Muscogee County, Georgia

Muscogee County, Georgia
Map of Georgia highlighting Muscogee County
Location in the state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded June 9, 1826
Named for Muscogee people
Seat Columbus
Largest city Columbus
Area
 • Total 221 sq mi (572 km2)
 • Land 216 sq mi (559 km2)
 • Water 4.6 sq mi (12 km2), 2.1%
Population
 • (2010) 189,885
 • Density 878/sq mi (339/km²)
Congressional districts 2nd, 3rd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.muscogeecounty.net

Muscogee County is a county located on the central western border of the U.S. state of Georgia; its western border with the state of Alabama is formed by the Chattahoochee River. As of the 2010 census, the population was 189,885.[1] Its county seat and only city is Columbus,[2] with which it has been a consolidated city-county since the beginning of 1971.

Muscogee County is part of Columbus, GA-AL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The only other city in the county was Bibb City, a company town that disincorporated in December 2000, two years after its mill closed permanently. Fort Benning, a large Army installation, takes up nearly one quarter of the county and extends into Chattahoochee County; it generates considerable economic power in the region.

History

Inhabited for thousands of years by varying cultures of indigenous peoples, this area was territory of the historic Creek people at the time of European encounter.

The land for Lee, Muscogee, Troup, Coweta, and Carroll counties was ceded by a certain eight chiefs among the Creek people in the 1825 Treaty of Indian Springs. The Creek Nation declared the land cession illegal, because it did not represent the will of the majority of the people. The United States Senate did not ratify it. The following year, the US government negotiated another treaty with the Creek, by which they ceded nearly as much territory under continued pressure from the state of Georgia and US land commissioners.

The counties' boundaries were created by the Georgia General Assembly on June 9, but they were not named until December 14 of 1826. The county was originally developed by European Americans for cotton plantations, with labor accomplished by enslaved African Americans. A total of one million African Americans were brought into the Deep South through the domestic slave trade from the Upper South, breaking up countless families and creating a massive demographic shift. In many areas of what became known as the Black Belt for the fertility of soil and development of plantations, African Americans made up the majority of population in many counties.

This county was named by European Americans for the native Muscogee or Creek people. Parts of the then-large county (which extended east to the Flint River) were later taken to create every other neighboring Georgia county, including Harris County to the north in 1827.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 221 square miles (570 km2), of which 216 square miles (560 km2) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km2) (2.1%) is water.[4]

The majority of Muscogee County, from north of Columbus running northeast in the direction of Ellerslie, is located in the Middle Chattahoochee River-Walter F. George Lake sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The northwestern corner of the county, south of Fortson, is located in the Middle Chattahoochee River-Lake Harding sub-basin of the same ACF River Basin.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18303,508—
184011,699233.5%
185018,57858.8%
186016,584−10.7%
187016,6630.5%
188019,32216.0%
189027,76143.7%
190029,8367.5%
191036,22721.4%
192044,19522.0%
193057,55830.2%
194075,49431.2%
1950118,02856.3%
1960158,62334.4%
1970167,3775.5%
1980170,1081.6%
1990179,2785.4%
2000186,2913.9%
2010189,8851.9%
Est. 2014200,887[6]5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 186,291 people, 69,819 households, and 47,686 families residing in the county. The population density was 861 people per square mile (333/km²). There were 76,182 housing units at an average density of 352 per square mile (136/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 50.42% White, 43.74% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.54% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. 4.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 69,819 households out of which 34.60% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.70% were married couples living together, 19.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% 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 3.08.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 11.90% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,798, and the median income for a family was $41,244. Males had a median income of $30,238 versus $24,336 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,262. 15.70% of the population and 12.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 22.00% of those under the age of 18 and 12.10% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 189,885 people, 74,081 households, and 47,742 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 877.5 inhabitants per square mile (338.8/km2). There were 82,690 housing units at an average density of 382.1 per square mile (147.5/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 46.3% white, 45.5% black or African American, 2.2% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.2% Pacific islander, 2.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.4% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 8.7% were Irish, 8.4% were German, 6.7% were English, and 6.3% were American.[14]

Of the 74,081 households, 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.6% were non-families, and 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.08. The median age was 33.5 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,331 and the median income for a family was $50,771. Males had a median income of $37,618 versus $31,430 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,514. About 14.8% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Education

Higher education

Public

Private

Primary and secondary education

Public schools

Columbus is home to 65 public schools,[18] all operated by the Muscogee County School District.

Private and religion-based schools

Homeschooling

In regards to homeschooling, the Official Code of Georgia Annotated states the following:

Required Subjects: A basic academic educational program that includes, but is not limited to, reading, language arts, math, social studies, and science. [Ga. Code Ann. § 20-2-690(c)(4).]

Communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Muscogee County History", University of Georgia
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  13. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  14. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  15. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  16. ↑ Troy University at Columbus
  17. ↑ http://www.phoenix.edu/campus_locations/GA/columbus_georgia_campus_locations/columbus-ga.html
  18. ↑ List of schools in Columbus, Retrieved Sept. 2009

External links

 Harris County Talbot County
Lee County, Alabama
  Muscogee County, Georgia  
Russell County, Alabama Chattahoochee County

Coordinates: 32°31′N 84°52′W / 32.51°N 84.87°W / 32.51; -84.87

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