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Heard County, Georgia

Coordinates: 33°18′N 85°08′W / 33.30°N 85.13°W / 33.30; -85.13
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Heard County, Georgia
County
Heard County courthouse in Franklin
Heard County courthouse in Franklin
Map of Georgia highlighting Heard County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Coordinates: 33°18′N 85°08′W / 33.3°N 85.13°W / 33.3; -85.13
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 22, 1830; 195 years ago (1830-12-22)
Named afterStephen Heard
SeatFranklin
Largest cityFranklin
Area
 • Total
301 sq mi (780 km2)
 • Land296 sq mi (770 km2)
 • Water5.1 sq mi (13 km2)  1.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
11,412
 • Density38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websiteheardcountyga.com

Heard County is a county located in the West Central region of the U.S. state of Georgia. At the 2020 census, the population was 11,412, down from 11,834 in 2010.[1] The county seat is Franklin.[2] The county was created on December 22, 1830.

Heard County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA.

History

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Heard County was created by Act of the Legislature on December 22, 1830.[3] It was named for Stephen Heard,[4] elected President of the Council on February 18, 1781, thus, in the absence of Governor Howley, becoming Governor de facto. Heard moved to Wilkes County from Hanover County, Virginia, and fought in the American Revolutionary War where he distinguished himself at Kettle Creek. The first sheriff, Jonathan Mewsick, was commissioned in 1832.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 301 square miles (780 km2), of which 296 square miles (770 km2) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km2) (1.7%) is water.[5]

The vast majority of Heard County is located in the Middle Chattahoochee River-Lake Harding sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin), with just a very small northwestern corner of the county, west of Ephesus, located in the Upper Tallapoosa River sub-basin of the ACT River Basin (Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin).[6]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18405,329—
18506,92329.9%
18607,80512.7%
18707,8660.8%
18808,76911.5%
18909,5579.0%
190011,17717.0%
191011,1890.1%
192011,126−0.6%
19309,102−18.2%
19408,610−5.4%
19506,975−19.0%
19605,333−23.5%
19705,3540.4%
19806,52021.8%
19908,62832.3%
200011,01227.6%
201011,8347.5%
202011,412−3.6%
2024 (est.)12,119[7]6.2%
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[1] 2020[16]
Heard County racial composition as of 2020[17]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 9,589 84.03%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 930 8.15%
Native American 33 0.29%
Asian 53 0.46%
Pacific Islander 4 0.04%
Other/Mixed 550 4.82%
Hispanic or Latino 253 2.22%

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 11,412, 4,278 households, and 3,254 families residing in the county. The median age was 41.0 years, with 23.8% of residents under the age of 18 and 16.0% aged 65 years or older.[18][19]

For every 100 females there were 97.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.1 males age 18 and over. None of the residents lived in urban areas while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[18]

The racial makeup of the county was 84.8% White, 8.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.2% of the population.[20]

There were 4,278 households in the county, of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[19]

There were 4,742 housing units, of which 9.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.5% were owner-occupied and 28.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%.[19]

Politics

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Heard County is a Republican stronghold which voted 85.7% for Donald Trump in 2024.

For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Heard County is part of Georgia's 3rd congressional district.

For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Heard County is a part of District 6.[21] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Heard County is part of District 72.[22]

United States presidential election results for Heard County, Georgia[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 11 1.83% 526 87.38% 65 10.80%
1916 11 2.15% 439 85.74% 62 12.11%
1920 14 2.95% 461 97.05% 0 0.00%
1924 35 9.49% 327 88.62% 7 1.90%
1928 390 44.17% 493 55.83% 0 0.00%
1932 24 2.36% 989 97.34% 3 0.30%
1936 155 17.55% 725 82.11% 3 0.34%
1940 221 25.40% 647 74.37% 2 0.23%
1944 185 24.93% 557 75.07% 0 0.00%
1948 77 9.63% 670 83.75% 53 6.63%
1952 184 13.40% 1,189 86.60% 0 0.00%
1956 194 14.92% 1,106 85.08% 0 0.00%
1960 181 12.88% 1,224 87.12% 0 0.00%
1964 807 43.18% 1,061 56.77% 1 0.05%
1968 303 16.72% 356 19.65% 1,153 63.63%
1972 1,239 81.78% 276 18.22% 0 0.00%
1976 433 21.37% 1,593 78.63% 0 0.00%
1980 875 38.33% 1,348 59.05% 60 2.63%
1984 1,492 64.81% 810 35.19% 0 0.00%
1988 1,551 63.77% 874 35.94% 7 0.29%
1992 1,190 36.36% 1,456 44.49% 627 19.16%
1996 1,170 41.14% 1,248 43.88% 426 14.98%
2000 1,947 60.88% 1,178 36.84% 73 2.28%
2004 2,788 70.48% 1,148 29.02% 20 0.51%
2008 3,133 74.05% 1,042 24.63% 56 1.32%
2012 3,160 75.63% 948 22.69% 70 1.68%
2016 3,370 79.41% 743 17.51% 131 3.09%
2020 4,519 83.78% 824 15.28% 51 0.95%
2024 5,335 85.70% 859 13.80% 31 0.50%
United States Senate election results for Heard County, Georgia2
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,413 82.83% 802 15.05% 113 2.12%
2020 3,895 83.32% 780 16.68% 0 0.00%
United States Senate election results for Heard County, Georgia3
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,542 48.45% 592 11.28% 2,113 40.27%
2020 3,877 82.88% 801 17.12% 0 0.00%
2022 3,877 83.47% 675 14.53% 93 2.00%
2022 3,407 84.21% 639 15.79% 0 0.00%
Georgia Gubernatorial election results for Heard County
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2022 3,858 86.44% 568 12.73% 37 0.83%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 106. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 153.
  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. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  7. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  8. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  10. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  12. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  13. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  14. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  15. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  16. ^ US 2020 Census Bureau report, Heard County, Georgia
  17. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  19. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  20. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Senate District 6". www.senate.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  22. ^ "Georgia House of Representatives District 72". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  23. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
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33°18′N 85°08′W / 33.30°N 85.13°W / 33.30; -85.13

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