Thomas 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

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 ...

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 44,720. 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 Thomasville. Thomas County comprises the Thomasville, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Thomas County was created by an act of the

Georgia General Assembly The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each of the General Assembly's 236 members serve two-year terms and are directly ...

on December 23, 1825, from portions of Decatur and

Irwin Irwin may refer to: Places ;United States * Irwin, California * Irwin, Idaho * Irwin, Illinois * Irwin, Iowa * Irwin, Nebraska * Irwin, Ohio * Irwin, Pennsylvania * Irwin, South Carolina * Irwin County, Georgia * Irwin Township, Venango County, Pe ...

Counties. Colquitt (1856),

Brooks Brooks may refer to: Places ;Antarctica *Cape Brooks ;Canada *Brooks, Alberta ;United States * Brooks, Alabama * Brooks, Arkansas *Brooks, California *Brooks, Georgia * Brooks, Iowa * Brooks, Kentucky * Brooks, Maine * Brooks Township, Michigan ...

(1858), and Grady (1905) Counties all were formed partially from lands within Thomas County's original borders. The county is named for

Jett Thomas Jett Thomas (May 13, 1776 – January 6, 1817) was an American military officer, politician, and builder who served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives and participated in the early construction of the University of Georgia. Ea ...

, an officer in the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

who is also known for overseeing the construction of the first building at the

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

(originally referred to as Franklin College and known today as Old College) as well as the state capital at Milledgeville.

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 (1.4%) is water. The northwestern half of Thomas County, bordered by

U.S. Route 319 U.S. Route 319 (US 319) is a spur of U.S. Route 19, US 19. It runs for from the foot of the John Gorrie Memorial Bridge across from downtown Apalachicola, Florida to U.S. Route 1 in Georgia, US 1/Georgia State Route 4, SR 4 in Wadley, Georgia, th ...

southwest of Thomasville, and a line that ends up bisecting the distance between Coolidge and Pavo in the northeast, is located in the Upper

Ochlockonee River The Ochlockonee River ( ) is a fast running river, except where it has been dammed to form Lake Talquin in Florida, originating in Georgia and flowing for before terminating in Florida. Background The name is from the Hitchiti language words ...

sub-basin of the larger Ochlockonee River basin. The northeastern edge of the county, from north of Pavo to

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

, is located in the Withlacoochee River sub-basin of the

Suwannee River The Suwannee River (also spelled Suwanee River) is a river that runs through south Georgia southward into Florida in the southern United States. It is a wild blackwater river, about long.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset hig ...

basin. The southeastern portion of Thomas County, running southeast from Thomasville, is located in the

Aucilla River The Aucilla River rises in Brooks County, Georgia, USA, close to Thomasville, and passes through the Big Bend region of Florida, emptying into the Gulf of Mexico at Apalachee Bay. Some early maps called it the Ocilla River. It is long and ha ...

sub-basin of the larger Aucilla- Waccasassa basin. Almost all of the southwestern portion of the county is located in the

Apalachee Bay Apalachee Bay is a bay in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico occupying an indentation of the Florida coast to the west of where the Florida peninsula joins the United States mainland. It is bordered by Taylor County, Florida, Taylor, Jefferson Coun ...

- St. Marks sub-basin of the Ochlockonee River basin, with the exception of the tiny southwesternmost corner, which is located in the Lower

sub-basin of the same Ochlockonee River basin. The

rises in Thomas County. The

Red Hills Region The Red Hills or Tallahassee Hills is a region of gently rolling hills in the southeastern United States. It is a geomorphic region and an ecoregion. Location The Red Hills physiographic region of northern Florida was defined in 1914 as most o ...

is centered on Thomas County.

Major highways

U.S. Route 19 U.S. Route 19 (US 19) is a north–south U.S. Highway in the Eastern United States. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul road, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie. The highway's southern ...

U.S. Route 84 U.S. Route 84 (US 84) is an east–west U.S. Highway that started as a short Georgia–Alabama route in the original 1926 scheme. Later, in 1941, it had been extended all the way to Colorado. The highway's eastern terminus is a short dista ...

