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Henry County, Georgia

Coordinates:33°28′N84°10′W/ 33.46°N 84.16°W/33.46; -84.16
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Henry County
County
Henry County Courthouse and Confederate monument
Henry County Courthouseand Confederate monument
Seal
Logo
Map of Georgia highlighting Henry County
Location within the U.S. state ofGeorgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within theU.S.
Coordinates:33°28′N84°10′W/ 33.46°N 84.16°W/33.46; -84.16
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
FoundedMay 15, 1821;203 years ago(1821-05-15)
Named forPatrick Henry
SeatMcDonough
Largest cityStockbridge
Area
• Total327 sq mi (850 km2)
• Land322 sq mi (830 km2)
• Water4.4 sq mi (11 km2) 1.4%
Population
(2020)
• Total240,712
Time zoneUTC−5(Eastern)
• Summer (DST)UTC−4(EDT)
Congressional districts3rd,10th,13th
Websitehenrycountyga.gov

Henry Countyis located in the north central portion of theU.S. stateofGeorgia.According to the 2020 census,[1][2]the population of Henry County was 240,712, up from 203,922 in 2010. Theseat of governmentisMcDonough.[3]The county was named forPatrick Henry.[4]

Henry County is part of theAtlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area.TheHenry County Courthouseis listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.

History

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Henry County, Georgia, was created by the Georgia State Legislature in 1821 from land acquired from theCreek IndianNation by theFirst Treaty of Indian Springs.Henry's original land area was much larger than it is today, stretching from nearIndian Springs(present-dayIndian Springs State Park) in the south to theChattahoochee Rivernear Sandy Springs in the north; encompassing most of present-day Metropolitan Atlanta. Before one year had passed, the size of the county was diminished through the separation of land areas which, in whole or in part, became the present-dayDeKalb,Fulton,FayetteandNewtoncounties. Later divisions resulted inClayton,Spalding,RockdaleandButtscounties.

In the beginning Henry County was a virgin wilderness, having just been ceded from the Creek Nation. Prior to 1821, the Creeks and a few trappers and traders were the only residents of this area. The Creek Indians left their mark through place names, a few small Indian Mounds scattered around the county and through the arrowheads and broken pottery which can be found throughout Henry County.

Jesse Johnson, son of John Johnson and great-grandfather ofU.S. PresidentLyndon Baines Johnson,was a "first settler" of Henry County. He was a prosperous farmer, the second sheriff (1822–1835), and judge, before he moved toTexas.[5] Jonesboro Road stretches through the county.[6]In 1995, Henry County was the sixth-fastest-growing county in the United States.[7]

Geography

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According to theU.S. Census Bureau,the county has a total area of 327 square miles (850 km2), of which 322 square miles (830 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (1.4%) is water.[8]

The vast majority of Henry County is located in the UpperOcmulgee Riversub-basin of theAltamaha Riverbasin, with just a very small western corner, west ofHampton,located in the UpperFlint Riversub-basin of theACF River Basin(Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin).[9]

Adjacent counties

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Government and politics

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The Henry County Board of Commissioners is responsible for administering county government to residents. Four commissioners are elected by voters in individual districts, while the commission chairman is elected countywide and serves as the county's chief executive. June Wood, the former commission chair, was the first African-American to serve in the position after being elected in a December 2016 run-off election. She left office in December 2020 after losing her bid for re-election. As of January 2023, the following individuals serve the county on the Board of Commissioners:

Henry County Board of Commissioners[10]
Name Party District
Carlotta Harris-Harrell Democratic Chairman (at-large)
Johnny Wilson Republican 1
Neat Robinson Democratic 2
Dee Anglyn III Republican 3
Vivian Thomas Democratic 4
Kevin Lewis Democratic 5

Prior to1984,Henry County had a presidential voting pattern typical of any otherSolid Southcounty in Georgia, consistently awarding landslide margins to Democrats. In 1920, it was one of three counties in the state (alongsideBleckleyandColumbia) to give 100% of the vote to Democratic nomineeJames M. Cox.[11]The first Republican to win Henry County wasRichard Nixonin1972,doing so with 77.93% of the vote,[12]though it returned to the Democratic column when native GeorgianJimmy Carterwon it in1976and1980.

