Tift County, Georgia

Tift County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 41,344.[1] The county seat is Tifton.[2]

Tift County
County
Tift County Courthouse, (Built 1912), Tifton
Tift County Courthouse, (Built 1912), Tifton
Map of Georgia highlighting Tift County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°28′N 83°32′W
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedAugust 17, 1905 (1905)
Named forHenry Harding Tift
SeatTifton
Largest cityTifton
Area
 • Total269 sq mi (700 km2)
 • Land259 sq mi (670 km2)
 • Water9.9 sq mi (26 km2)  3.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total41,344
 • Density160/sq mi (60/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.tiftcounty.org

Tift County comprises the Tifton, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The county was created on August 17, 1905, and is named for Henry Harding Tift, who founded Tifton in 1872. Tift purchased about 65,000 acres of virgin pine timberland there in the Wiregrass Region of South Georgia, and established a sawmill and a village for his workers. Tift eventually expanded into turpentine and barrel-making operations, and turned his barren timberlands into farms for cotton, corn, livestock, fruit, tobacco, pecans and sweet potatoes. When the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway intersected the Brunswick and Western Railroad near Tift's mill in 1888, the settlement was connected to Atlanta and became a boom town. It was incorporated as Tifton by the Georgia Legislature in 1890.

Tift provided employment and financial growth opportunities for his flourishing market center by founding the Tifton Cotton Mill, the Bank of Tifton, and other types of businesses in which he had a leading interest. These included fruit growing, groceries and general merchandise, cottonseed oil, lumber, brick and stone, and several railroads, all essential for the development of a region. Tift also established a model farm north of town and donated a large parcel of acreage for an agricultural experiment station; these enterprises led eventually to the development of Abraham Baldwin College and the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton.

Tift's civic commitment was most evident in his donation of lands for churches (Methodist, Baptist, and Episcopal) and Fulwood Park, and in his decades of service as a city councilman and mayor. Through a variety of business and civic undertakings, Tift contributed significantly to the economic and social development of south central Georgia. Though a captain of industry, agriculture, and finance, he is best remembered for his civic service and generosity.

Tift County was created on August 17, 1905, by an act of the General Assembly.[3] Because Georgia law in 1905 did not allow a new county to be named after a living person, the legislature voted to name Tift County after Nelson Tift of Albany, Georgia, who was an uncle of Henry Harding Tift.

In 2013, John Edward (Edd) Dorminey a native of Tifton, author and historian drafted resolutions and presented them to the Tifton and Tift County Commissions which were passed unanimously. Soon after with assistance from Representative Jay Roberts the Georgia House of Representatives and the Senate voted to approve the submitted resolution establishing the naming of Tift County after its rightful founder, Henry Harding Tift.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 269 square miles (700 km2), of which 259 square miles (670 km2) is land and 9.9 square miles (26 km2) (3.7%) is water.[5]

The western portion of Tift County, roughly west of Interstate 75, is located in the Little River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. The county's southeastern third, from north of Tifton heading southeast, is located in the Withlacoochee River sub-basin of the same Suwannee River basin. The northeastern portion of the Tift County, east of Chula, is located in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the same larger Suwannee River basin.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191011,487—
192014,49326.2%
193016,06810.9%
194018,59915.8%
195022,64521.8%
196023,4873.7%
197027,28816.2%
198032,86220.4%
199034,9986.5%
200038,4079.7%
201040,1184.5%
202041,3443.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[11]

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 38,407 people, 13,919 households, and 10,105 families living in the county. The population density was 145 people per square mile (56 people/km2). There were 15,411 housing units at an average density of 58 units per square mile (22 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.31% White, 28.02% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.59% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 7.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,919 households, out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.40% were married couples living together, 16.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.20% under the age of 18, 11.60% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 21.10% 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 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,616, and the median income for a family was $39,083. Males had a median income of $27,874 versus $20,997 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,833. About 15.50% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.00% of those under age 18 and 14.60% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 40,118 people, 14,836 households, and 10,327 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 154.9 inhabitants per square mile (59.8/km2). There were 16,434 housing units at an average density of 63.5 units per square mile (24.5 units/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 61.4% white, 29.0% black or African American, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 6.5% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.1% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 20.8% were American, 9.1% were Irish, and 7.1% were English.[15]

Of the 14,836 households, 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.4% were non-families, and 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.12. The median age was 34.5 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $36,847 and the median income for a family was $45,376. Males had a median income of $35,423 versus $29,297 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,394. About 16.9% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.9% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.[16]

2020 census
Tift County racial composition[17]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 22,189 53.67%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 12,049 29.14%
Native American 56 0.14%
Asian 650 1.57%
Pacific Islander 2 0.0%
Other/Mixed 1,179 2.85%
Hispanic or Latino 5,219 12.62%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 41,344 people, 15,144 households, and 10,703 families residing in the county.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Eldorado

Education
Tift County School District headquarters

Tift County School District operates public schools.

Politics
United States presidential election results for Tift County, Georgia[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 10,784 66.24% 5,318 32.67% 178 1.09%
2016 9,584 67.13% 4,347 30.45% 345 2.42%
2012 9,185 65.88% 4,660 33.42% 97 0.70%
2008 9,431 66.09% 4,749 33.28% 89 0.62%
2004 8,619 68.75% 3,864 30.82% 54 0.43%
2000 6,678 64.66% 3,547 34.34% 103 1.00%
1996 5,613 53.07% 4,198 39.69% 766 7.24%
1992 4,485 46.87% 3,930 41.07% 1,154 12.06%
1988 4,760 65.80% 2,446 33.81% 28 0.39%
1984 4,429 61.81% 2,736 38.19% 0 0.00%
1980 3,280 40.89% 4,572 56.99% 170 2.12%
1976 2,162 29.43% 5,185 70.57% 0 0.00%
1972 4,591 84.91% 816 15.09% 0 0.00%
1968 1,692 24.81% 1,187 17.40% 3,942 57.79%
1964 4,650 67.04% 2,286 32.96% 0 0.00%
1960 1,423 32.44% 2,964 67.56% 0 0.00%
1956 960 23.51% 3,123 76.49% 0 0.00%
1952 1,318 30.85% 2,954 69.15% 0 0.00%
1948 637 13.72% 3,158 68.00% 849 18.28%
1944 396 19.55% 1,630 80.45% 0 0.00%
1940 226 13.21% 1,463 85.51% 22 1.29%
1936 161 8.95% 1,627 90.49% 10 0.56%
1932 65 4.43% 1,394 95.09% 7 0.48%
1928 511 40.98% 736 59.02% 0 0.00%
1924 33 5.55% 522 87.73% 40 6.72%
1920 154 21.10% 576 78.90% 0 0.00%
1916 42 3.36% 1,034 82.79% 173 13.85%
1912 0 0.00% 305 94.43% 18 5.57%

See also

References
  1. "Census - Geography Profile: Tift County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Ga. Laws 1905, p. 60
  4. "HR 281 2013-2014 Regular Session". www.legis.ga.gov.
  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 25, 2015.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 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 26, 2014.
  11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. "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.
  14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  15. "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.
  16. "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.
  17. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

31.46°N 83.53°W / 31.46; -83.53

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