Pickens County
County
Pickens County Courthouse, Jasper
Pickens County Courthouse, Jasper
Flag of Pickens County
Flag
Official seal of Pickens County
Seal
Map of Georgia highlighting Pickens County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°28′N 84°28′W / 34.46°N 84.46°W / 34.46; -84.46
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 5, 1853 (1853)
Named forAndrew Pickens
SeatJasper
Largest cityJasper
Area
 • Total233 sq mi (600 km2)
 • Land232 sq mi (600 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total33,216
 • Density143/sq mi (55/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts9th, 14th
Websitepickenscountyga.gov

Pickens County is a county located in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,216.[1] The county seat is Jasper.[2] Pickens County is part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia metropolitan statistical area.

History

The Georgia General Assembly passed an act on December 5, 1853, to create Pickens County from portions of Cherokee and Gilmer Counties.[3] Pickens received several more land additions from Cherokee (1869) and Gilmer Counties (1858 and 1863); however, several sections of Pickens County have also been transferred to other counties: Dawson County (1857), Gordon County (1860), and Cherokee County (1870).

Pickens County is named for American Revolutionary War General Andrew Pickens.[4]

During the Civil War, Company D of the 1st Georgia Infantry Battalion of the Union Army was raised in Pickens County.

Most of Pickens County's early industry revolved around marble. Georgia Marble Company is located in Marble Hill near Tate. The Tate elementary school is built out of marble. The marble was also used to make the statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial. Most of the marble is white, but it is one of the few places in the world where pink marble is found. The marble is also used for tombstones for the United States military.

Pickens County has seen very rapid growth with the building of Georgia State Route 515, locally referred to as the "four-lane". Many new businesses and residents continue to move to Pickens County.

Pickens County is home the Georgia Marble Festival.

Geography

Sharp Top Mountain, viewed from Grandview Lake Dam

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 233 square miles (600 km2), of which 232 square miles (600 km2) are land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.3%) is covered by water.[5]

The county is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The highest point in Pickens County is the 3,288-ft summit of Mount Oglethorpe, the southernmost peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and for a number of years, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Other notable peaks in Pickens County include Sharp Top Mountain and Sharp Mountain. One of the best viewpoints of Sharp Top Mountain is from Grandview Lake Dam on Grandview Road.

The eastern half of Pickens County is located in the Etowah River subbasin of the ACT River Basin (Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin). The western half of the county is located in the Coosawattee River sub-basin of the same larger ACT River Basin.[6]

Adjacent counties

County government

The government of Pickens County consists of a board of commissioners. Kris Stancil is the board's chairman while Josh Tatum represents the county's east end and Josh Tippens represents the county's west end.

Politics

Politically, Pickens County is an outlier in Georgia, one of the few ancestrally Republican counties of the state, due to Unionist sentiment in the county during the Civil War.

United States presidential election results for Pickens County, Georgia[7]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 14,110 82.17% 2,824 16.45% 238 1.39%
2016 11,651 82.51% 1,979 14.02% 490 3.47%
2012 10,547 83.03% 1,975 15.55% 180 1.42%
2008 10,004 78.08% 2,595 20.25% 214 1.67%
2004 8,115 76.28% 2,444 22.97% 80 0.75%
2000 5,488 66.92% 2,489 30.35% 224 2.73%
1996 3,041 46.31% 2,693 41.01% 832 12.67%
1992 2,332 40.57% 2,359 41.04% 1,057 18.39%
1988 3,021 67.52% 1,430 31.96% 23 0.51%
1984 2,801 67.82% 1,329 32.18% 0 0.00%
1980 1,612 39.54% 2,358 57.84% 107 2.62%
1976 973 27.45% 2,571 72.55% 0 0.00%
1972 2,101 80.16% 520 19.84% 0 0.00%
1968 1,659 44.50% 677 18.16% 1,392 37.34%
1964 1,955 50.32% 1,930 49.68% 0 0.00%
1960 1,943 56.88% 1,473 43.12% 0 0.00%
1956 2,341 65.45% 1,236 34.55% 0 0.00%
1952 1,328 50.30% 1,312 49.70% 0 0.00%
1948 1,258 46.22% 1,239 45.52% 225 8.27%
1944 795 50.48% 780 49.52% 0 0.00%
1940 884 43.76% 1,124 55.64% 12 0.59%
1936 1,053 46.27% 1,223 53.73% 0 0.00%
1932 743 33.54% 1,472 66.46% 0 0.00%
1928 1,319 70.84% 543 29.16% 0 0.00%
1924 1,149 60.25% 754 39.54% 4 0.21%
1920 830 65.51% 437 34.49% 0 0.00%
1916 344 27.28% 497 39.41% 420 33.31%
1912 190 20.41% 324 34.80% 417 44.79%

Transportation

Major highways


Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18604,951—
18705,3177.4%
18806,79027.7%
18908,18220.5%
19008,6415.6%
19109,0414.6%
19208,222−9.1%
19309,68717.8%
19409,136−5.7%
19508,855−3.1%
19608,9030.5%
19709,6208.1%
198011,65221.1%
199014,43223.9%
200022,98359.3%
201029,43128.1%
202033,21612.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1880[9]1890-1910[10]
1920-1930[11] 1930-1940[12]
1940-1950[13] 1960-1980[14]
1980-2000[15] 2010[16]

2000 census

As of the census[17] of 2000, 22,983 people, 8,960 households, and 6,791 families lived in the county. The population density was 99 inhabitants per square mile (38/km2). The10,687 housing units averaged 46 per square mile (18/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.21% White, 1.27% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. About 2.03% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 8,960 households, 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.50% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were not families. About20.50% 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 2.54 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was distributed as 23.60% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,387, and for a family was $47,123. Males had a median income of $32,039 versus $22,866 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,774. About 6.20% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, 29,431 people, 11,291 households, and 8,423 families resided in the county.[18] The population density was 126.8 inhabitants per square mile (49.0/km2). The 13,692 housing units averaged 59.0 per square mile (22.8/km2).[19] The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% White, 1.1% African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population.[18] In terms of ancestry, 17.8% were American, 13.2% were English, 12.3% were Irish, and 10.0% were German.[20]

Of the 11,291 households, 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.4% were not families, and 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 42.1 years.[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $49,945 and for a family was $59,955. Males had a median income of $46,773 versus $34,394 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,892. About 8.9% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.[21]

2020 census

Pickens County racial composition[22]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 30,122 90.69%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 286 0.86%
Native American 85 0.26%
Asian 191 0.58%
Pacific Islander 4 0.01%
Other/Mixed 1,330 4.0%
Hispanic or Latino 1,198 3.61%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 33,216 people, 11,868 households, and 8,539 families residing in the county.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Private communities

A significant portion of the county population resides in gated master-planned communities that function similar to a municipality, with HOA fees to provide many municipal-type services independently from the county government.

Notable residents

See also

References

General
  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Pickens County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Pickens County". Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  4. ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 175. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  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 19, 2015.
  7. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  9. ↑ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1880.
  10. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1910.
  11. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930.
  12. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1940.
  13. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1950.
  14. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  15. ↑ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 2000.
  16. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  17. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  18. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  20. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  21. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Bent Tree | North Georgia Mountains Real Estate Properties | 18-Hole Golf Course, Year-Round Tennis, and 110-Acre Lake | Buildable Real Estate Lots for Sale in Bent Tree. | Bent Tree Community". www.benttree.com.
Specific

The weekly newspaper for Pickens County is the Pickens Progress, a family-owned newspaper published since 1887 in Jasper.

Media related to Pickens County, Georgia at Wikimedia Commons

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