Jasper County, Georgia

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


seallink =


map size = 225
founded = December 10, 1807
seat = Monticello
largest city = Monticello
area_total_sq_mi = 374
area_total_km2 = 968
area_land_sq_mi = 370
area_land_km2 = 959
area_water_sq_mi = 3
area_water_km2 = 8
area percentage = 0.85%
census estimate yr = 2006
pop = 13624
density_sq_mi = 31
density_km2 = 12
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset = -4
web =

Jasper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population is 11,426. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,660 [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-13.xls] . The county seat is Monticello, GeorgiaGR|6.

History

The County was created on December 10, 1807, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly with land that was originally part of Baldwin County, Georgia. [ [http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/courthouses/jasperCH.htm - GeorgiaInfo Jasper County Courthouse history] ]

Jasper County was originally named Randolph County (after Virginian John Randolph). Because of Randolph's opposition to U.S. entry into the War of 1812, the General Assembly changed the name of Randolph County to Jasper County on December 10, 1812 to honor Sergeant William Jasper, an American Revolutionary War hero. However, Randolph's reputation eventually was restored, and in 1828, the General Assembly created a new Randolph County. [ [http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/coundate.htm GeorgiaInfo.com - Georgia Counties in Order of Creation] ]

Newton County was created from a part of the original Jasper County in 1821.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 374 square miles (968 km²), of which, 370 square miles (959 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (8 km²) of it (0.85%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Morgan County, Georgia - northeast
*Putnam County, Georgia - east
*Jones County, Georgia - south
*Monroe County, Georgia - southwest
*Butts County, Georgia - west
*Newton County, Georgia - northwest

National protected areas

* Oconee National Forest (part)
* Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 11,426 people, 4,175 households, and 3,122 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 4,806 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 70.95% White, 27.26% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 2.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,175 households out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 13.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,890, and the median income for a family was $43,271. Males had a median income of $32,351 versus $21,785 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,249. About 10.90% of families and 14.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.20% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Random Facts

*Country singer Trisha Yearwood is from Jasper County, Georgia
*The movie My Cousin Vinny was filmed here in 1992
*Jasper County is known as the "Deer Capital" of Georgia for its immense deer population and has its annual "Deer Festival" every November (held the first weekend of November which is not a University of Georgia home game).
*Trisha Yearwood's Gold-Selling, Grammy-Nominated 2005 release is named after her childhood home of Jasper County. The debut single off of the album, "Georgia Rain," features a line that Yearwood had changed to directly mention Jasper County.
*NFL player Odell Thurman is from Jasper County, Georgia.

Cities and towns

*Monticello
*Shady Dale

References