Wilcox County
County
Wilcox County Courthouse in Abbeville
Wilcox County Courthouse in Abbeville
Map of Georgia highlighting Wilcox County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°58′N 83°26′W / 31.97°N 83.44°W / 31.97; -83.44
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 22, 1857; 167 years ago (1857)
Named forMark Wilcox
SeatAbbeville
Largest cityAbbeville
Area
 • Total382 sq mi (990 km2)
 • Land378 sq mi (980 km2)
 • Water4.4 sq mi (11 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,766
 • Density23/sq mi (9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.wilcoxcountygeorgia.com

Wilcox County is a county located in the central 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]

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%±
18602,115—
18702,43915.3%
18803,10927.5%
18907,980156.7%
190011,09739.1%
191013,48621.5%
192015,51115.0%
193013,439−13.4%
194012,755−5.1%
195010,167−20.3%
19607,905−22.2%
19706,998−11.5%
19807,6829.8%
19907,008−8.8%
20008,57722.4%
20109,2557.9%
20208,766−5.3%
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]
Wilcox County racial composition as of 2020[16]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 5,185 59.15%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 3,096 35.32%
Native American 3 0.03%
Asian 49 0.56%
Pacific Islander 3 0.03%
Other/mixed 158 1.8%
Hispanic or Latino 272 3.1%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,766 people, 2,575 households, and 1,807 families residing in the county.

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.[17]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Wilcox County, Georgia[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,402 73.25% 861 26.26% 16 0.49%
2016 2,096 70.43% 852 28.63% 28 0.94%
2012 2,053 65.55% 1,060 33.84% 19 0.61%
2008 2,159 68.24% 978 30.91% 27 0.85%
2004 1,705 65.18% 902 34.48% 9 0.34%
2000 1,381 58.39% 962 40.68% 22 0.93%
1996 882 41.56% 1,067 50.28% 173 8.15%
1992 916 33.64% 1,365 50.13% 442 16.23%
1988 1,235 53.26% 1,079 46.53% 5 0.22%
1984 1,218 50.12% 1,212 49.88% 0 0.00%
1980 827 31.44% 1,780 67.68% 23 0.87%
1976 346 13.85% 2,153 86.15% 0 0.00%
1972 1,863 85.54% 315 14.46% 0 0.00%
1968 381 14.28% 465 17.43% 1,822 68.29%
1964 1,794 66.59% 900 33.41% 0 0.00%
1960 306 15.15% 1,714 84.85% 0 0.00%
1956 232 12.10% 1,686 87.90% 0 0.00%
1952 301 13.81% 1,878 86.19% 0 0.00%
1948 75 6.73% 791 70.94% 249 22.33%
1944 206 13.12% 1,364 86.88% 0 0.00%
1940 118 11.60% 890 87.51% 9 0.88%
1936 195 15.44% 1,066 84.40% 2 0.16%
1932 25 3.88% 619 95.97% 1 0.16%
1928 216 32.00% 459 68.00% 0 0.00%
1924 21 4.29% 431 87.96% 38 7.76%
1920 106 18.06% 481 81.94% 0 0.00%
1916 58 8.79% 590 89.39% 12 1.82%
1912 29 5.10% 525 92.27% 15 2.64%

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. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  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 June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  16. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  17. ^ "Ocmulgee Wild Hog Festival". www.hogfestival.com. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 24, 2018.

External links

31°58′N 83°26′W / 31.97°N 83.44°W / 31.97; -83.44

Places adjacent to Wilcox County, Georgia
Municipalities and communities of Wilcox County, Georgia, United States
State of Georgia
Authority control databases
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