Echols County, Georgia

Echols County (/ˈɛkəlz/) is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,697. The county seat is Statenville.[1] Statenville is a disincorporated municipality. Echols and Webster counties are the only two counties in Georgia to currently have no incorporated municipalities. The county was established in 1858 and named in honor of Robert Milner Echols[2] (1798–1847).

Echols County
County
Echols County Courthouse in Statenville
Echols County Courthouse in Statenville
Flag of Echols County
Flag
Map of Georgia highlighting Echols County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°43′N 82°54′W
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 13, 1858 (1858-12-13)
Named forRobert Milner Echols
SeatStatenville
Largest communityStatenville
Area
 • Total421 sq mi (1,090 km2)
 • Land415 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Water5.8 sq mi (15 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,697
 • Density9/sq mi (3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websiteecholscountyga.com

Echols County is part of the Valdosta, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

On December 13, 1858, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill establishing Echols County from a south-eastern section of Lowndes County and a south-western section Clinch County. The original borders of the county were a line from the mouth of the Suwanoochee Creek directly south to the state line, then along the state line, then north to the junction of Grand Bay Creek and Mud Swamp, then up the course of Grand Bay Creek to Carter's Ford, then a direct line to where Cow's Creek enters the Alapaha River, then up the creek to Griffins' Mill, then a direct line to Jack's Fort on Suwanoochee Creek, and then down Suwanoochee Creek to its mouth. With the exception of some minor adjustments of the border Echols shares with Lowndes and the loss of a thin strip to Florida following Florida v. Georgia, the borders of Echols County has changed little since its establishment. Statenville was declared the county seat in 1859.

At the time of the 1860 census, Echols County had a white population of 1,177, with 314 slaves, and no free people of color.[3]

Echols County became notable as it has served as a place of banishment for many of Georgia's criminals. As the Georgia State Constitution forbids banishment beyond the borders of the state, officials instead ban the offender from 158 of Georgia's 159 counties, with Echols remaining as their only option.[4] Few criminals have been documented as actually moving to Echols.[5] This is because almost all banished criminals choose to leave the state instead of moving to Echols County.[6]

Banishment, including 158-county banishment, has repeatedly been upheld by Georgia courts. The first case when banishment was upheld was in the 1974 case State v Collett, when the Georgia Supreme Court upheld the banishment of a drug dealer from seven counties.[7] The most recent time banishment was upheld, in 2011, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled it was constitutional to banish David Nathan Thompson (a mentally ill man who was convicted of firing a gun into a home, although no one was injured) from all but one county in Georgia.[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 421 square miles (1,090 km2), of which 415 square miles (1,070 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (1.4%) is water.[9] The county contains a notable swamp, Whitehead Bay.[10]

The western half of Echols County is located in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. The eastern half of the county, from well east of Statenville to just west of Fargo, is located in the Upper Suwannee River sub-basin of the same Suwannee River basin.[11]

Major highways

Major waterways

Railways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,491—
18701,97832.7%
18802,55329.1%
18903,07920.6%
19003,2094.2%
19103,3093.1%
19203,3130.1%
19302,744−17.2%
19402,9648.0%
19502,494−15.9%
19601,876−24.8%
19701,9242.6%
19802,29719.4%
19902,3341.6%
20003,75460.8%
20104,0347.5%
20203,697−8.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2019[16]

2000 census

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 3,754 people, 1,264 households, and 936 families living in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (3.5 people/km2). There were 1,482 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.1% White, 6.9% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 13.7% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. 19.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,264 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the county the population has a demographically large age range with 29.3% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 116.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.6 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,851, and the median income for a family was $27,700. Males had a median income of $24,650 versus $17,297 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,727. 28.7% of the population and 22.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 33.1% are under the age of 18 and 29.8% are 65 or older.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,034 people, 1,329 households, and 1,029 families living in the county.[18] The population density was 9.7 inhabitants per square mile (3.7/km2). There were 1,558 housing units at an average density of 3.8 units per square mile (1.5 units/km2).[19] The racial makeup of the county was 74.9% white, 4.2% black or African American, 1.8% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 15.8% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 29.3% of the population.[18] In terms of ancestry, 11.8% were German, 8.6% were Irish, 5.8% were American, and 5.3% were English.[20]

Of the 1,329 households, 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 22.6% were non-families, and 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.33. The median age was 31.4 years.[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $32,390 and the median income for a family was $33,664. Males had a median income of $28,613 versus $20,208 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,201. About 21.4% of families and 32.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.8% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.[21]

2020 census
Echols County Racial Composition[22]
Race Num. Perc.
White 2,328 62.97%
Black or African American 147 3.98%
Native American 37 1.0%
Asian 8 0.22%
Other/Mixed 86 2.33%
Hispanic or Latino 1,091 29.51%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 3,697 people, 1,561 households, and 1,097 families residing in the county.

