [18]

55.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 44.9% lived in rural areas. [18]

The racial makeup of the county was 57.6% White, 35.7% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.6% from some other race, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.4% of the population. [19]

Among those households, 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 34.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [17]

There were 20,668 housing units, of which 10.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.5% were owner-occupied and 36.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%. [17]

Education

Colleges and universities:

There are two school districts: [20]

Private schools:

Politics

United States presidential election results for Thomas County, Georgia [21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
1912 504.13%1,01283.50%15012.38%
1916 422.78%1,29885.79%17311.43%
1920 16812.94%1,13087.06%00.00%
1924 1157.86%1,28087.49%684.65%
1928 81439.63%1,24060.37%00.00%
1932 903.32%2,60796.20%130.48%
1936 2228.39%2,40991.08%140.53%
1940 37115.16%2,07284.64%50.20%
1944 55724.16%1,74775.79%10.04%
1948 92525.22%1,42938.97%1,31335.81%
1952 2,27336.40%3,97163.60%00.00%
1956 2,24038.88%3,52261.12%00.00%
1960 2,28541.46%3,22658.54%00.00%
1964 6,30665.94%3,25734.06%00.00%
1968 2,26122.87%2,58526.15%5,03950.98%
1972 6,66875.44%2,17124.56%00.00%
1976 3,26334.68%6,14765.32%00.00%
1980 4,29442.26%5,69556.05%1721.69%
1984 6,42761.41%4,03938.59%00.00%
1988 6,57264.78%3,53034.80%430.42%
1992 5,50046.03%4,84140.52%1,60713.45%
1996 5,64949.04%5,18345.00%6865.96%
2000 7,09358.82%4,86240.32%1030.85%
2004 9,65961.39%5,99738.12%770.49%
2008 10,64257.54%7,72041.74%1320.71%
2012 11,15658.74%7,65340.30%1830.96%
2016 11,22859.45%7,14237.82%5152.73%
2020 12,96959.28%8,70839.80%2000.91%
2024 13,67061.91%8,34737.80%630.29%

[22]

United States Senate election results for Thomas County, Georgia3
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
2022 9,43260.98%6,03639.02%00.00%

As of the 2020s, Thomas County is a Republican stronghold, voting 62% for Donald Trump in 2024. Similar to other Georgia counties on the Florida border, Thomas County is reliably Republican in presidential elections, having last voted for a Democrat in 1980 when the Democratic candidate was native Georgian Jimmy Carter. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Thomas County is part of Georgia's 2nd congressional district, currently represented by Sanford Bishop. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Thomas County is part of District 11. [23] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Thomas County is part of District 172 and 173. [24]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Thomas County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 225. ISBN   0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  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. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  6. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  8. ↑ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  9. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  10. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  11. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  12. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  13. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  14. ↑ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  15. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  17. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  18. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  19. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  20. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Thomas County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 25, 2024. - Text list
  21. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  22. ↑ "2022 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Georgia by county. November 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.

30°52′N83°55′W / 30.86°N 83.92°W / 30.86; -83.92

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