Telfair County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Telfair County
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Telfair County Courthouse in McRae-Helena
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Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
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Georgia's location within the U.S. |
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Country | United States |
State | Georgia |
Founded | December 10, 1807 |
Named for | Edward Telfair |
Seat | McRae-Helena |
Largest city | McRae-Helena |
Area | |
• Total | 444 sq mi (1,150 km2) |
• Land | 437 sq mi (1,130 km2) |
• Water | 6.7 sq mi (17 km2) 1.5%% |
Population | |
• Estimate
(2018)
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15,876 |
• Density | 38/sq mi (15/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 8th |
Telfair County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,500. The largest city and county seat is McRae-Helena.
In 2009, researchers from the Fernbank Museum of Natural History announced having found artifacts they associated with the 1541 Hernando de Soto Expedition at a private site near the Ocmulgee River, the first such find between Tallahassee, Florida and western North Carolina. De Soto's expedition was well recorded, but researchers have had difficulties finding artifacts from sites where he stopped. This site was an indigenous village occupied by the historic Creek people from the early 15th century into the 16th century. It was located further southeast than de Soto's expedition was thought to go in Georgia.
Contents
History
Archaeologists associated with Atlanta's Fernbank Museum of Natural History have been excavating a 2,000-acre (8.1 km2) plot near McRae-Helena, approximately a mile away from the Ocmulgee River. They have found evidence of a Spanish settlement dating to the first half of the 16th century. The archaeologists suspect that the artifacts originated from a settlement founded by Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón in 1526.
Additional research suggested that the site was one visited by the de Soto Expedition of 1541. They recovered Murano glass beads, made in Venice and brought by the Spanish for trading with Native Americans; pottery fragments, and iron weapons. Some of the beads bear a chevron pattern. This is believed to be a hallmark of the de Soto expedition, due to the limited period in which such beads were produced. Excavations have also produced six metal objects, including three iron tools and a silver pendant. The site is further west than scholars had earlier believed that the de Soto expedition had traveled, based on documentation from his expedition.
What we have now is the best-documented collection of Spanish artifacts in Georgia; many are unique, and they are the only examples of certain artifacts ever found outside Florida.
Telfair County was established on December 10, 1807. Development of the county largely took place after Indian Removal of historic tribes who had occupied the area for thousands of years. It is named for Edward Telfair, the sixteenth governor of Georgia and a member of the Continental Congress.
Many of the first European-American settlers were Scottish immigrants. Cotton plantations dominated the economy into the early 20th century, based on the labor of enslaved African Americans.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km2) (1.5%) is water. The county contains at least 50 artesian wells.
The southern two-thirds of Telfair County, bordered by a line from Milan east to Lumber City, are located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The northern portion of the county is located in the Little Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Wheeler County (northeast)
- Jeff Davis County (southeast)
- Coffee County (south)
- Ben Hill County (southwest)
- Wilcox County (west)
- Dodge County (northwest)
- Laurens County(north)
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1810 | 744 | — | |
1820 | 2,104 | 182.8% | |
1830 | 2,136 | 1.5% | |
1840 | 2,763 | 29.4% | |
1850 | 3,026 | 9.5% | |
1860 | 2,713 | −10.3% | |
1870 | 3,245 | 19.6% | |
1880 | 4,828 | 48.8% | |
1890 | 5,477 | 13.4% | |
1900 | 10,083 | 84.1% | |
1910 | 13,288 | 31.8% | |
1920 | 15,291 | 15.1% | |
1930 | 14,997 | −1.9% | |
1940 | 15,145 | 1.0% | |
1950 | 13,221 | −12.7% | |
1960 | 11,715 | −11.4% | |
1970 | 11,381 | −2.9% | |
1980 | 11,445 | 0.6% | |
1990 | 11,000 | −3.9% | |
2000 | 11,794 | 7.2% | |
2010 | 16,500 | 39.9% | |
2018 (est.) | 15,876 | −3.8% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 16,500 people, 5,543 households, and 3,609 families living in the county. The population density was 37.7 inhabitants per square mile (14.6/km2). There were 7,297 housing units at an average density of 16.7 per square mile (6.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 57.0% white, 36.5% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 4.1% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 32.1% were English, and 6.6% were American.
Of the 5,543 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.9% were non-families, and 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 39.2 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $23,876 and the median income for a family was $36,109. Males had a median income of $27,278 versus $28,253 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,420. About 23.3% of families and 31.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.1% of those under age 18 and 29.5% of those age 65 or over.
2020 census
The 2020 United States Census indicated that the county lost 24% of its population in the preceding decade.
Race | Num. | Perc. |
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White (non-Hispanic) | 5,970 | 47.85% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,326 | 34.67% |
Native American | 28 | 0.22% |
Asian | 30 | 0.24% |
Other/Mixed | 195 | 1.56% |
Hispanic or Latino | 1,928 | 15.45% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,477 people, 4,668 households, and 3,259 families residing in the county.
Communities
Cities
Town
Unincorporated communities
- Towns
- Workmore
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Telfair para niños