Hancock County, Georgia

Hancock County, Georgia
Location in the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 17, 1793
Named for	John Hancock
Seat	Sparta
Largest city	Sparta
Area
• Total	479 sq mi (1,241 km2)
• Land	472 sq mi (1,222 km2)
• Water	6.8 sq mi (18 km2), 1.4%
Population
• (2010)	9,429
• Density	20/sq mi (8/km²)
Congressional district	10th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.hancockcountyga.gov

Thomas Cheely House, ca. 1825

Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,429. The county seat is Sparta. The county was created on December 17, 1793 and named for John Hancock.

Hancock County is included in the Milledgeville, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 479 square miles (1,240 km²), of which 472 square miles (1,220 km²) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km²) (1.4%) is water.

The western portion of Hancock County, which is defined by a line running southeast from White Plains to the intersection of State Route 22 and Springfield Road, then running southwest along State Route 22, is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The southern portion of the county, defined by a triangle made of State Route 22 and State Route 15, with Sparta at its apex, is located in the Lower Oconee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin. The northeastern portion of Hancock County is located in the Upper Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin.

Major highways

• State Route 15
• State Route 16
• State Route 22
• State Route 77

Adjacent counties

• Taliaferro County - north
• Warren County - northeast
• Glascock County - east
• Washington County - southeast
• Baldwin County - southwest
• Putnam County - west
• Greene County - northwest

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1800	14,456		—
1810	13,330		−7.8%
1820	12,734		−4.5%
1830	11,820		−7.2%
1840	9,659		−18.3%
1850	11,578		19.9%
1860	12,044		4.0%
1870	11,317		−6.0%
1880	16,989		50.1%
1890	17,149		0.9%
1900	18,277		6.6%
1910	19,189		5.0%
1920	18,357		−4.3%
1930	13,070		−28.8%
1940	12,764		−2.3%
1950	11,052		−13.4%
1960	9,979		−9.7%
1970	9,019		−9.6%
1980	9,466		5.0%
1990	8,908		−5.9%
2000	10,076		13.1%
2010	9,429		−6.4%
Est. 2014	8,509		−9.8%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,076 people, 3,237 households, and 2,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 4,287 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 21.46% White, 77.76% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 0.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,237 households out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.00% were married couples living together, 28.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.10% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 31.00% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 114.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,003, and the median income for a family was $27,232. Males had a median income of $26,062 versus $19,328 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,916. About 26.10% of families and 29.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.40% of those under age 18 and 25.30% of those age 65 or over. Hancock County is the poorest county in Georgia and the 55th poorest in the country according to per capita income.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 9,429 people, 3,341 households, and 2,183 families residing in the county. The population density was 20.0 inhabitants per square mile (7.7/km²). There were 5,360 housing units at an average density of 11.4 per square mile (4.4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 74.1% black or African American, 24.4% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, and 25.1% were American.

Of the 3,341 households, 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.8% were married couples living together, 23.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.7% were non-families, and 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 43.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,283 and the median income for a family was $27,168. Males had a median income of $26,837 versus $21,223 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,925. About 26.7% of families and 26.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.3% of those under age 18 and 21.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

• Culverton
• Sparta
• Mayfield

Notable residents

• James Abercrombie, (1795–1861), born in Hancock County, later member of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama.
• Horace Grant, twin brother of Harvey Grant and a former NBA basketball player who won four championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. Grant was a graduate of Hancock Central High School.
• Harvey Grant, twin brother of Horace Grant and a former NBA basketball player with the Washington Bullets, Portland Trailblazers, and Philadelphia 76ers. Grant was a graduate of Hancock Central High School.
• Biddy Mason, (August 15, 1818 – January 16, 1891), a slave, she won her freedom when she challenged the constitutionality of her slave status in California, a free state. She went on to become a landowner, humanitarian and philanthropist. A founding member of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1872, Los Angeles, California.
• Hiram George Runnels, (December 15, 1796 – December 17, 1857) born in Hancock County, Ga., later Governor of Mississippi.
• William Terrell, (1778 – July 4, 1855), member of Georgia House of Representatives, his house still stands in Sparta today.

See also

• Central Savannah River Area
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hancock County, Georgia
• Glen Mary Plantation

External links

• New Georgia Encyclopedia. Hancock County