Pickens County, Georgia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pickens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The 2000 Census showed a population of 22,983. The population according to the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate is 28,442. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area). The county seat is Jasper, Georgia6.
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[edit] History
The Georgia General Assembly passed an act on December 5, 1863 to create Pickens County from portions of Cherokee and Gilmer counties. 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.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 603 km² (233 mi²). 601 km² (232 mi²) of it is land and 2 km² (1 mi²) of it (0.28%) is water. The highest point in Pickens County is the 3,288 foot summit of Mount Oglethorpe.
[edit] Major Highways
Georgia State Route 5
Georgia State Route 53
Georgia State Route 108
Georgia State Route 136
Georgia State Route 143
Georgia State Route 515
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Gilmer County, Georgia - north
- Dawson County, Georgia - east
- Cherokee County, Georgia - south
- Bartow County, Georgia - southwest
- Gordon County, Georgia - west
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 22,983 people, 8,960 households, and 6,791 families residing in the county. The population density was 38/km² (99/mi²). There were 10,687 housing units at an average density of 18/km² (46/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.21% White, 1.27% Black or 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. 2.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,960 households out of which 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 non-families. 20.50% 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 spread out with 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 the median income 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.
