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Jenkins County, Georgia

Coordinates: 32°47′N 81°58′W / 32.79°N 81.96°W / 32.79; -81.96
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Jenkins County
County
Jenkins County Courthouse, in Millen
Jenkins County Courthouse, in Millen
Map of Georgia highlighting Jenkins County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°47′N 81°58′W / 32.79°N 81.96°W / 32.79; -81.96
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedAugust 17, 1905; 119 years ago (1905-08-17)
Named forCharles Jones Jenkins
SeatMillen
Largest cityMillen
Area
 • Total352 sq mi (910 km2)
 • Land347 sq mi (900 km2)
 • Water5.2 sq mi (13 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,674
 • Density25/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitewww.jenkinscountyga.com

Jenkins County is a county located in the southeastern area of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,674.[1] The county seat is Millen.[2] Historic and bountiful Magnolia Springs State Park is located between Millen and Perkins.

History

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Jenkins County was created on August 17, 1905, from portions of Bulloch, Burke, Emanuel and Screven counties, and named after the 44th Governor of Georgia, Charles Jones Jenkins.[3] The effort was spearheaded by Robert Gray Daniel (d. May 14, 1934), a director of the local Millen Bank, a 40-year member of the board of education and scion of the county's Daniel family who had large mercantile and farming enterprises.[4] The effect was to place the county seat of Millen in a position where the town could become a safe place for economic growth. But the first decade after formation was difficult due to lack of realistic economic planning and implementation. Local people were leaving for jobs in larger cities, and there were few new business start-ups.

During the Red Summer of 1919, there was a race riot on April 13, 1919 in Jenkins County, in which white mobs attacked the black community. Prosperous and respected local farmer Joe Ruffin, whose family had historically been slaves working the plantations of the Daniel family, was almost impoverished by the costs of his legal defense and vindication.[5]

Businesses in the county attract their workforce from throughout the area. Because the county population is relatively small, people notice that when jobs increase, the population increases. When an employer closes its business, the local population decreases as people seek opportunities elsewhere. For a number of years, the largest employer was Jockey International which employed manual and skilled laborers until reducing then closing operations in September 2007.[6] MI Windows and Doors had a long presence in the county at its manufacturing plant, closing in December 2007.[6]

Jenkins County owns the Millen Airport, which was established to increase local and regional transportation flexibility. Annual assessments show the airport has provided consistent benefit to the people and businesses in the county.[7]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 352 square miles (910 km2), of which 347 square miles (900 km2) is land and 5.2 square miles (13 km2) (1.5%) is water.[8]

Most of the southern portion of Jenkins County, from southwest of Millen to west of Hiltonia, is located in the Lower Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin, with the exception of very small parts of the southwestern corner of the county, north and east of Garfield, which are located in the Canoochee River sub-basin of the same Ogeechee River basin. The northwestern portion of Jenkins County is located in the Upper Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin, with just the northeastern corner of the county located in the Brier Creek sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.[9]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Communities

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City

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Census-designated place

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191011,520—
192014,32824.4%
193012,908−9.9%
194011,843−8.3%
195010,264−13.3%
19609,148−10.9%
19708,332−8.9%
19808,8416.1%
19908,247−6.7%
20008,5754.0%
20108,340−2.7%
20208,6744.0%
2023 (est.)8,627[10]−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1880[12] 1890-1910[13]
1920-1930[14] 1930-1940[15]
1940-1950[16] 1960-1980[17]
1980-2000[18] 2010[19]
Jenkins County racial composition as of 2020[20]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 4,611 53.16%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 3,536 40.77%
Native American 29 0.33%
Asian 12 0.14%
Pacific Islander 5 0.06%
Other/Mixed 178 2.05%
Hispanic or Latino 303 3.49%

The county reached its peak population in 1920. As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,674 people, 3,443 households, and 2,095 families residing in the county.

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Jenkins County, Georgia[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,161 62.55% 1,266 36.64% 28 0.81%
2016 1,895 62.01% 1,123 36.75% 38 1.24%
2012 1,887 55.60% 1,488 43.84% 19 0.56%
2008 1,936 56.25% 1,482 43.06% 24 0.70%
2004 1,898 55.74% 1,494 43.88% 13 0.38%
2000 1,317 50.79% 1,250 48.21% 26 1.00%
1996 955 38.77% 1,336 54.24% 172 6.98%
1992 929 34.05% 1,401 51.36% 398 14.59%
1988 1,288 57.30% 953 42.39% 7 0.31%
1984 1,399 55.80% 1,108 44.20% 0 0.00%
1980 824 33.05% 1,632 65.46% 37 1.48%
1976 563 23.63% 1,820 76.37% 0 0.00%
1972 1,769 78.52% 484 21.48% 0 0.00%
1968 574 22.71% 704 27.86% 1,249 49.43%
1964 1,509 62.43% 908 37.57% 0 0.00%
1960 313 18.78% 1,354 81.22% 0 0.00%
1956 261 20.70% 1,000 79.30% 0 0.00%
1952 368 23.99% 1,166 76.01% 0 0.00%
1948 98 10.11% 595 61.40% 276 28.48%
1944 101 12.64% 698 87.36% 0 0.00%
1940 69 6.82% 940 92.98% 2 0.20%
1936 32 3.51% 880 96.49% 0 0.00%
1932 20 3.77% 510 96.23% 0 0.00%
1928 332 44.80% 409 55.20% 0 0.00%
1924 16 6.67% 200 83.33% 24 10.00%
1920 49 12.89% 331 87.11% 0 0.00%
1916 20 4.66% 402 93.71% 7 1.63%
1912 17 5.70% 272 91.28% 9 3.02%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Jenkins County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 120. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  4. ^ "Operation Fatal for R.G. Daniel Leading Millen Citizen. Butler Herald (Butler, Georgia) May 17, 1934. Accessed via genealogytrails.com on April 26, 2023.
  5. ^ oe Ruffin Wins Vindication Savannah. Cumming North Georgian (Cumming, Georgia) June 8, 1923. Accessed via genealogytrails.com on April 26, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Plant Closing Devastates Millen". Statesboro Herald, updated November 19, 2007. Accessed April 26, 2023.
  7. ^ Economic Impact Report for Millen Airport. Georgia Department of Transportation. September 2020. Accessed April 26, 2023.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  11. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  13. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  14. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  15. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  16. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  17. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  18. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  19. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  20. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  21. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 20, 2018.

32°47′N 81°58′W / 32.79°N 81.96°W / 32.79; -81.96

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