From1984to2004,Henry County was a Republican stronghold, consistent with several Atlanta suburbs, as well as other suburban areas across the country.[13]Strong margins in Henry County and other Atlanta suburbs were vital to Republicans' performance, offsetting strongly Democratic Black voters in Atlanta proper.[14]Republican dominance peaked in 1988, whenGeorge H.W. Bushwon 71.11% of the vote to Michael Dukakis' 28.41%, a 42.7% margin of victory.[15]During this time, no Democrat managed to attain even 40 percent of the county's vote.

In the 2010s, the county rapidly flipped from being safely Republican at the start of the decade to safely Democratic by the end, thanks to explosive population growth that brought an influx of Democratic-leaning minority voters into the county, and a growing Democratic trend among suburban voters in general.[13]TheAfrican Americanpercentage of the population increased from 14.7% in the2000 Censusto 36.9% in2010and 48.4% in2020,while thewhiteproportion of the population fell from 81.4% in 2000 to 55.0% in 2010 and 35.9% in 2020.[16]In the2004 election,DemocratJohn Kerryhad lost the county by 33.7%, but in2008[17]and2012,DemocratBarack Obamalost the county by only 7.4% and 3.3% respectively.[18]In2016,Hillary Clintonwon the county for the Democrats for the first time in 36 years, by a 4.4 percentage point margin of victory, in spite of the rightward shift taken by the rest of the country.[19]In2020,the county swung 16.1 points deeper into the Democratic column, the largest Democratic swing of any county in the country in that election,[20]culminating inJoe Bidenwinning the county by 20.5 percentage points as he carried Georgia. In doing so, Biden turned in the best showing for a non-Georgian Democrat in the county sinceJohn F. Kennedyin 1960. The Democratic trend continued in2022,with Henry County being one of the few counties whereStacey Abramsimproved on her2018margin against RepublicanBrian Kempeven as she performed worse statewide. She took 61% of the vote, andRaphael WarnockdefeatedHerschel Walkerwith a similar share of the vote in the concurrent Senaterace.

United States presidential election results for Henry County, Georgia[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 48,259 39.23% 73,443 59.70% 1,314 1.07%
2016 45,724 46.02% 50,057 50.38% 3,586 3.61%
2012 46,774 51.10% 43,761 47.81% 996 1.09%
2008 47,157 53.29% 40,567 45.85% 762 0.86%
2004 42,759 66.57% 21,096 32.84% 380 0.59%
2000 25,815 66.42% 11,971 30.80% 1,081 2.78%
1996 16,968 58.36% 9,498 32.67% 2,608 8.97%
1992 12,634 52.03% 7,817 32.19% 3,833 15.78%
1988 10,882 71.11% 4,348 28.41% 74 0.48%
1984 9,142 69.06% 4,096 30.94% 0 0.00%
1980 5,326 47.27% 5,635 50.01% 307 2.72%
1976 2,622 31.44% 5,717 68.56% 0 0.00%
1972 5,155 77.93% 1,460 22.07% 0 0.00%
1968 2,017 25.41% 2,317 29.19% 3,604 45.40%
1964 3,125 46.58% 3,583 53.41% 1 0.01%
1960 1,041 26.04% 2,957 73.96% 0 0.00%
1956 848 24.34% 2,636 75.66% 0 0.00%
1952 553 17.60% 2,589 82.40% 0 0.00%
1948 229 12.41% 1,400 75.84% 217 11.76%
1944 152 9.42% 1,461 90.58% 0 0.00%
1940 101 6.11% 1,551 93.77% 2 0.12%
1936 116 7.83% 1,362 91.90% 4 0.27%
1932 21 1.37% 1,496 97.65% 15 0.98%
1928 360 32.06% 763 67.94% 0 0.00%
1924 53 7.42% 594 83.19% 67 9.38%
1920 0 0.00% 608 100.00% 0 0.00%
1916 78 7.54% 868 83.86% 89 8.60%
1912 15 2.23% 536 79.64% 122 18.13%
1908 369 45.22% 369 45.22% 78 9.56%
1904 64 8.19% 464 59.41% 253 32.39%
1900 378 35.36% 639 59.78% 52 4.86%
1896 568 46.56% 569 46.64% 83 6.80%
1892 578 30.99% 718 38.50% 569 30.51%
1888 512 30.60% 1,136 67.90% 25 1.49%
1884 694 42.66% 933 57.34% 0 0.00%
1880 506 42.27% 691 57.73% 0 0.00%

