Henry County, Georgia

Henry County is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2020 census,[1][2] the population of Henry County was 240,712, up from 203,922 in 2010. The seat of government is McDonough.[3] The county was named for Patrick Henry.[4]

Henry County
County
Henry County Courthouse and Confederate monument
Henry County Courthouse and Confederate monument
Map of Georgia highlighting Henry 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°28′N 84°10′W
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedMay 15, 1821 (1821-05-15)
Named forPatrick Henry
SeatMcDonough
Largest cityStockbridge
Area
 • Total327 sq mi (850 km2)
 • Land322 sq mi (830 km2)
 • Water4.4 sq mi (11 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total240,712
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts3rd, 10th, 13th
Websitewww.co.henry.ga.us

Henry County is part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area. The Henry County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

Henry County, Georgia, was created by the Georgia State Legislature in 1821 from land acquired from the Creek Indian Nation by the First Treaty of Indian Springs. Henry's original land area was much larger than it is today, stretching from near Indian Springs (present-day Indian Springs State Park) in the south to the Chattahoochee River near Sandy Springs in the north; encompassing most of present-day Metropolitan Atlanta. Before one year had passed, the size of the county was diminished through the separation of land areas which, in whole or in part, became the present-day DeKalb, Fulton, Fayette and Newton counties. Later divisions resulted in Clayton, Spalding, Rockdale and Butts counties.

In the beginning Henry County was a virgin wilderness, having just been ceded from the Creek Nation. Prior to 1821, the Creeks and a few trappers and traders were the only residents of this area. The Creek Indians left their mark through place names, a few small Indian Mounds scattered around the county and through the arrowheads and broken pottery which can be found throughout Henry County.

Jesse Johnson, son of John Johnson and great-grandfather of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson, was a "first settler" of Henry County. He was a prosperous farmer, the second sheriff (1822–1835), and judge, before he moved to Texas.[5] Jonesboro Road stretches through the county.[6] In 1995, Henry County was the sixth-fastest-growing county in the United States.[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 327 square miles (850 km2), of which 322 square miles (830 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (1.4%) is water.[8]

The vast majority of Henry County is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin, with just a very small western corner, west of Hampton, located in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin).[9]

Adjacent counties

Government and politics

The Henry County Board of Commissioners is responsible for administering county government to residents. Four commissioners are elected by voters in individual districts, while the commission chairman is elected countywide and serves as the county's chief executive. June Wood, the former commission chair, was the first African-American to serve in the position after being elected in a December 2016 run-off election. She left office in December 2020 after losing her bid for re-election. As of January 2023, the following individuals serve the county on the Board of Commissioners:

Henry County Board of Commissioners[10]
Name Party District
Carlotta Harris-Harrell Democratic Chairman (at-large)
Johnny Wilson Republican 1
Dee Clemmons Democratic 2
Dee Anglyn III Republican 3
Vivian Thomas Democratic 4
Kevin Lewis Democratic 5

Prior to 1984, Henry County had a presidential voting pattern typical of any other Solid South county in Georgia, consistently awarding landslide margins to Democrats. In 1920, it was one of three counties in the state (alongside Bleckley and Columbia) to give 100% of the vote to Democratic nominee James M. Cox.[11] The first Republican to win Henry County was Richard Nixon in 1972, doing so with 77.93% of the vote,[12] though it returned to the Democratic column when native Georgian Jimmy Carter won it in 1976 and 1980.

From 1984 to 2004, Henry County was a Republican stronghold, consistent with several Atlanta suburbs, as well as other suburban areas across the country.[13] Strong margins in Henry County and other Atlanta suburbs were vital to Republicans' performance, offsetting strongly Democratic Black voters in Atlanta proper.[14] Republican dominance peaked in 1988, when George H.W. Bush won 71.11% of the vote to Michael Dukakis' 28.41%, a 42.7% margin of victory.[15] During this time, no Democrat managed to attain even 40 percent of the county's vote.

In the 2010s, the county rapidly flipped from being safely Republican at the start of the decade to safely Democratic by the end, thanks to explosive population growth that brought an influx of Democratic-leaning minority voters into the county, and a growing Democratic trend among suburban voters in general.[13] The African American percentage of the population increased from 14.7% in the 2000 Census to 36.9% in 2010 and 48.4% in 2020, while the white proportion of the population fell from 81.4% in 2000 to 55.0% in 2010 and 35.9% in 2020.[16] In the 2004 United States presidential election, Democrat John Kerry had lost the county by 33.7%, but in 2008[17] and 2012, Democrat Barack Obama lost the county by only 7.4% and 3.3% respectively.[18] In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the county for the Democrats for the first time in 36 years, by a 4.4 percentage point margin of victory, in spite of the rightward shift taken by the rest of the country.[19] In 2020, the county swung 16.1 points deeper into the Democratic column, the largest Democratic swing of any county in the country in that election,[20] culminating in Joe Biden winning the county by 20.5 percentage points as he carried Georgia. In doing so, Biden turned in the best showing for a non-Georgian Democrat in the county since John F. Kennedy in 1960. The Democratic trend continued in 2022, with Henry County being one of the few counties where Stacey Abrams improved on her 2018 margin against Republican Brian Kemp even as she performed worse statewide. She took 61% of the vote, and Raphael Warnock defeated Herschel Walker with a similar share of the vote in the concurrent Senate race.

