Barrow County was created from portions of Gwinnett, Jackson, and Walton counties when Georgia voters approved a constitutional amendment on November 3, 1914, making Barrow County the 149th Georgia county; there are now 159. Barrow County was named after David Crenshaw Barrow Jr., aUniversity of Georgia mathematics and engineering professor who was later Chancellor serving in that position from 1906 to 1925. Barrow died on January 11, 1929, in Athens and is buried in Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens.[3]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 163 square miles (420 km2), of which 160 square miles (410 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (1.6%) is water.[4] The entirety of Barrow County is located in the UpperOconee River sub-basin of theAltamaha River basin.[5]
Barrow 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.
At the2020 United States census, there were 83,505 people,[18] 27,765 households, and 20,948 families residing in the county. In 2010, there were 69,367 people, 23,971 households, and 18,214 families living in the county.[19] The population density was 432.7 inhabitants per square mile (167.1/km2). There were 26,400 housing units at an average density of 164.7 per square mile (63.6/km2).[20]
In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 84.84%White, 10.72%Black orAfrican American, 0.30%Native American, 2.20%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 1.50% fromother races, and 1.40% from two or more races. 3.16% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. Barrow County is considered a part of the Atlanta, GA combined statistical area despite its comparatively small population. In 2010, the racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 78.8% White, 11.4% Black or African American, 3.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.7% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.7% of the population.[19] In terms of ancestry, 20.6% wereAmerican, 10.7% wereIrish, 9.1% wereGerman, and 8.5% wereEnglish.[21] By the 2020 census, its racial and ethnic makeup was 66.56%non-Hispanic white, 12.14% Black or African American, 0.16% American Indian or Alaska Native; 0.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.55% some other race, 4.05% multiracial, and 12.65% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[18]
In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $48,958 and the median income for a family was $55,415. Males had a median income of $42,869 versus $33,175 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,882. About 9.4% of families and 12.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.[22] According to the 2022American Community Survey, its median household income was $78,216 with a per capita income of $30,903. Approximately 9.5% of the population lived at or below the poverty line.[23]