Transportation

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Major highways

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Pedestrians and cycling

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  • Reeves Creek Trail[22]

Transit systems

[edit]
  • Henry County operates its own reservation-based transit service for use by county residents.[23]In addition,Xpress,a regional commuter bus service operated by theGeorgia Regional Transportation Authority,serves park-and-ride lots in Stockbridge, Hampton, and McDonough.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
183010,566—
184011,75611.3%
185014,72625.3%
186010,702−27.3%
187010,102−5.6%
188014,19340.5%
189016,22014.3%
190018,60214.7%
191019,9277.1%
192020,4202.5%
193015,924−22.0%
194015,119−5.1%
195015,8574.9%
196017,61911.1%
197023,72434.7%
198036,30953.0%
199058,74161.8%
2000119,341103.2%
2010203,92270.9%
2020240,71218.0%
2023 (est.)254,613[24]5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[25]
1790-1880[26]1890-1910[27]
1920-1930[28]1930-1940[29]
1940-1950[30]1960-1980[31]
1980-2000[32]2010[33]2020[33]

2020 census

[edit]
Henry County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the U.S. 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 2000[34] Pop 2010[33] Pop 2020[35] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
Whitealone (NH) 95,550 107,083 86,297 80.06% 52.51% 35.85%
Black or African Americanalone (NH) 17,435 74,056 116,431 14.61% 36.32% 48.37%
Native AmericanorAlaska Nativealone (NH) 245 482 427 0.21% 0.24% 0.18%
Asianalone (NH) 2,062 5,902 7,976 1.73% 2.89% 3.31%
Pacific Islanderalone (NH) 45 110 119 0.04% 0.05% 0.05%
Other racealone (NH) 162 504 1,650 0.14% 0.25% 0.69%
Mixed race or Multiracial(NH) 1,150 3,972 9,375 0.96% 1.95% 3.89%
Hispanic or Latino(any race) 2,692 11,813 18,437 2.26% 5.79% 7.66%
Total 119,341 203,922 240,712 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the2020 United States census,there were 240,712 people, 79,550 households, and 60,471 families residing in the county.

2010 Census

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As of the2010 United States Census,there were 203,922 people, 70,255 households, and 54,445 families residing in the county.[36]The population density was 633.0 inhabitants per square mile (244.4/km2). There were 76,533 housing units at an average density of 237.6 per square mile (91.7/km2).[37]The racial makeup of the county was 55.0% white, 36.9% black or African American, 2.9% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.4% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.8% of the population.[36]In terms of ancestry, 10.7% wereAmerican,9.3% wereIrish,9.2% wereGerman,and 8.2% wereEnglish.[38]

Of the 70,255 households, 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 22.5% were non-families, and 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.29. The median age was 35.3 years.[36]

The median income for a household in the county was $63,923 and the median income for a family was $70,972. Males had a median income of $50,198 versus $39,785 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,773. About 6.3% of families and 8.3% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.[39]

2000 Census

[edit]

As of thecensus of 2000,[16]there were 119,341 people, 41,373 households, and 33,305 families residing in the county. The population density was 370 inhabitants per square mile (140/km2). There were 43,166 housing units at an average density of 134 per square mile (52/km2). Theracial makeupof the county was 81.38% White, 14.68% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.76% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 2.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Census Estimates from the 2008 American Community Survey indicate that the African-American population is 32.6%.

There were 41,373 households, out of which 42.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.40% weremarried couplesliving together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.50% were non-families. 15.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.20% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 34.90% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 7.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $57,309, and the median income for a family was $61,607. Males had a median income of $41,449 versus $29,211 for females. Theper capita incomefor the county was $22,945. About 3.70% of families and 4.90% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 5.50% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

[edit]

Goya Foodshas its Atlanta offices in anunincorporated areanearMcDonough.[40]

Additionally, a pair of warehouses used to exist along US 23 south of McDonough, one of which was owned byWhirlpool Corporation,and the other byToys 'R' Us.

Media

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WKKPis the local radio media outlet. It broadcasts 24 hours a day on 100.9 FM and 1410 AM, and has a classic country format.

TheHenry Heraldis the local county news print media.

Sports

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The semi-professional soccer teamGeorgia Revolution FCplays in theNational Premier Soccer Leagueat theWarhawk Stadium.

