Morgan County is a county located in the north central Piedmont region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,097. The county seat is Madison. Since the early 21st century, the county has had a housing boom. It has proximity to Lake Oconee, a recreation site, as well as to major employment centers such as Atlanta, Athens, Augusta and Macon.

History

Morgan County was created on December 10, 1807. It was named for renowned Revolutionary War commander

Daniel Morgan Daniel Morgan (1735–1736July 6, 1802) was an American pioneer, soldier, and politician from Virginia. One of the most respected battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War of 1775–1783, he later commanded troops during the sup ...

. During the American Civil War, the county provided the Panola Guards, which was a part of Cobb's Legion.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.1%) is water. The entirety of Morgan County is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.

Major highways

Interstate 20 Interstate 20 (I‑20) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I-20 runs beginning at an interchange with Interstate 10, I-10 in Scroggins Draw, Texas, and ending at an interchange with Interstate 95, I-95 in Flo ...

U.S. Route 129 * By-pass plate

U.S. Route 129 Bypass * US 278

U.S. Route 278 U.S. Route 278 (US 278) is a parallel route of US 78. It currently runs for from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to Wickes, Arkansas at US 71/ US 59, passing through five states in the process. Landmarks along its route includ ...

U.S. Route 278 Truck * US 441

U.S. Route 441 U.S. Route 441 (US 441) is a auxiliary route of U.S. Route 41. It extends from US 41 in Miami, Florida to US 25W in Rocky Top, Tennessee. Between its termini, US 441 travels through the states of Florida, Georgia, North ...

U.S. Route 441 Bypass * Georgia 12

State Route 12 * Truck plate

State Route 12 Truck * Georgia 24

State Route 24 * Georgia 24 Bypass

State Route 24 Bypass * Georgia 83

State Route 83 * Georgia 186

State Route 186 * Georgia 402

State Route 402 (unsigned designation for I-20)

Adjacent counties

* Oconee County (north) * Greene County (east) * Putnam County (southeast) *

Jasper County Jasper County is the name of eight counties in the United States of America. All are named in honor of Sergeant William Jasper, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Five counties share a boundary with a Newton County, named for John Newton John ...

(southwest) *

Newton County Newton County is the name of six counties in the United States. All except for Arkansas (and perhaps Mississippi) are named for Sgt. John Newton, a soldier of the American Revolutionary War who became a fictionalized hero. Many counties share a bo ...

(west) * Walton County (northwest)

National protected area

* Oconee National Forest (part)

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,457 people, 5,558 households, and 4,301 families living in the county. The population density was 17/km² (44/mi²). There were 6,128 housing units at an average density of 7/km² (18/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.69% White, 28.53% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 1.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 5,558 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 14.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.60% were non-families. 19.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.15. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males. The median income for a household in the county was $40,249, and the median income for a family was $46,146. Males had a median income of $34,634 versus $22,206 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,823. About 8.90% of families and 10.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servin ...

, there were 17,868 people, 6,660 households, and 5,073 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 7,472 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 72.7% white, 23.6% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 16.8% were

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

, 12.5% were English, 11.4% were Irish, and 9.0% were German. Of the 6,660 households, 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 23.8% were non-families, and 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 41.3 years. The median income for a household in the county was $45,817 and the median income for a family was $57,724. Males had a median income of $44,101 versus $30,133 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,732. About 13.5% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States Census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 20,097 people, 6,942 households, and 5,250 families residing in the county.

Communities

Cities

* Bostwick * Buckhead * Madison (county seat) * Rutledge

Unincorporated communities

* Apalachee *

Godfrey Godfrey may refer to: People * Godfrey (name), a given name and surname * Godfrey (comedian), American comedian, actor Places In the United States * Godfrey, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Godfrey, Illinois, a village * Godfrey, Kansas, an ...

(ghost town) * Pennington

Politics

References

{{Coord, 33.59, -83.49, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-GA_source:UScensus1990 Georgia (U.S. state) counties 1807 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) Populated places established in 1807