Decatur County, Georgia

Not to be confused with Decatur, Georgia.

Decatur County
County
Decatur County Courthouse in Bainbridge
Decatur County Courthouse in Bainbridge
Map of Georgia highlighting Decatur County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°53′N 84°35′W / 30.88°N 84.58°W / 30.88; -84.58
Country United States
State Georgia
Founded1823; 201 years ago (1823)
Named forStephen Decatur
SeatBainbridge
Largest cityBainbridge
Area
 • Total
623 sq mi (1,610 km2)
 • Land597 sq mi (1,550 km2)
 • Water26 sq mi (70 km2)  4.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
29,367
 • Density49/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.decaturcountyga.gov

Decatur County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,367.[1] The county seat is Bainbridge.[2]

Decatur County comprises the Bainbridge, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA), which is included in the Tallahassee—Bainbridge, FL-GA Combined Statistical Area.

History

The county was created by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on December 8, 1823, from a portion of Early County.[3] Three other counties were created from land that was originally part of Decatur County.

In 1825, a portion of Decatur was used in the creation of Thomas County. In 1905, another portion of Decatur was used in the creation of part of Grady County. In 1920, the western portion of Decatur County was used to form Seminole County in its entirety.

Decatur County is named for United States Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur, a hero of the War of 1812.[4]

Geography

The welcome sign for Decatur County on State Route 97

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 623 square miles (1,610 km2), of which 597 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (4.2%) is water.[5]

The bulk of Decatur County, from northeast to southwest, and centered on Bainbridge, is located in the Lower Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). Almost all of the county's western border is located in the Spring Creek sub-basin of the same ACF River Basin. The southwestern portion of Decatur County, centered on Attapulgus, and bordered on the west by State Route 302, is located on the Lower Ochlockonee River sub-basin of the larger Ochlockonee River basin. Finally, the county's southwestern corner, west of State Route 302, is located in the Apalachicola River sub-basin of the same larger ACF River basin.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-Designated Place

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18303,854—
18405,87252.4%
18508,26240.7%
186011,92244.3%
187015,18327.4%
188019,07225.6%
189019,9494.6%
190029,45447.6%
191029,045−1.4%
192031,7859.4%
193023,622−25.7%
194022,234−5.9%
195023,6206.2%
196025,2036.7%
197022,310−11.5%
198025,49514.3%
199025,5110.1%
200028,24010.7%
201027,842−1.4%
202029,3675.5%
2023 (est.)29,087[7]−1.0%
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]
Decatur County racial makeup as of 2020[17]
Race Num. Perc.
White 14,280 48.63%
Black or African American 12,200 41.54%
Native American 64 0.22%
Asian 183 0.62%
Pacific Islander 16 0.05%
Other/Mixed 713 2.43%
Hispanic or Latino 1,911 6.51%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 29,367 people, 10,084 households, and 7,113 families residing in the county.

Education

Decatur County School District is the local school district with Bainbridge High School being the local high school.

Spring Creek Charter Academy was formed in 2019 and includes grades Pre-K through 9th Grade as of 2023–2024 school year with the next year being added as each grade progresses through the years.

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College has a satellite campus in Bainbridge. Southern Regional Technical College has a satellite campus in Bainbridge serving the county.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Decatur County, Georgia[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 7,140 61.82% 4,372 37.86% 37 0.32%
2020 6,755 58.09% 4,782 41.12% 91 0.78%
2016 6,020 58.35% 4,124 39.97% 173 1.68%
2012 5,824 55.47% 4,591 43.72% 85 0.81%
2008 5,890 56.72% 4,424 42.60% 71 0.68%
2004 5,348 59.71% 3,577 39.94% 31 0.35%
2000 4,187 54.75% 3,398 44.43% 63 0.82%
1996 3,035 44.65% 3,245 47.74% 517 7.61%
1992 3,142 42.35% 3,198 43.11% 1,079 14.54%
1988 3,866 61.95% 2,348 37.62% 27 0.43%
1984 4,134 60.88% 2,656 39.12% 0 0.00%
1980 2,919 46.76% 3,242 51.93% 82 1.31%
1976 2,500 40.09% 3,736 59.91% 0 0.00%
1972 4,292 78.21% 1,196 21.79% 0 0.00%
1968 749 10.62% 1,729 24.51% 4,576 64.87%
1964 5,060 71.55% 2,011 28.44% 1 0.01%
1960 918 24.82% 2,780 75.18% 0 0.00%
1956 1,062 22.31% 3,699 77.69% 0 0.00%
1952 1,001 27.95% 2,581 72.05% 0 0.00%
1948 296 13.03% 1,209 53.21% 767 33.76%
1944 294 15.47% 1,606 84.53% 0 0.00%
1940 217 10.85% 1,781 89.05% 2 0.10%
1936 79 3.85% 1,965 95.71% 9 0.44%
1932 65 5.17% 1,169 93.00% 23 1.83%
1928 1,156 61.16% 734 38.84% 0 0.00%
1924 151 16.38% 637 69.09% 134 14.53%
1920 300 23.40% 982 76.60% 0 0.00%
1916 116 8.94% 1,147 88.37% 35 2.70%
1912 34 6.00% 500 88.18% 33 5.82%

See also

References

General
  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Decatur County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 60. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 102.
  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 24, 2015.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  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.
  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 June 21, 2014.
  17. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
Specific
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30°53′N 84°35′W / 30.88°N 84.58°W / 30.88; -84.58