Coweta County, Georgia

Coweta County /kaʊˈiːtə/ is a county located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of Metro Atlanta. As of the 2020 census, the population was 146,158.[1] The county seat is Newnan.[2]

Coweta County
County
Historic Coweta County Courthouse in Newnan
Historic Coweta County Courthouse in Newnan
Map of Georgia highlighting Coweta County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°21′N 84°46′W
Country United States
State Georgia
Founded1826 (1826)
SeatNewnan
Largest cityNewnan
Area
 • Total446 sq mi (1,160 km2)
 • Land441 sq mi (1,140 km2)
 • Water4.9 sq mi (13 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total146,158
 • Density327/sq mi (126/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd

Coweta County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The land for Lee, Muscogee, Troup, Coweta and Carroll counties was ceded by the Creek people in the 1825 Treaty of Indian Springs. The counties' boundaries were created by the Georgia General Assembly on June 9, 1826, but they were not named until December 14, 1826. Coweta County was named for the Koweta Indians (a sub-group of the Creek people), who had several towns in and around the present-day county.[3]

In the city of Newnan, on April 23, 1899, a notorious lynching occurred after an African-American man by the name of Sam Hose (born Tom Wilkes) was accused of killing his boss, Alfred Cranford. Hose was tortured and burned alive by a lynch mob of approximately 2,000 citizens of Coweta County.

On August 9, 1882, Aleck Brown was lynched.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 446 square miles (1,160 km2), of which 441 square miles (1,140 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (1.1%) is water.[5] The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state.

The eastern half of Coweta County, from Palmetto southwest to Newnan, then south to Luthersville, is in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The western half is in the Middle Chattahoochee River-Lake Harding sub-basin of the same ACF River Basin.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18305,003—
184010,364107.2%
185013,63531.6%
186014,7037.8%
187015,8758.0%
188021,10933.0%
189022,3545.9%
190024,98011.7%
191028,80015.3%
192029,0470.9%
193025,127−13.5%
194026,9727.3%
195027,7863.0%
196028,8934.0%
197032,31011.8%
198039,26821.5%
199053,85337.1%
200089,21565.7%
2010127,31742.7%
2020146,15814.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2019[1]

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 89,215 people, 31,442 households, and 24,713 families living in the county. The population density was 202 inhabitants per square mile (78/km2). There were 33,182 housing units at an average density of 75 per square mile (29/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.86% White, 17.97% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 3.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 31,442 households, out of which 39.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.40% were non-families. Of all households 17.60% were made up of individuals, and 5.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 33.40% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 8.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,706, and the median income for a family was $58,750. Males had a median income of $41,369 versus $27,322 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,949. About 6.10% of families and 7.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.60% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 127,317 people, 45,673 households, and 34,737 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 288.8 inhabitants per square mile (111.5/km2). There were 50,171 housing units at an average density of 113.8 per square mile (43.9/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 76.8% white, 18.4% black or African American, 2.2% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.9% from other races, and 2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.8% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 22.2% were Various European, 10.4% were German, 10.4% were Irish, and 9.9% were English.[14]

Of the 45,673 households, 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 23.9% were non-families, and 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.18. The median age was 36.6 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $61,550 and the median income for a family was $68,469. Males had a median income of $51,658 versus $36,535 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,161. About 7.7% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.[15]

2020 census
Coweta County racial composition[16]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 99,421 68.02%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 25,544 17.48%
Native American 298 0.2%
Asian 3,329 2.28%
Pacific Islander 62 0.04%
Other/Mixed 6,451 4.41%
Hispanic or Latino 11,053 7.56%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 146,158 people, 53,640 households, and 37,400 families residing in the county.

Education

The Coweta County School System holds pre-school to grade 12, and consists of nineteen elementary schools, six middle schools and three high schools.[17] The system has 1,164 full-time teachers and more than 18,389 students.[18] Private schools in the county include The Heritage School and Trinity Christian School.

