Toombs County is a
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
located in the east central portion of the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
. As of the
2010 census, the population was 26,067.
The
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
is
Lyons
Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of th ...
and the largest city is
Vidalia. The county was created on August 18, 1905.
Toombs County is part of the
Vidalia, Georgia
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Toombs County was founded as the 144th county in Georgia by the
State Legislature on August 18, 1905 and organized on October 9 of that year. The county was originally formed from portions of
Tattnall and
Montgomery Counties; a small piece of
Emanuel County was added in 1907 to give Toombs County its present-day boundaries.
The County is named for
Robert Toombs
Robert Augustus Toombs (July 2, 1810 – December 15, 1885) was an American politician from Georgia, who was an important figure in the formation of the Confederacy. From a privileged background as a wealthy planter and slaveholder, Toomb ...
,
United States representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
and
senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
. During the Civil War, Toombs also served in the Confederate Provisional Congress, as Secretary of State of the Confederate States, and a brigadier general in the Confederate Army.
Government
Toombs County is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, headed by David Sikes, the Chairman. It is also governed by Alvie Kight Jr., who has been Sheriff since 1997.
Politics
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.9%) is water.
The southern half of Toombs County, from south of
Vidalia southeast to
State Route 147, is located in the
Altamaha River
The Altamaha River is a major river in the U.S. state of Georgia. It flows generally eastward for 137 miles (220 km) from its origin at the confluence of the Oconee River and Ocmulgee River towards the Atlantic Ocean, where it empties ...
sub-basin of the larger river basin by the same name. The northern half of the county, centered on
Lyons
Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of th ...
, is located in the
Ohoopee River
The Ohoopee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 21, 2011 river in east-central Georgia in the United States. It is a tributary of the Altamaha River, which ...
sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.
Major highways
*
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 or U.S. Highway 1 (US 1) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs from Key West, Florida, north to Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canadian border, making i ...
*
U.S. Route 280
*
State Route 4
Route 4, or Highway 4, may refer to several highways in the following countries:
International
* AH4, Asian Highway 4
* European route E04
* European route E004
* Cairo – Cape Town Highway
Albania
* SH-4 road in Albania from Durres to Kakav ...
*
State Route 15
*
State Route 29
*
State Route 30
*
State Route 56
*
State Route 86
*
State Route 130
*
State Route 147
*
State Route 152
*
State Route 178
*
State Route 292
*
State Route 297
*
State Route 298
Adjacent counties
*
Emanuel County (north)
*
Tattnall County
Tattnall County is a county located in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,520. The county seat is Reidsville. Tattnall County was created on December 5, 1801, from part of Montgomery ...
(east)
*
Appling County (south)
*
Jeff Davis County (southwest)
*
Montgomery County (west)
*
Treutlen County (northwest)
*
Candler County (northeast)
Demographics
2000 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 26,067 people, 9,877 households, and 6,825 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 11,371 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km
2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.16%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 24.15%
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...
or
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.21%
Native American, 0.47%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.01%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
, 5.34% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 0.66% from two or more races. 8.86% of the population were
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race.
There were 9,877 households, out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% 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, 15.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,811, and the median income for a family was $34,478. Males had a median income of $26,988 versus $18,051 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the county was $14,252. About 17.80% of families and 23.90% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 18.30% 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 27,223 people, 10,375 households, and 7,109 families living in the county.
The population density was . There were 12,144 housing units at an average density of .
The racial makeup of the county was 65.1% white, 24.9% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 7.4% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 11.2% of the population.
In terms of ancestry, 17.6% were
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
, 11.9% 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 ...
, and 5.9% were
Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
.
Of the 10,375 households, 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.5% were non-families, and 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age was 36.0 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,635 and the median income for a family was $44,266. Males had a median income of $35,335 versus $26,893 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,974. About 20.3% of families and 25.7% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 34.7% of those under age 18 and 21.7% 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 27,030 people, 10,030 households, and 6,537 families residing in the county.
Cities and communities
*
Lyons
Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of th ...
*
Santa Claus
Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a Legend, legendary figure originating in Western Christianity, Western Christian culture who is said to Christmas gift-bringer, bring ...
*
Vidalia
Notable people
*
Mel Blount
Melvin Cornell Blount (born April 10, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons. A five-time Pro Bowler, he was inducted in ...
(football hall of famer and founder of
Mel Blount Youth Home
The Mel Blount Youth Home was a youth home for boys located in Buffalo Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania. It is located on 246 acres of farmland near Claysville, Pennsylvania. Students attend nearby McGuffey School District. Blount host ...
)
*
Nick Eason
Nicholas Eason (born May 29, 1980) is an American football coach and former defensive end who is currently the defensive tackles coach and run game coordinator at Clemson University. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Auburn Tig ...
(former NFL player and current NFL assistant defensive line coach)
*
Craig Campbell (country music singer)
*
Fred Stokes (former pro football player)
*
Travares Tillman
Travares Arastius Tillman (born October 8, 1977) is a former American football safety and current coach. He played college football at Georgia Tech and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He is currently ...
(professional football player)
*
Don Collins
Donald Collins (born November 28, 1958) is an American former professional basketball player. Collins was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, in the first round (18th pick), of the 1980 NBA draft. Collins played in 303 National Basketball Association ...
(former professional baseball player)
*
Paul Claxton
Paul Claxton (born February 9, 1968) is an American professional golfer.
Biography
Claxton was born and raised in Vidalia, Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia and was a member of the golf team. He majored in Business and graduated in ...
(PGA tour professional golfer)
*
Wally Moses
Wallace Moses (October 8, 1910 – October 10, 1990) was an Americans, American professional baseball right fielder, who played Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics (1935–41; 1949–51), Chicago White Sox (1942–46) and Boston R ...
(former professional baseball player)
*
Algur H. Meadows (oilman, businessman)
*
Iris Blitch (politician)
*
Carl Simpson
Carl Simpson (born April 18, 1970) is a former American professional football player.
Biography
Simpson was born in Vidalia, Georgia. He graduated from Appling County High School in Baxley Georgia. Simpson attended Florida State University, and ...
(former professional baseball player)
*
Don Harris (journalist killed during Jonestown Massacre)
*
Ben Utt (professional football player)
*
Paul Anderson (strongest man)
See also
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Toombs County, Georgia
References
External links
*
Welcome to the Georgia General Assembly. Home page. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
*
Toombs County Sheriff's Office
{{Coord, 32.12, -82.34, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-GA_source:UScensus1990
Georgia (U.S. state) counties
Vidalia, Georgia, micropolitan area
1905 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
Populated places established in 1905