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Thomas County, Georgia

Coordinates: 30°52′N 83°55′W / 30.86°N 83.92°W / 30.86; -83.92
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Thomas County
County
Former Thomas County Courthouse in Thomasville
Former Thomas County Courthouse in Thomasville
Map of Georgia highlighting Thomas 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°52′N 83°55′W / 30.86°N 83.92°W / 30.86; -83.92
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 23, 1825; 199 years ago (1825)
Named forJett Thomas
SeatThomasville
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
 • Density84/sq mi (32/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.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.

History

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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

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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

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Adjacent counties

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Communities

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Cities

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Town

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Unincorporated community

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18303,299—
18406,766105.1%
185010,10349.3%
186010,7666.6%
187014,52334.9%
188020,59741.8%
189026,15427.0%
190031,07618.8%
191029,071−6.5%
192033,04413.7%
193032,612−1.3%
194031,289−4.1%
195033,9328.4%
196034,3191.1%
197034,5150.6%
198038,09810.4%
199038,9862.3%
200042,7379.6%
201044,7204.6%
202045,7982.4%
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]
Race Num. Perc.
White 25,994 56.76%
Black or African American 16,259 35.5%
Native American 150 0.33%
Asian 406 0.89%
Pacific Islander 9 0.02%
Other/Mixed 1,403 3.06%
Hispanic or Latino 1,577 3.44%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 45,798 people, 17,595 households, and 12,161 families residing in the county.

Education

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Colleges and universities:

There are two school districts:[17]

Private schools:

  • Brookwood School

Politics

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Similar to other Georgia counties on the Florida border, the county is very 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 13,670 61.91% 8,347 37.80% 63 0.29%
2020 12,969 59.28% 8,708 39.80% 200 0.91%
2016 11,228 59.45% 7,142 37.82% 515 2.73%
2012 11,156 58.74% 7,653 40.30% 183 0.96%
2008 10,642 57.54% 7,720 41.74% 132 0.71%
2004 9,659 61.39% 5,997 38.12% 77 0.49%
2000 7,093 58.82% 4,862 40.32% 103 0.85%
1996 5,649 49.04% 5,183 45.00% 686 5.96%
1992 5,500 46.03% 4,841 40.52% 1,607 13.45%
1988 6,572 64.78% 3,530 34.80% 43 0.42%
1984 6,427 61.41% 4,039 38.59% 0 0.00%
1980 4,294 42.26% 5,695 56.05% 172 1.69%
1976 3,263 34.68% 6,147 65.32% 0 0.00%
1972 6,668 75.44% 2,171 24.56% 0 0.00%
1968 2,261 22.87% 2,585 26.15% 5,039 50.98%
1964 6,306 65.94% 3,257 34.06% 0 0.00%
1960 2,285 41.46% 3,226 58.54% 0 0.00%
1956 2,240 38.88% 3,522 61.12% 0 0.00%
1952 2,273 36.40% 3,971 63.60% 0 0.00%
1948 925 25.22% 1,429 38.97% 1,313 35.81%
1944 557 24.16% 1,747 75.79% 1 0.04%
1940 371 15.16% 2,072 84.64% 5 0.20%
1936 222 8.39% 2,409 91.08% 14 0.53%
1932 90 3.32% 2,607 96.20% 13 0.48%
1928 814 39.63% 1,240 60.37% 0 0.00%
1924 115 7.86% 1,280 87.49% 68 4.65%
1920 168 12.94% 1,130 87.06% 0 0.00%
1916 42 2.78% 1,298 85.79% 173 11.43%
1912 50 4.13% 1,012 83.50% 150 12.38%

See also

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References

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  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.
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30°52′N 83°55′W / 30.86°N 83.92°W / 30.86; -83.92

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