Atlanta Motor Speedwayis located in Henry County and hosts an annual NASCAR race and many other events throughout the year, including the 2021Publix Atlanta Marathon,which moved to the Speedway premises.

Education

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Local public schools are operated by theHenry County Schools.[citation needed]

Enriched Virtual Program

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Alternative schools

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  • EXCEL Academy (known as Patrick Henry alternative)
  • Mainstay Academy (GNETS - Special Education)

Private schools

[edit]

Higher education

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Mercer Universityhas a Regional Academic Center inMcDonough.The center, opened in 2003, offers programs through the university's College of Continuing and Professional Studies and Mercer's Tift College of Education.Clayton State UniversityandGordon Collegealso offer a range of college courses at the Academy for Advanced Studies in McDonough.

Southern Crescent Technical College's Henry County Center (in McDonough) offers programs in Allied Health, Business Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Computer Information Systems, Personal Services, Public Safety, and Drafting Technology.[43]

Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

[edit]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^"Henry County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau".quickfacts.census.gov.RetrievedMarch 24,2018.
  2. ^US Census Bureau, 2020 Report, Henry County, Georgia
  3. ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2011.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
  4. ^Gannett, Henry (1905).The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States.Govt. Print. Off. pp.155.
  5. ^ Caro, Robert A.(1983).The Path to Power.The Years of Lyndon Johnson.New York:Alfred A. Knopf.p.15.ISBN0394499735.LCCN90201781.
  6. ^"Henry County takes steps to begin Jonesboro Road widening project".RetrievedApril 12,2023.
  7. ^"Fastest-growing counties, 1990-95".usatoday30.usatoday.com.RetrievedFebruary 23,2016.
  8. ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.February 12, 2011.RetrievedApril 23,2011.
  9. ^"Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience".Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission.RetrievedNovember 19,2015.
  10. ^"Henry County Board of Commissioners | Board of Commissioners".www.co.henry.ga.us.RetrievedFebruary 24,2023.
  11. ^Scammon, Richard M. (compiler);America at the Polls: A Handbook of Presidential Election Statistics 1920-1964;pp. 96-98ISBN0405077114
  12. ^"1972 Presidential General Election Results - Georgia".Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  13. ^abTavernise, Sabrina; Gebeloff, Robert (October 25, 2019)."Are the Suburbs Turning Democratic?".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  14. ^Savicki, Drew (October 26, 2020)."The Road to 270: Georgia".270toWin.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  15. ^"1988 Presidential General Election Results - Georgia".Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  16. ^ab"U.S. Census".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 14,2011.
  17. ^"2008 Presidential General Election Results - Henry County, GA".Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  18. ^"2012 Presidential General Election Results - Henry County, GA".Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  19. ^"2016 Presidential General Election Results - Henry County, GA".Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  20. ^"2020 Presidential Election Statistics".Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  21. ^Leip, David."Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".uselectionatlas.org.RetrievedMarch 20,2018.
  22. ^"Loading site please wait..."www.cityofstockbridge.com.
  23. ^"Henry County Board of Commissioners > Departments > S - Z > Transit Department".www.co.henry.ga.us.RetrievedMarch 20,2018.
  24. ^"Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMarch 31,2024.
  25. ^"Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades".United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^"1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  27. ^"1910 Census of Population - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  28. ^"1930 Census of Population - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  29. ^"1940 Census of Population - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  30. ^"1950 Census of Population - Georgia -"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  31. ^"1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  32. ^"2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  33. ^abc"P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Henry County, Georgia".United States Census Bureau.
  34. ^"P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Henry County, Georgia".United States Census Bureau.
  35. ^"P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Henry County, Georgia".United States Census Bureau.
  36. ^abc"DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedDecember 30,2015.
  37. ^"Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedDecember 30,2015.
  38. ^"DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedDecember 30,2015.
  39. ^"DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedDecember 30,2015.
  40. ^"Contact Us."Goya Foods.Retrieved on March 26, 2016. "Goya Foods of Atlanta 4005 Haworth Parkway McDonough, GA 30253"
  41. ^"Home".Bible Baptist Christian School.
  42. ^"NHA - Welcome to North Henry Academy".northhenryacademy.com.
  43. ^"Henry County Center | About Southern Crescent".Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 23,2016.
[edit]

33°28′N84°10′W/ 33.46°N 84.16°W/33.46; -84.16

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