Heard County, Georgia

History

Heard County was created by Act of the Legislature on December 22, 1830. It was named for Stephen Heard, 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 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

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.

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).

Major highways

Adjacent counties

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,012 people, 4,043 households, and 3,040 families residing in the county. The population density was 14/km² (37/sq mi). There were 4,512 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (15/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 87.48% White, 10.82% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,043 households out of which 37.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county, the population was spread out with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,038, and the median income for a family was $39,306. Males had a median income of $31,900 versus $22,492 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,132. About 10.50% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 11,834 people, 4,400 households, and 3,157 families residing in the county. The population density was 40.0 inhabitants per square mile (15.4/km²). There were 5,148 housing units at an average density of 17.4 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.9% white, 9.8% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 16.2% were American, 11.6% were Irish, 9.0% were German, and 7.4% were English.

Of the 4,400 households, 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.3% were non-families, and 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age was 39.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,685 and the median income for a family was $47,591. Males had a median income of $41,185 versus $31,507 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,077. About 16.7% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.6% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities