Telfair County, Georgia

History

Archaeologists associated with Atlanta's Fernbank Museum of Natural History have been excavating a 2,000-acre (8.1 km²) plot near McRae-Helena, approximately a mile away from the Ocmulgee River. They have found evidence of a Spanish settlement dating to the first half of the 16th century. The archaeologists suspect that the artifacts originated from a settlement founded by Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón in 1526.

Additional research suggested that the site was one visited by the de Soto Expedition of 1541. They recovered Murano glass beads, made in Venice and brought by the Spanish for trading with Native Americans; pottery fragments, and iron weapons. Some of the beads bear a chevron pattern. This is believed to be a hallmark of the de Soto expedition, due to the limited period in which such beads were produced. Excavations have also produced six metal objects, including three iron tools and a silver pendant. The site is further west than scholars had earlier believed that the de Soto expedition had traveled, based on documentation from his expedition.

Telfair County was established on December 10, 1807. Development of the county largely took place after Indian Removal of historic tribes who had occupied the area for thousands of years. It is named for Edward Telfair, the sixteenth governor of Georgia and a member of the Continental Congress.

Many of the first European-American settlers were Scottish immigrants. Cotton plantations dominated the economy into the early 20th century, based on the labor of enslaved African Americans.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 square miles (1,150 km²), of which 437 square miles (1,130 km²) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km²) (1.5%) is water. The county contains at least 50 artesian wells.

The southern two-thirds of Telfair County, bordered by a line from Milan east to Lumber City, are located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The northern portion of the county is located in the Little Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin.

Adjacent counties

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,794 people, 4,140 households, and 2,873 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 5,083 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 59.71% White, 38.44% Black or African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 1.16% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 1.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,140 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.40% were married couples living together, 16.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.50% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 110.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,097, and the median income for a family was $32,513. Males had a median income of $26,444 versus $19,970 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,197. About 17.30% of families and 21.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.40% of those under age 18 and 23.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 16,500 people, 5,543 households, and 3,609 families residing in the county. The population density was 37.7 inhabitants per square mile (14.6/km²). There were 7,297 housing units at an average density of 16.7 per square mile (6.4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 57.0% white, 36.5% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 4.1% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 32.1% were English, and 6.6% were American.

Of the 5,543 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.9% were non-families, and 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 39.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,876 and the median income for a family was $36,109. Males had a median income of $27,278 versus $28,253 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,420. About 23.3% of families and 31.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.1% of those under age 18 and 29.5% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

Town

Unincorporated communities