Toombs County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,030.[1] The county seat is Lyons[2] and the largest city is Vidalia. The county was created on August 18, 1905.
Toombs County | |
|---|---|
 Former Toombs County Courthouse in Lyons | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Georgia | |
 Georgia's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 32°07′N 82°20′W / 32.12°N 82.34°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | August 18, 1905 |
| Named for | Robert Toombs |
| Seat | Lyons |
| Largest city | Vidalia |
| Area | |
• Total | 371 sq mi (960 km2) |
| • Land | 364 sq mi (940 km2) |
| • Water | 7.0 sq mi (18 km2) 1.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 27,030 |
| • Density | 74/sq mi (29/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 12th |
| Website | www |
Toombs County is part of the Vidalia micropolitan statistical area.
History
editToombs County was founded as the 144th county in Georgia by the State Legislature on August 18, 1905, and organized on October 9 of that year. The county was originally formed from portions of Tattnall and Montgomery Counties; a small piece of Emanuel County was added in 1907 to give Toombs County its present-day boundaries.
The county is named for Robert Toombs, United States representative and senator.[3] During the Civil War, Toombs also served in the Confederate Provisional Congress, as Secretary of State of the Confederate States, and a brigadier general in the Confederate Army.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 8,208 | 75.22% | 2,674 | 24.51% | 30 | 0.27% |
| 2020 | 7,873 | 72.14% | 2,938 | 26.92% | 103 | 0.94% |
| 2016 | 6,615 | 72.39% | 2,338 | 25.59% | 185 | 2.02% |
| 2012 | 6,524 | 69.72% | 2,746 | 29.35% | 87 | 0.93% |
| 2008 | 6,658 | 68.61% | 2,964 | 30.54% | 82 | 0.85% |
| 2004 | 6,196 | 70.25% | 2,567 | 29.10% | 57 | 0.65% |
| 2000 | 4,487 | 62.23% | 2,643 | 36.66% | 80 | 1.11% |
| 1996 | 3,646 | 51.81% | 2,763 | 39.26% | 628 | 8.92% |
| 1992 | 3,609 | 48.18% | 2,648 | 35.35% | 1,233 | 16.46% |
| 1988 | 4,433 | 78.89% | 1,152 | 20.50% | 34 | 0.61% |
| 1984 | 4,470 | 65.21% | 2,385 | 34.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 2,835 | 45.75% | 3,255 | 52.53% | 107 | 1.73% |
| 1976 | 2,126 | 34.44% | 4,047 | 65.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1972 | 4,080 | 85.80% | 675 | 14.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,397 | 24.52% | 896 | 15.72% | 3,405 | 59.76% |
| 1964 | 3,543 | 67.77% | 1,685 | 32.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,038 | 31.97% | 2,209 | 68.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 565 | 19.07% | 2,397 | 80.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 723 | 21.49% | 2,641 | 78.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 193 | 9.57% | 1,161 | 57.59% | 662 | 32.84% |
| 1944 | 237 | 11.49% | 1,825 | 88.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 134 | 11.21% | 1,061 | 88.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 78 | 7.20% | 1,001 | 92.43% | 4 | 0.37% |
| 1932 | 54 | 2.79% | 1,868 | 96.49% | 14 | 0.72% |
| 1928 | 551 | 47.26% | 615 | 52.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 32 | 8.47% | 314 | 83.07% | 32 | 8.47% |
| 1920 | 246 | 38.26% | 397 | 61.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 33 | 6.07% | 425 | 78.13% | 86 | 15.81% |
| 1912 | 20 | 4.74% | 327 | 77.49% | 75 | 17.77% |
Geography
editAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 371 square miles (960 km2), of which 364 square miles (940 km2) is land and 7.0 square miles (18 km2) (1.9%) is water.[5]
The southern half of Toombs County, from south of Vidalia southeast to State Route 147, is located in the Altamaha River sub-basin of the larger river basin by the same name. The northern half of the county, centered on Lyons, is located in the Ohoopee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.[6]
Major highways
editAdjacent counties
edit- Emanuel County (north)
- Tattnall County (east)
- Appling County (south)
- Jeff Davis County (southwest)
- Montgomery County (west)
- Treutlen County (northwest)
- Candler County (northeast)
Communities
editCities
editCensus-designated place
editDemographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 11,206 | — | |
| 1920 | 13,897 | 24.0% | |
| 1930 | 17,165 | 23.5% | |
| 1940 | 16,952 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 17,382 | 2.5% | |
| 1960 | 16,837 | −3.1% | |
| 1970 | 19,151 | 13.7% | |
| 1980 | 22,592 | 18.0% | |
| 1990 | 24,072 | 6.6% | |
| 2000 | 26,067 | 8.3% | |
| 2010 | 27,223 | 4.4% | |
| 2020 | 27,030 | −0.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 27,040 | [7] | 0.0% |
| 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[16] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 16,007 | 59.22% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 6,980 | 25.82% |
| Native American | 31 | 0.11% |
| Asian | 207 | 0.77% |
| Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 755 | 2.79% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,044 | 11.26% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 27,030 people, 10,030 households, and 6,537 families residing in the county.
Government
editToombs County is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, headed by David Sikes, the chairman. It is also governed by Alvie Kight Jr., who has been Sheriff since 1997.
Politics
editNotable people
edit- Mel Blount (football hall of famer and founder of Mel Blount Youth Home)
- Nick Eason (former NFL player and current NFL assistant defensive line coach)
- Craig Campbell (country music singer)
- Fred Stokes (former pro football player)
- Travares Tillman (professional football player)
- Don Collins (former professional baseball player)
- Paul Claxton (PGA tour professional golfer)
- Wally Moses (former professional baseball player)
- Algur H. Meadows (oilman, businessman)
- Iris Blitch (politician)
- Carl Simpson (former professional baseball player)
- Don Harris (journalist killed during Jonestown Massacre)
- Ben Utt (professional football player)
- Paul Anderson (strongest man)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Toombs County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 228. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
- ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
- ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
- ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
- ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
- ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
- ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
External links
edit- Welcome to the Georgia General Assembly Archived July 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Home page. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- Toombs County Sheriff's Office