Webster County
County courthouse in Preston
Map of Georgia highlighting Webster County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°03′N 84°33′W / 32.05°N 84.55°W / 32.05; -84.55
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 16, 1853 (1853-12-16)
Named forDaniel Webster
SeatPreston
Largest communityPreston
Area
  Total210 sq mi (500 km2)
  Land209 sq mi (540 km2)
  Water1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
  Total2,348
  Density11/sq mi (4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.webstercountyga.org

Webster County is a county located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 Census reflected a population of 2,348,[1] making it the third-least populous county in Georgia. The county seat is Preston.[2]

History

Webster County was created by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on December 16, 1853, as Kinchafoonee County.[3] A subsequent legislative act on February 21, 1856, changed the name to Webster.[3] The land for the county came from eastern portions of Stewart County.[4]

The county is named for Daniel Webster, U.S. representative of New Hampshire and U.S. representative and U.S. senator of Massachusetts.[5] Webster County's original name of Kinchafoonee came from the Kinchafoonee Creek which runs through the county.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 210 square miles (540 km2), of which 209 square miles (540 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) (0.5%) is water.[6]

The majority of Webster County, bordered to the southwest by State Route 520, is located in the Kinchafoonee-Muckalee sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The southwestern corner of the county is located in the Ichawaynochaway Creek sub-basin of the same ACF River Basin. A tiny edge of the southwestern border, just south of State Route 520, is located in the Middle Chattahoochee River-Walter F. George Lake sub-basin of the same ACF River Basin.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18605,030
18704,677−7.0%
18805,23712.0%
18905,6958.7%
19006,61816.2%
19106,151−7.1%
19205,342−13.2%
19305,032−5.8%
19404,726−6.1%
19504,081−13.6%
19603,247−20.4%
19702,362−27.3%
19802,341−0.9%
19902,263−3.3%
20002,3905.6%
20102,79917.1%
20202,348−16.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1880[9]1890-1910[10]
1920-1930[11] 1930-1940[12]
1940-1950[13] 1960-1980[14]
1980-2000[15] 2010[16]

2000 census

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 2,390 people, 911 households, and 675 families living in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). There were 1,115 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 50.50% White, 47.03% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.59% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 2.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 911 households, out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.90% were married couples living together, 16.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,992, and the median income for a family was $32,462. Males had a median income of $26,444 versus $19,125 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,772. About 17.20% of families and 19.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.00% of those under age 18 and 19.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 2,799 people, 1,119 households, and 788 families living in the county.[18] The population density was 13.4 inhabitants per square mile (5.2/km2). There were 1,523 housing units at an average density of 7.3 units per square mile (2.8 units/km2).[19] The racial makeup of the county was 54.0% white, 42.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 2.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population.[18] In terms of ancestry, 18.6% were Irish, 9.9% were English, 8.0% were German, and 5.3% were American.[20]

Of the 1,119 households, 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.6% were non-families, and 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 40.6 years.[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $25,708 and the median income for a family was $40,441. Males had a median income of $29,669 versus $27,745 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,295. About 16.9% of families and 23.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.[21]

2020 census

Webster County Racial Composition[22]
Race Num. Perc.
White 1,136 48.38%
Black or African American 1,063 45.27%
Asian 12 0.51%
Pacific Islander 6 0.26%
Other/Mixed 72 3.07%
Hispanic or Latino 59 2.51%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 2,348 people, 1,140 households, and 724 families residing in the county.

Education

Webster County School District operates public schools.

Communities

None of these places are incorporated, instead Webster county acts as a unified county. Preston is the county seat, despite being unincorporated.

Politics

Webster County was reliably Democratic throughout the 20th century. However, the margins tightened in the 2000 election and in 2004, John Kerry only won this county very narrowly as Bush won Georgia's electoral votes easily. Webster County is the only county in Georgia that flipped to McCain's column in 2008 after voting for Kerry in 2004.

United States presidential election results for Webster County, Georgia[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.%No.%No.%
2020 748 53.77% 640 46.01% 3 0.22%
2016 630 56.45% 473 42.38% 13 1.16%
2012 601 50.59% 582 48.99% 5 0.42%
2008 588 52.93% 515 46.35% 8 0.72%
2004 485 48.12% 515 51.09% 8 0.79%
2000 359 39.49% 541 59.52% 9 0.99%
1996 235 28.55% 529 64.28% 59 7.17%
1992 208 22.83% 600 65.86% 103 11.31%
1988 361 45.70% 427 54.05% 2 0.25%
1984 402 42.95% 534 57.05% 0 0.00%
1980 312 33.19% 608 64.68% 20 2.13%
1976 165 20.97% 622 79.03% 0 0.00%
1972 483 81.73% 108 18.27% 0 0.00%
1968 72 10.10% 147 20.62% 494 69.28%
1964 457 76.04% 144 23.96% 0 0.00%
1960 77 20.59% 297 79.41% 0 0.00%
1956 51 14.74% 295 85.26% 0 0.00%
1952 138 29.18% 335 70.82% 0 0.00%
1948 79 25.16% 118 37.58% 117 37.26%
1944 65 18.62% 284 81.38% 0 0.00%
1940 50 15.15% 280 84.85% 0 0.00%
1936 40 11.40% 310 88.32% 1 0.28%
1932 5 2.08% 235 97.92% 0 0.00%
1928 61 25.96% 174 74.04% 0 0.00%
1924 10 6.25% 140 87.50% 10 6.25%
1920 24 11.48% 185 88.52% 0 0.00%
1916 15 5.30% 248 87.63% 20 7.07%
1912 2 1.41% 139 97.89% 1 0.70%

See also

References

  1. "Census - Geography Profile: Webster County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 Weston Woman's Club: History of Webster County, Georgia, W. H. Wolfe Associates, Roswell, Ga., 1980, pp. 16-19.
  4. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 249. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 27, 2003.
  5. Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 242. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  8. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  9. "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1880.
  10. "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1910.
  11. "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930.
  12. "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1940.
  13. "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1950.
  14. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  15. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 2000.
  16. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  18. 1 2 3 "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.
  19. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 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 30, 2015.
  21. "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.
  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 24, 2018.

32°03′N 84°33′W / 32.05°N 84.55°W / 32.05; -84.55

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