United States presidential election results for Henry County, Georgia[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 48,259 39.23% 73,443 59.70% 1,314 1.07%
2016 45,724 46.02% 50,057 50.38% 3,586 3.61%
2012 46,774 51.10% 43,761 47.81% 996 1.09%
2008 47,157 53.29% 40,567 45.85% 762 0.86%
2004 42,759 66.57% 21,096 32.84% 380 0.59%
2000 25,815 66.42% 11,971 30.80% 1,081 2.78%
1996 16,968 58.36% 9,498 32.67% 2,608 8.97%
1992 12,634 52.03% 7,817 32.19% 3,833 15.78%
1988 10,882 71.11% 4,348 28.41% 74 0.48%
1984 9,142 69.06% 4,096 30.94% 0 0.00%
1980 5,326 47.27% 5,635 50.01% 307 2.72%
1976 2,622 31.44% 5,717 68.56% 0 0.00%
1972 5,155 77.93% 1,460 22.07% 0 0.00%
1968 2,017 25.41% 2,317 29.19% 3,604 45.40%
1964 3,125 46.58% 3,583 53.41% 1 0.01%
1960 1,041 26.04% 2,957 73.96% 0 0.00%
1956 848 24.34% 2,636 75.66% 0 0.00%
1952 553 17.60% 2,589 82.40% 0 0.00%
1948 229 12.41% 1,400 75.84% 217 11.76%
1944 152 9.42% 1,461 90.58% 0 0.00%
1940 101 6.11% 1,551 93.77% 2 0.12%
1936 116 7.83% 1,362 91.90% 4 0.27%
1932 21 1.37% 1,496 97.65% 15 0.98%
1928 360 32.06% 763 67.94% 0 0.00%
1924 53 7.42% 594 83.19% 67 9.38%
1920 0 0.00% 608 100.00% 0 0.00%
1916 78 7.54% 868 83.86% 89 8.60%
1912 15 2.23% 536 79.64% 122 18.13%
1908 369 45.22% 369 45.22% 78 9.56%
1904 64 8.19% 464 59.41% 253 32.39%
1900 378 35.36% 639 59.78% 52 4.86%
1896 568 46.56% 569 46.64% 83 6.80%
1892 578 30.99% 718 38.50% 569 30.51%
1888 512 30.60% 1,136 67.90% 25 1.49%
1884 694 42.66% 933 57.34% 0 0.00%
1880 506 42.27% 691 57.73% 0 0.00%

Transportation

Major highways

Pedestrians and cycling
  • Reeves Creek Trail[22]

Transit systems
  • Henry County operates its own reservation-based transit service for use by county residents.[23] In addition, Xpress, a regional commuter bus service operated by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, serves park-and-ride lots in Stockbridge, Hampton, and McDonough.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
183010,566—
184011,75611.3%
185014,72625.3%
186010,702−27.3%
187010,102−5.6%
188014,19340.5%
189016,22014.3%
190018,60214.7%
191019,9277.1%
192020,4202.5%
193015,924−22.0%
194015,119−5.1%
195015,8574.9%
196017,61911.1%
197023,72434.7%
198036,30953.0%
199058,74161.8%
2000119,341103.2%
2010203,92270.9%
2020240,71218.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[24]
1790–1960[25] 1900–1990[26]
1990–2000[27] 2010–2019[28]

2020 census
Henry County, Georgia – Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[29] Pop 2020[30] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 107,083 86,297 52.51% 35.85%
Black or African American alone (NH) 74,056 116,431 36.32% 48.37%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 482 427 0.24% 0.18%
Asian alone (NH) 5,902 7,976 2.89% 3.31%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 110 119 0.05% 0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 504 1,650 0.25% 0.69%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 3,972 9,375 1.95% 3.89%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11,813 18,437 5.79% 7.66%
Total 203,922 240,712 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 240,712 people, 79,550 households, and 60,471 families residing in the county.

