Telfair County, Georgia

Infobox U.S. County
county = Telfair County
state = Georgia


founded year = 1807
founded date = December 10
seat wl = McRae
largest city wl =
area_total_sq_mi = 444
area_total_km2 = 1150
area_land_sq_mi = 441
area_land_km2 = 1142
area_water_sq_mi = 3
area_water_km2 = 8
area percentage =
census yr = 2000
pop = 11794
density_sq_mi =
density_km2 =
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset = -4
footnotes =
web =
named for = Edward Telfair

Telfair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. . As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population is 11,794. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,366 [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-13.xls] . The county seat is McRae, GeorgiaGR|6.

History

Archaeologists digging in the midst of a convert|2000|acre|km2|sing=on plot in what is now Telfair County, approximately a mile away from the Ocmulgee River, located a Spanish settlement dating back to the first half of the 1500s. They recovered Murano glass beads, pottery fragments, and fabricated iron weapons, which suggests that the settlers encountered hostile natives. The archaeologists suspect that the artifacts originated from a settlement founded by sugar planter Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón in 1526, or perhaps that of explorer Hernando de Soto's party of 1541. [ Davis, Mark, "What Lies Beneath," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 17, 2007, page C1. ]

Telfair County was established on December 10, 1807, and is named for Edward Telfair, sixteenth governor of Georgia and member of the Continental Congress.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 square miles (1,150 km²), of which, 441 square miles (1,142 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (8 km²) of it (0.67%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Wheeler County (northeast)
*Jeff Davis County (southeast)
*Coffee County (south)
*Ben Hill County (southwest)
*Wilcox County (west)
*Dodge County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 11,794 people, 4,140 households, and 2,873 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 5,083 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 59.71% White, 38.44% Black or African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 1.16% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 1.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,140 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.40% were married couples living together, 16.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.50% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 110.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,097, and the median income for a family was $32,513. Males had a median income of $26,444 versus $19,970 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,197. About 17.30% of families and 21.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.40% of those under age 18 and 23.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Helena
*Jacksonville
*Lumber City
*McRae
*Scotland
*Milan, Georgia

References

Davis, Mark, "What Lies Beneath," "Atlanta Journal-Constitution", December 17, 2007, page C1.