U.S. Route 84 Business * US 319

State Route 3 * Georgia 3 Alternate

State Route 3 Alternate * Georgia 33

State Route 33 * Georgia 35

State Route 35 * Georgia 35 Connector

State Route 35 Connector * Georgia 38

State Route 38 * Georgia 38 Business

State Route 38 Business * Georgia 111

State Route 111 * Georgia 122

State Route 122 * Georgia 188

State Route 188 * Georgia 202

State Route 202 * Georgia 300

State Route 300

Adjacent counties

* Colquitt County - northeast * Brooks County - east * Jefferson County,

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

- south * Leon County,

- southwest * Grady County - west * Mitchell County - northwest

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 44,737 people, 16,309 households, and 11,465 families living in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 78 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 18,285 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 58.98%

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 ...

, 38.86%

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 ...

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 ...

, 0.29% Native American, 0.41%

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 ...

, 0.06%

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 ...

, 0.54% 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 0.85% from two or more races. 1.72% 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 ...

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 16,309 households, out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.90% 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, 18.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 25.80% 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 2.55 and the average family size was 3.06. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.80 males. As of 2007, the median income for a household in the county was $40,498, and the median income for a family was $52,392. Males had a median income of $28,395 versus $21,344 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 $21,540. About 13.60% of families and 17.40% 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 21.90% of those under age 18 and 19.30% 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 44,720 people, 17,573 households, and 11,999 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 20,177 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 59.6% white, 36.9% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 1.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 15.5% 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 ...

, 9.0% 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 ...

, 8.2% 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 ...

, and 6.4% were

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

. Of the 17,573 households, 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.7% were non-families, and 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.03. The median age was 39.6 years. The median income for a household in the county was $35,797 and the median income for a family was $46,333. Males had a median income of $38,520 versus $27,085 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,261. About 17.1% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the

, including 31.2% of those under age 18 and 12.9% 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 45,798 people, 17,595 households, and 12,161 families residing in the county.

Education

Thomas University Thomas University is a private university in Thomasville, Georgia. It offers associate, bachelor, and master's degrees. History The main building and grounds were originally a portion of Birdwood Plantation, the winter house of W. Cameron For ...

Southern Regional Technical College Southern Regional Technical College is a public community college with its main campus in Thomasville, Georgia. It is part of the Technical College System of Georgia and provides education services for a seven-county service area in southwest Ge ...

Thomasville City School District Thomasville City Schools is a public school district in Thomasville, Georgia, United States, based in Thomasville. It serves the city of Thomasville Schools The Thomasville City Schools has three elementary schools, one middle school, and one h ...

Thomas County School District The Thomas County School District is a public school district in Thomas County, Georgia, United States, based in Thomasville. It serves the communities of Barwick, Boston, Coolidge, Meigs, Ochlocknee, Pavo, and Thomasville. Schools The T ...

* Brookwood School

Communities

Cities

* Barwick (partly in Brooks County) *

* Coolidge * Meigs (partly in Mitchell County) * Pavo (partly in Brooks County) * Thomasville

Town

Ochlocknee Ochlocknee is a town in Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The population was 676 at the 2010 census. The city was incorporated on January 1, 1970. Geography Ochlocknee is located at (30.975409, -84.055425). According to the United States ...

Unincorporated community

* Metcalf

Politics

Similar to other Georgia counties on the Florida border, the county is very Republican in presidential elections, having last voted for a Democrat in 1980 when the Democrat was

Favorite son Favorite son (or favorite daughter) is a political term. * At the quadrennial American national political party conventions, a state delegation sometimes nominates a candidate from the state, or less often from the state's region, who is not a ...

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served as th ...

References

External links

Thomas County

University of Georgia Thomas County Cooperative Extension Website

Thomasville Landmarks - Historic preservation organization

Thomas County Historical Society & Museum of History
{{Coord, 30.86, -83.92, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-GA_source:UScensus1990 Georgia (U.S. state) counties 1825 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) Populated places established in 1825

History

Geography

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2000 census

2010 census

2020 census

Education

Communities

Cities

Town

Unincorporated community

Politics

See also

References

External links