2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 203,922 people, 70,255 households, and 54,445 families residing in the county.[31] The population density was 633.0 inhabitants per square mile (244.4/km2). There were 76,533 housing units at an average density of 237.6 per square mile (91.7/km2).[32] The racial makeup of the county was 55.0% white, 36.9% black or African American, 2.9% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.4% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.8% of the population.[31] In terms of ancestry, 10.7% were American, 9.3% were Irish, 9.2% were German, and 8.2% were English.[33]

Of the 70,255 households, 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 22.5% were non-families, and 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.29. The median age was 35.3 years.[31]

The median income for a household in the county was $63,923 and the median income for a family was $70,972. Males had a median income of $50,198 versus $39,785 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,773. About 6.3% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.[34]

2000 Census

As of the census of 2000,[16] there were 119,341 people, 41,373 households, and 33,305 families residing in the county. The population density was 370 inhabitants per square mile (140/km2). There were 43,166 housing units at an average density of 134 per square mile (52/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.38% White, 14.68% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.76% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 2.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Census Estimates from the 2008 American Community Survey indicate that the African-American population is 32.6%.

There were 41,373 households, out of which 42.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.40% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.50% were non-families. 15.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.20% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 34.90% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 7.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $57,309, and the median income for a family was $61,607. Males had a median income of $41,449 versus $29,211 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,945. About 3.70% of families and 4.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.50% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Goya Foods has its Atlanta offices in an unincorporated area near McDonough.[35]

Additionally, a pair of warehouses used to exist along US 23 south of McDonough, one of which was owned by Whirlpool Corporation, and the other by Toys 'R' Us.

Media

WKKP is the local radio media outlet. It broadcasts 24 hours a day on 100.9 FM and 1410 AM, and has a classic country format.

The Henry Herald and the Henry County Times are the local county news print media.

Sports

The semi-professional soccer team Georgia Revolution FC plays in the National Premier Soccer League at the Warhawk Stadium.

Atlanta Motor Speedway is located in Henry County and hosts an annual NASCAR race and many other events throughout the year, including the 2021 Publix Atlanta Marathon, which moved to the Speedway premises.

Education

Local public schools are operated by the Henry County Schools.

Enriched Virtual Program

Alternative schools
  • EXCEL Academy (known as Patrick Henry alternative)
  • Mainstay Academy (GNETS - Special Education)

Private schools

Higher education

Mercer University has a Regional Academic Center in McDonough. The center, opened in 2003, offers programs through the university's College of Continuing and Professional Studies and Mercer's Tift College of Education. Clayton State University and Gordon College also offer a range of college courses at the Academy for Advanced Studies in McDonough.

Southern Crescent Technical College's Henry County Center (in McDonough) offers programs in Allied Health, Business Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Computer Information Systems, Personal Services, Public Safety, and Drafting Technology.[38]

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "Henry County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". quickfacts.census.gov. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  2. US Census Bureau, 2020 Report, Henry County, Georgia
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 155.
  5. Caro, Robert A. (1983). The Path to Power. The Years of Lyndon Johnson. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 15. ISBN 0394499735. LCCN 90201781.
  6. "Henry County takes steps to begin Jonesboro Road widening project". Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  7. "Fastest-growing counties, 1990-95". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  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. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  10. "Henry County Board of Commissioners | Board of Commissioners". www.co.henry.ga.us. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  11. Scammon, Richard M. (compiler); America at the Polls: A Handbook of Presidential Election Statistics 1920-1964; pp. 96-98 ISBN 0405077114
  12. "1972 Presidential General Election Results - Georgia". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  13. Tavernise, Sabrina; Gebeloff, Robert (October 25, 2019). "Are the Suburbs Turning Democratic?". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  14. Savicki, Drew (October 26, 2020). "The Road to 270: Georgia". 270toWin. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  15. "1988 Presidential General Election Results - Georgia". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  16. "U.S. Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. "2008 Presidential General Election Results - Henry County, GA". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  18. "2012 Presidential General Election Results - Henry County, GA". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  19. "2016 Presidential General Election Results - Henry County, GA". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  20. "2020 Presidential Election Statistics". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  22. "Loading site please wait..." www.cityofstockbridge.com.
  23. "Henry County Board of Commissioners > Departments > S - Z > Transit Department". www.co.henry.ga.us. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  24. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  25. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  26. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  27. "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 23, 2014.
  28. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  29. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Henry County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  30. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Henry County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  31. "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 30, 2015.
  32. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  33. "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 30, 2015.
  34. "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 30, 2015.
  35. "Contact Us." Goya Foods. Retrieved on March 26, 2016. "Goya Foods of Atlanta 4005 Haworth Parkway McDonough, GA 30253"
  36. "Home". Bible Baptist Christian School.
  37. "NHA - Welcome to North Henry Academy". northhenryacademy.com.
  38. "Henry County Center | About Southern Crescent". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.

33.46°N 84.16°W / 33.46; -84.16

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