Education
Echols County School District headquarters
Main article: Echols County School District

Echols County School District operates public schools.

Communities

Politics
United States presidential election results for Echols County, Georgia[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,256 87.10% 167 11.58% 19 1.32%
2016 1,007 85.19% 156 13.20% 19 1.61%
2012 917 82.99% 173 15.66% 15 1.36%
2008 981 82.58% 201 16.92% 6 0.51%
2004 757 76.39% 231 23.31% 3 0.30%
2000 614 68.37% 272 30.29% 12 1.34%
1996 335 45.09% 308 41.45% 100 13.46%
1992 361 39.63% 312 34.25% 238 26.13%
1988 422 62.99% 245 36.57% 3 0.45%
1984 453 66.62% 227 33.38% 0 0.00%
1980 259 33.08% 515 65.77% 9 1.15%
1976 111 15.95% 585 84.05% 0 0.00%
1972 404 85.59% 68 14.41% 0 0.00%
1968 53 8.26% 56 8.72% 533 83.02%
1964 399 68.44% 184 31.56% 0 0.00%
1960 108 29.59% 257 70.41% 0 0.00%
1956 134 20.24% 528 79.76% 0 0.00%
1952 94 15.02% 532 84.98% 0 0.00%
1948 32 5.14% 332 53.38% 258 41.48%
1944 42 8.27% 466 91.73% 0 0.00%
1940 18 3.91% 441 95.87% 1 0.22%
1936 30 9.06% 300 90.63% 1 0.30%
1932 5 1.19% 414 98.81% 0 0.00%
1928 29 8.45% 314 91.55% 0 0.00%
1924 11 2.22% 482 97.37% 2 0.40%
1916 0 0.00% 173 100.00% 0 0.00%
1912 0 0.00% 144 97.30% 4 2.70%
1908 15 9.68% 140 90.32% 0 0.00%
1904 12 7.02% 159 92.98% 0 0.00%
1900 38 22.62% 130 77.38% 0 0.00%
1896 52 22.91% 174 76.65% 1 0.44%
1892 54 16.07% 270 80.36% 12 3.57%
1888 43 21.72% 150 75.76% 5 2.53%
1884 91 32.85% 186 67.15% 0 0.00%
1880 40 17.78% 185 82.22% 0 0.00%

See also

Notes

    References
    1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
    2. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 113.
    3. "Lee County Georgia 1860 slaveholders and 1870 African Americans". sites.rootsweb.com. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
    4. Bynum, Russ (November 11, 2001). "Georgia Communities Put Criminals on First Bus Out of Town". Los Angeles Times.
    5. Isaacs, Lindsay (2015). "Q&A/Rural county baffled by judges' punishment". American City and County. Penton.
    6. Yung, Corey Rayburn (January 2007). "Banishment by a Thousand Laws: Residency Restrictions on Sex Offenders". Washington Law Review. 85 (1). The majority opinion in Collett did not address the fact that any of the defendants sentenced to 158-county banishment would likely choose to live in Ware or Echols County. The result of the 158-county banishment sentences, while not technically ordering the defendants to leave the state, has been to cause such an exodus to occur.
    7. "STATE v. COLLETT". Retrieved December 29, 2015.
    8. Brumback, Kate. "Judge changes but won't lift Ga. man's banishment". Associated Press. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
    9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
    10. "Whitehead Bay, Echols County". Retrieved May 26, 2012.
    11. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
    12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
    13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
    14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
    15. "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 22, 2014.
    16. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
    17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
    18. "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 29, 2015.
    19. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
    20. "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 29, 2015.
    21. "DP03 Selected Economic Charactieristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
    22. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
    23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 19, 2018.

    30.72°N 82.90°W / 30.72; -82.90

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