Johnson county was created by the Georgia legislature December 11, 1858, from parts ofEmanuel,Laurens, andWashington counties. Johnson County was named for Georgia governor, senator, and U.S. vice-presidential candidateHerschel Vespasian Johnson.[3]
In 1919, a deputy driving Jim Waters, a black prisoner accused of rape, out of the county was stopped by a group of 150 men at a bridge over the Ohoopee River. The men tied Waters to a tree and shot him numerous times. The case was closed without any investigation.[4]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 307 square miles (800 km2), of which 303 square miles (780 km2) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km2) (1.2%) is water.[5]
The vast majority of Johnson County is located in theOhoopee River sub-basin of theAltamaha River basin. Tiny portions of the northeastern borders of the county are located in the UpperOgeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin, while the western corner of Johnson County is located in the LowerOconee River sub-basin of theAltamaha River basin.[6]
Johnson 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.
In 1970, Johnson County schools integrated peacefully due to careful planning by the county's board of education and firm management by superintendent Buren Claxton.
The county's public schools are located in Wrightsville. The school mascot is the Trojan, and the school colors are blue and white. The school fight song is the theme from the movieHang 'Em High.
Herschel Walker, a Johnson County native, played on the county's only state championship football team in 1979.Walker went on to play for theUniversity of Georgia and won theHeisman Trophy. In 2004 Johnson County High School named its football field for Walker.
