Wilcox County, Georgia

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Wilcox County, Georgia
County
Wilcox County Courthouse (South face) (cropped).JPG
Wilcox County Courthouse in Abbeville
Map of Georgia highlighting Wilcox County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°58′N83°26′W / 31.97°N 83.44°W / 31.97; -83.44
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia
FoundedDecember 22, 1857;168 years ago (1857)
Named after Mark Wilcox
Seat Abbeville
Largest cityAbbeville
Area
 • Total
382 sq mi (990 km2)
 • Land378 sq mi (980 km2)
 • Water4.4 sq mi (11 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,766
 • Density23/sq mi (8.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 8th
Website www.wilcoxcountygeorgia.com

Wilcox County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,766. [1] The county seat is Abbeville. [2]

Contents

History

Wilcox County was formed on December 22, 1857, from parts of Irwin, Pulaski, and Dooly counties. The county was named for General Mark Wilcox, a Georgia state legislator and one of the founders of the Georgia Supreme Court. [3]

The first county courthouse was built in 1858; the present courthouse dates from 1903. [4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 382 square miles (990 km2), of which 378 square miles (980 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (1.2%) is water. [5]

The northern and eastern three-quarters of Wilcox County, from State Route 215 southeast to Rochelle, then due south, are located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The southwestern portion of the county, west of Rochelle, and roughly centered on Pitts, is located in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. [6]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-designated place

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860 2,115—
1870 2,43915.3%
1880 3,10927.5%
1890 7,980156.7%
1900 11,09739.1%
1910 13,48621.5%
1920 15,51115.0%
1930 13,439−13.4%
1940 12,755−5.1%
1950 10,167−20.3%
1960 7,905−22.2%
1970 6,998−11.5%
1980 7,6829.8%
1990 7,008−8.8%
2000 8,57722.4%
2010 9,2557.9%
2020 8,766−5.3%
2024 (est.)8,904 [7] 1.6%
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] 2020 [17]
Wilcox County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000 [18] Pop 2010 [19] Pop 2020 [17] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)5,2995,5445,18561.78%59.90%59.15%
Black or African American alone (NH)3,0913,2333,09636.04%34.93%35.32%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)81530.09%0.16%0.03%
Asian alone (NH)1441490.16%0.44%0.56%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)1130.01%0.01%0.03%
Other race alone (NH)01290.00%0.13%0.10%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)25711490.29%0.77%1.70%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1393382721.62%3.65%3.10%
Total8,5779,2558,766100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,766, 2,811 households, and 1,807 families residing in the county. [20] [21] The median age was 42.3 years, 17.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 18.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 144.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 152.1 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. [20]

The racial makeup of the county was 59.9% White, 35.4% Black or African American, 0.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.1% of the population. [22]

There were 2,811 households in the county, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 31.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [21]

There were 3,440 housing units, of which 18.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.0% were owner-occupied and 25.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%. [21]

Education

The county is served by Wilcox County Schools. The district headquarters are in Abbeville and the schools, including Wilcox County High School, are in Rochelle.

Notable event

The Ocmulgee Wild Hog Festival takes place in Abbeville annually on the Saturday before Mother's Day. [23]

Politics

As of the 2020s, Wilcox County is a strongly Republican voting county, voting 74% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Wilcox County is part of Georgia's 8th congressional district, currently represented by Austin Scott. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Wilcox County is part of District 20. [24] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Wilcox County is part of District 148. [25]

United States presidential election results for Wilcox County, Georgia [26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
1912 295.10%52592.27%152.64%
1916 588.79%59089.39%121.82%
1920 10618.06%48181.94%00.00%
1924 214.29%43187.96%387.76%
1928 21632.00%45968.00%00.00%
1932 253.88%61995.97%10.16%
1936 19515.44%1,06684.40%20.16%
1940 11811.60%89087.51%90.88%
1944 20613.12%1,36486.88%00.00%
1948 756.73%79170.94%24922.33%
1952 30113.81%1,87886.19%00.00%
1956 23212.10%1,68687.90%00.00%
1960 30615.15%1,71484.85%00.00%
1964 1,79466.59%90033.41%00.00%
1968 38114.28%46517.43%1,82268.29%
1972 1,86385.54%31514.46%00.00%
1976 34613.85%2,15386.15%00.00%
1980 82731.44%1,78067.68%230.87%
1984 1,21850.12%1,21249.88%00.00%
1988 1,23553.26%1,07946.53%50.22%
1992 91633.64%1,36550.13%44216.23%
1996 88241.56%1,06750.28%1738.15%
2000 1,38158.39%96240.68%220.93%
2004 1,70565.18%90234.48%90.34%
2008 2,15968.24%97830.91%270.85%
2012 2,05365.55%1,06033.84%190.61%
2016 2,09670.43%85228.63%280.94%
2020 2,40273.25%86126.26%160.49%
2024 2,49374.48%84725.31%70.21%

[27]

United States Senate election results for Wilcox County, Georgia3
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
2022 1,76574.16%61525.84%00.00%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Wilcox 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. 253. ISBN   0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 27, 2003.
  4. ↑ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 215. ISBN   978-1135948597 . Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ↑ "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 25, 2015.
  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. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024.
  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 June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  17. 1 2 "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilcox County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau .
  18. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wilcox County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau .
  19. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilcox County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau .
  20. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  21. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  22. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  23. ↑ "Ocmulgee Wild Hog Festival". www.hogfestival.com. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  26. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  27. ↑ "2022 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Georgia by county. November 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

31°58′N83°26′W / 31.97°N 83.44°W / 31.97; -83.44

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