Mercer University has a Regional Academic Center in Newnan. The center, opened in 2010, offers programs through the university's College of Continuing and Professional Studies. The University of West Georgia has a campus near downtown Newnan on the site of the old Newnan Hospital. This campus offers two undergraduate programs - Bachelor of Science in nursing and early childhood education.[19]

Newnan is also home to a campus of West Georgia Technical College.[20]

Notable people

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Planned town

In the federal government's National Urban Policy and New Community Development Act of 1970, funding was provided for thirteen "new towns" or planned cities throughout the country. One 70,000-acre location was set to be developed in Coweta County and was known as Shenandoah.[21] The project was launched in the early 1970s and was foreclosed on in 1981, when it included 170 families and 108 residential lots.[22]

Government

The legislative body of Coweta is the Coweta County Commission, which consists of five members elected from numbered districts. The chairmanship rotates among the members. Coweta County is the only county in Georgia that operates with a rotating chairmanship.

District Commissioner Party Term of office Seat up
District 1 Paul Poole (2019 Chairman) Republican 2005–present 2024
District 2 Tim Lassetter Republican 2007–present 2026
District 3 Bob Blackburn Republican 2011–present 2026
District 4 Rodney Brooks (2019 Vice Chairman) Republican 2009–present 2024
District 5 Al Smith Democratic 2009–present 2024

In the General Assembly, it is currently divided between State House district 70, 71, 72 and 132, and is within State Senate district 28 (currently held by Matt Brass). In Congress, it is in the 3rd congressional district, currently represented by Drew Ferguson.

Politics

Coweta is a strongly Republican county, voting 68.4 percent for Donald Trump in 2016 and 69.9 percent for Brian Kemp in 2018.

United States presidential election results for Coweta County, Georgia[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 51,501 67.02% 24,210 31.50% 1,134 1.48%
2016 42,533 68.37% 16,583 26.66% 3,094 4.97%
2012 39,653 71.17% 15,168 27.22% 897 1.61%
2008 37,571 70.05% 15,521 28.94% 543 1.01%
2004 31,682 74.36% 10,647 24.99% 280 0.66%
2000 21,327 68.30% 9,056 29.00% 843 2.70%
1996 13,058 56.85% 7,794 33.93% 2,118 9.22%
1992 9,814 47.75% 7,093 34.51% 3,646 17.74%
1988 9,668 69.41% 4,212 30.24% 49 0.35%
1984 7,981 68.62% 3,650 31.38% 0 0.00%
1980 4,480 42.99% 5,697 54.66% 245 2.35%
1976 3,044 32.95% 6,195 67.05% 0 0.00%
1972 5,751 78.66% 1,560 21.34% 0 0.00%
1968 2,442 32.84% 1,204 16.19% 3,791 50.97%
1964 3,656 49.62% 3,712 50.38% 0 0.00%
1960 1,159 23.12% 3,855 76.88% 0 0.00%
1956 850 22.06% 3,003 77.94% 0 0.00%
1952 652 14.52% 3,837 85.48% 0 0.00%
1948 219 8.27% 2,214 83.58% 216 8.15%
1944 130 4.68% 2,649 95.32% 0 0.00%
1940 103 3.48% 2,846 96.25% 8 0.27%
1936 73 3.13% 2,260 96.75% 3 0.13%
1932 46 2.06% 2,183 97.67% 6 0.27%
1928 229 12.15% 1,656 87.85% 0 0.00%
1924 67 6.00% 1,010 90.42% 40 3.58%
1920 169 13.38% 1,094 86.62% 0 0.00%
1916 26 2.02% 1,179 91.40% 85 6.59%
1912 46 4.09% 1,044 92.80% 35 3.11%
1908 220 17.30% 1,032 81.13% 20 1.57%
1904 160 12.46% 1,070 83.33% 54 4.21%
1900 232 17.82% 1,063 81.64% 7 0.54%
1896 571 31.86% 1,196 66.74% 25 1.40%
1892 1,085 34.50% 2,005 63.75% 55 1.75%
1888 990 40.05% 1,476 59.71% 6 0.24%
1884 1,326 47.10% 1,489 52.90% 0 0.00%
1880 1,285 48.20% 1,381 51.80% 0 0.00%

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 52. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 10, 2003.
  4. "CSDE Lynching Database". lynching.csde.washington.edu. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  14. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  15. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  16. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  17. Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  18. School Stats, Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  19. Georgia, University of West. "UWG | University of West Georgia Newnan". www.westga.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  20. "West Georgia Technical College". Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2011.>.
  21. "History of New Communities Program" (PDF). GMU.edu. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  22. "Shenandoah was origin of new community zoning". Newnan Times Herald. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 19, 2018.

33.35°N 84.76°W / 33.35; -84.76

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