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Jasper County, Georgia

Coordinates: 33°19′N 83°41′W / 33.32°N 83.69°W / 33.32; -83.69
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Not to be confused with Jasper, Georgia.

Jasper County, Georgia
County
Jasper County Courthouse
Jasper County Courthouse
Official seal of Jasper County, Georgia
Seal
Map of Georgia highlighting Jasper County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Coordinates: 33°19′N 83°41′W / 33.32°N 83.69°W / 33.32; -83.69
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 10, 1807; 218 years ago (1807-12-10)
Named afterWilliam Jasper
SeatMonticello
Largest cityMonticello
Area
 • Total
373 sq mi (970 km2)
 • Land368 sq mi (950 km2)
 • Water5.3 sq mi (14 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
14,588
 • Estimate 
(2025)
17,632 Increase
 • Density39.6/sq mi (15.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district10th
Websitejaspercountyga.org

Jasper County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,588,[1] up from 13,900 in 2010.[2] The county seat is Monticello.[3] Jasper County is part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA.

History

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This area was inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. At the time of European-American settlement, it was inhabited by the Cherokee and Muscogee Creek peoples, who became known as among the Five Civilized Tribes of the Southeast.

The county was created on December 10, 1807, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly with land that was originally part of Baldwin County.[4] It became part of the new area of upland settlement through the South eventually known as the Black Belt, and a center of large plantations for short-staple cotton. Invention of the cotton gin in the late 18th century had made processing of this type of cotton profitable, and it was cultivated throughout the inland areas. As migration continued to the west, the county population rapidly rose and fell through the nineteenth century. Georgia settlers pushed Congress for the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which eventually forced most of the Native Americans west of the Mississippi River.

Jasper County was originally named Randolph County (after the Virginian John Randolph). Because of Randolph's opposition to U.S. entry into the War of 1812, the General Assembly changed the name of Randolph County to Jasper County on December 10, 1812, to honor Sergeant William Jasper, an American Revolutionary War hero from South Carolina. However, Randolph's reputation eventually was restored, and in 1828, the General Assembly created a new Randolph County.[5]

Newton County was created from a part of the original Jasper County in 1821.

In March 1921, the bodies of at least nine Black men were found mutilated in shallow graves or local rivers. Reports indicated the men were held in peonage by a local farmer, John Williams.[6]

The Jasper County courthouse was shown and used for filming the courthouse scenes in the 1992 comedy film My Cousin Vinny. Although the setting of the movie is in Beechum County, Alabama (a fictitious place), near the end of the movie, Sheriff Farley (played by actor Bruce McGill), actually mentions Jasper County, Georgia by name.[7]

Government

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Jasper County has a five-member county commission, elected from single-member districts. The commission elects a chairman and vice-chairman to aid in conducting business. The county is protected by a combined Fire Rescue Department providing EMS and Fire Services. The department operates out of seven fire stations with the majority of their manpower being volunteers. The department employs 50 personnel, which include full-time, part-time, and volunteer employees, and is headed by a Fire Chief Christopher Finch.

Politics

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As of the 2020s, Jasper County is a strongly Republican voting county, voting 79% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Jasper County is part of Georgia's 10th congressional district, currently represented by Mike Collins. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Jasper County is part of District 25.[8] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Jasper County is part of District 144.[9]

United States presidential election results for Jasper County, Georgia[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 8 1.20% 644 96.99% 12 1.81%
1916 6 1.08% 537 96.41% 14 2.51%
1920 42 8.92% 429 91.08% 0 0.00%
1924 68 12.95% 448 85.33% 9 1.71%
1928 140 18.13% 632 81.87% 0 0.00%
1932 14 1.77% 773 97.85% 3 0.38%
1936 33 3.45% 923 96.55% 0 0.00%
1940 72 9.44% 689 90.30% 2 0.26%
1944 86 9.97% 777 90.03% 0 0.00%
1948 87 10.06% 562 64.97% 216 24.97%
1952 228 17.10% 1,105 82.90% 0 0.00%
1956 288 23.04% 962 76.96% 0 0.00%
1960 271 22.21% 949 77.79% 0 0.00%
1964 1,075 55.90% 848 44.10% 0 0.00%
1968 456 20.57% 835 37.66% 926 41.77%
1972 1,289 73.57% 463 26.43% 0 0.00%
1976 689 27.12% 1,852 72.88% 0 0.00%
1980 879 35.39% 1,546 62.24% 59 2.38%
1984 1,431 56.05% 1,122 43.95% 0 0.00%
1988 1,474 55.08% 1,188 44.39% 14 0.52%
1992 1,153 38.14% 1,485 49.12% 385 12.74%
1996 1,423 44.00% 1,553 48.02% 258 7.98%
2000 2,298 58.28% 1,558 39.51% 87 2.21%
2004 3,157 66.56% 1,558 32.85% 28 0.59%
2008 3,916 66.25% 1,935 32.74% 60 1.02%
2012 4,136 68.45% 1,845 30.54% 61 1.01%
2016 4,360 71.86% 1,544 25.45% 163 2.69%
2020 5,822 76.13% 1,761 23.03% 64 0.84%
2024 7,203 78.89% 1,881 20.60% 46 0.50%
United States Senate election results for Jasper County, Georgia2
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 5,751 75.75% 1,690 22.26% 151 1.99%
2020 5,146 75.68% 1,654 24.32% 0 0.00%
United States Senate election results for Jasper County, Georgia3
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,246 43.07% 1,218 16.16% 3,073 40.77%
2020 5,120 75.26% 1,683 24.74% 0 0.00%
2022 4,951 75.76% 1,464 22.40% 120 1.84%
2022 4,569 77.34% 1,339 22.66% 0 0.00%
Georgia Gubernatorial election results for Jasper County
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2022 5,237 79.66% 1,286 19.56% 51 0.78%

Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 373 square miles (970 km2), of which 368 square miles (950 km2) is land and 5.3 square miles (14 km2) (1.4%) is water.[11]

The western portion of Jasper County, west of a line formed by State Route 11 to northwest of Monticello, then along the eastern border of the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The eastern portion of the county is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin.[12]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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National protected areas

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Communities

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City

[edit]

Towns

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Unincorporated communities

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Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18107,573—
182014,61493.0%
183013,131−10.1%
184011,111−15.4%
185011,4863.4%
186010,743−6.5%
187010,439−2.8%
188011,85113.5%
189013,87917.1%
190015,0338.3%
191016,55210.1%
192016,362−1.1%
19308,594−47.5%
19408,7722.1%
19507,473−14.8%
19606,135−17.9%
19705,760−6.1%
19807,55331.1%
19908,45311.9%
200011,42635.2%
201013,90021.7%
202014,5884.9%
2025 (est.)17,632[13] Increase20.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1880[15] 1890-1910[16]
1920-1930[17] 1930-1940[18]
1940-1950[19] 1960-1980[20]
1980-2000[21] 2010[2] 2020[1]

Racial and ethnic composition

[edit]
Jasper County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
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 (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[22] Pop 1990[23] Pop 2000[24] Pop 2010[25] Pop 2020[26] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 4,450 5,434 7,964 10,095 10,771 58.92% 64.28% 69.70% 72.63% 73.83%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,999 2,936 3,096 3,030 2,442 39.71% 34.73% 27.10% 21.80% 16.74%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 2 15 24 40 34 0.03% 0.18% 0.21% 0.29% 0.23%
Asian alone (NH) 14 10 18 30 22 0.19% 0.12% 0.16% 0.22% 0.15%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [27] x [28] 1 1 1 x x 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%
Other race alone (NH) 2 1 17 18 62 0.03% 0.01% 0.15% 0.13% 0.43%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [29] x [30] 70 176 572 x x 0.61% 1.27% 3.92%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 86 57 236 510 684 1.14% 0.67% 2.07% 3.67% 4.69%
Total 7,553 8,453 11,426 13,900 14,588 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 14,588 people, 5,412 households, and 3,807 families residing in the county.[31][32]

The median age was 41.7 years; 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[32]

The racial makeup of the county was 74.8% White, 16.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.5% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.[33]

Of those households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[32]

There were 6,270 housing units, of which 13.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.5% were owner-occupied and 19.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.[32]

Education

[edit]

The Jasper County School District has four schools, including the Jasper County High School.

Notable people

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See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b US 2020 Census Bureau report, Jasper County, Georgia
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ - GeorgiaInfo Jasper County Courthouse history Archived April 24, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ GeorgiaInfo.com - Georgia Counties in Order of Creation Archived February 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, University of Georgia
  6. ^ "Find Nine Bodies in Georgia Peonage Inquiry" (PDF). New York Times. March 21, 1921. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  7. ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104952/?ref_=ttloc_loc_tt [user-generated source]
  8. ^ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  9. ^ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  10. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  12. ^ "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 20, 2015.
  13. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  14. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  16. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024.
  17. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  18. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  19. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  20. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  21. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  22. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Georgia - Table 58 - Race by Sex: 1980 and Table 59 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 12-52. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
  23. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 15-65. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 1, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  24. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Jasper County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jasper County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jasper County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  27. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  28. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  29. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  30. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  31. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  32. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  33. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  34. ^ "Susan Holmes' Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  35. ^ "Past Citizens of the Year - 2001 Susan D. Holmes". jaspercountycoc.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
[edit]

33°19′N 83°41′W / 33.32°N 83.69°W / 33.32; -83.69

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