Thomas County, Georgia

Last updated

Thomas 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
Georgia in United States.svg
Georgia's location within the U.S.
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 for 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 
(2023)
45,649 Decrease2.svg
  Density83/sq mi (32/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%
2023 (est.)45,649 [6] −0.3%
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]
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 United States census, there were 45,798 people, 17,595 households, and 12,161 families residing in the county.

Education

Colleges and universities:

There are two school districts: [17]

Private schools:

Politics

Similar to other Georgia counties on the Florida border, the county is reliably Republican in presidential elections, having last voted for a Democrat in 1980 when the Democrat was native Georgian Jimmy Carter.

United States presidential election results for Thomas County, Georgia [18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 13,67061.91%8,34737.80%630.29%
2020 12,96959.28%8,70839.80%2000.91%
2016 11,22859.45%7,14237.82%5152.73%
2012 11,15658.74%7,65340.30%1830.96%
2008 10,64257.54%7,72041.74%1320.71%
2004 9,65961.39%5,99738.12%770.49%
2000 7,09358.82%4,86240.32%1030.85%
1996 5,64949.04%5,18345.00%6865.96%
1992 5,50046.03%4,84140.52%1,60713.45%
1988 6,57264.78%3,53034.80%430.42%
1984 6,42761.41%4,03938.59%00.00%
1980 4,29442.26%5,69556.05%1721.69%
1976 3,26334.68%6,14765.32%00.00%
1972 6,66875.44%2,17124.56%00.00%
1968 2,26122.87%2,58526.15%5,03950.98%
1964 6,30665.94%3,25734.06%00.00%
1960 2,28541.46%3,22658.54%00.00%
1956 2,24038.88%3,52261.12%00.00%
1952 2,27336.40%3,97163.60%00.00%
1948 92525.22%1,42938.97%1,31335.81%
1944 55724.16%1,74775.79%10.04%
1940 37115.16%2,07284.64%50.20%
1936 2228.39%2,40991.08%140.53%
1932 903.32%2,60796.20%130.48%
1928 81439.63%1,24060.37%00.00%
1924 1157.86%1,28087.49%684.65%
1920 16812.94%1,13087.06%00.00%
1916 422.78%1,29885.79%17311.43%
1912 504.13%1,01283.50%15012.38%

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. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  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. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Thomas County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 25, 2024. - Text list
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.

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