Jasper County, Georgia

History

This area was inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. At the time of European-American settlement, it was inhabited by the Cherokee and Muscogee Creek peoples, who became known as among the Five Civilized Tribes of the Southeast.

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. It became part of the new area of upland settlement through the South eventually known as the Black Belt, and a center of large plantations for short-staple cotton. Invention of the cotton gin in the late 18th century had made processing of this type of cotton profitable, and it was cultivated throughout the inland areas. As migration continued to the west, the county population rapidly rose and fell through the nineteenth century. Georgia settlers pushed Congress for the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which eventually forced most of the Native Americans west of the Mississippi River.

Jasper County was originally named Randolph County (after the 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 from South Carolina. However, Randolph's reputation eventually was restored, and in 1828, the General Assembly created a new Randolph County.

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

In March 1921, the bodies of at least nine Black men were found mutilated in shallow graves or local rivers. Reports indicated the men were held in peonage by a local farmer, John Williams.

The Jasper County courthouse was shown and used for filming the courthouse scenes in the 1992 comedy film My Cousin Vinny. Although the setting of the movie is in Beechum County, Alabama (a fictitious place), near the end of the movie, Sheriff Farley (played by actor Bruce McGill), actually mentions Jasper County, Georgia by name.

Government

Jasper County has a five-member county commission, elected from single-member districts. The commission elects a chairman and vice-chairman to aid in conducting business. The county is protected by a combined Fire Rescue Department providing EMS and Fire Services. The department operates out of seven fire stations with the majority of their manpower being volunteers. The department employs 50 personnel, which include full-time, part-time, and volunteer employees, and is headed by a Fire Chief Christopher Finch.

Politics

As of the 2020s, Jasper County is a strongly Republican voting county, voting 79% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Jasper County is part of Georgia's 10th congressional district, currently represented by Mike Collins. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Jasper County is part of District 25. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Jasper County is part of District 144.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 373 sqmi, of which 368 sqmi is land and 5.3 sqmi (1.4%) is water.

The western portion of Jasper County, west of a line formed by State Route 11 to northwest of Monticello, then along the eastern border of the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The eastern portion of the county is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin.

Major highways

• [[File:Georgia 11.svg|20px]] State Route 11
• [[File:Georgia 16.svg|20px]] State Route 16
• [[File:Georgia 83.svg|20px]] State Route 83
• [[File:Georgia 142.svg|23px]] State Route 142
• [[File:Georgia 212.svg|23px]] State Route 212
• [[File:Georgia 380.svg|23px]] State Route 380

Adjacent counties

• Morgan County - northeast
• Putnam County - east
• Jones County - south
• Monroe County - southwest
• Butts County - west
• Newton County - northwest

National protected areas

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

Communities

City

• Monticello (county seat)

Towns

• Shady Dale

Unincorporated communities

• Adgateville
• Aikenton
• Broughton
• Farrar
• Gladesville
• Hillsboro
• Morrow
• Prospect

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 14,588 people, 5,412 households, and 3,807 families residing in the county.

The median age was 41.7 years; 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 74.8% White, 16.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.5% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.

Of those households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 6,270 housing units, of which 13.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.5% were owner-occupied and 19.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.

Notable people

• Susan Holmes - American politician born in Jasper County. 2001 Jasper County Citizen of the Year.
• Roy "Buckshot" Jones - NASCAR driver.
• Odell Thurman - NFL player.
• Trisha Yearwood - Country music artist. In 2005, she released a studio album titled Jasper County.

References

References

1. US 2020 Census Bureau report, Jasper County, Georgia
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. [http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/courthouses/jasperCH.htm - GeorgiaInfo Jasper County Courthouse history] {{webarchive. link. (April 24, 2006)
5. [http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/coundate.htm GeorgiaInfo.com - Georgia Counties in Order of Creation] {{webarchive. link. (February 18, 2008 , University of Georgia)
6. (March 21, 1921). "Find Nine Bodies in Georgia Peonage Inquiry". New York Times.
7. (July 2022)
8. "Georgia General Assembly".
9. "Georgia General Assembly".
10. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
11. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
12. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
13. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
14. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
15. (1880). "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800". United States Census Bureau.
16. (1910). "1910 Census of Population - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
17. (1930). "1930 Census of Population - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
18. (1940). "1940 Census of Population - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
19. (1950). "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -". United States Census Bureau.
20. (1980). "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
21. (2000). "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
22. "Explore Census Data".
23. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
24. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
25. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
26. "Susan Holmes' Biography". [[Vote Smart]].
27. "Past Citizens of the Year - 2001 Susan D. Holmes".