Wheeler County, Georgia | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wheeler County Courthouse (built 1917), Alamo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofGeorgia | |
 Georgia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:32°07′N82°43′W / 32.12°N 82.72°W /32.12; -82.72 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | November 5, 1912; 113 years ago (1912) |
| Named after | Joseph Wheeler |
| Seat | Alamo |
| Largest city | Alamo |
| Area | |
• Total | 300 sq mi (780 km2) |
| • Land | 295 sq mi (760 km2) |
| • Water | 4.8 sq mi (12 km2) 1.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,471 |
| • Density | 25/sq mi (9.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 12th |
| Website | wheelercounty |
Wheeler County is acounty located in thesouthern portion of theU.S. state ofGeorgia. As of the2020 census, the population was 7,471.[1] Thecounty seat isAlamo.[2]
Wheeler County is named afterConfederate GeneralJoseph Wheeler.[3] The constitutional amendment to create the county was proposed August 14, 1912, and ratified November 5, 1912.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 300 square miles (780 km2), of which 295 square miles (760 km2) is land and 4.8 square miles (12 km2) (1.6%) is water.[4]
The eastern portion of Wheeler County, defined by a line running from north ofAlamo to the southern border of the county, due south ofMount Vernon, is located in the LowerOconee River sub-basin of theAltamaha River basin. The bulk of the rest of the county is located in the LittleOcmulgee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin, except for a small southern portion of Wheeler County, east ofLumber City, which is located in the LowerOcmulgee River sub-basin of the larger Altamaha River basin.[5]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 9,817 | — | |
| 1930 | 9,149 | −6.8% | |
| 1940 | 8,535 | −6.7% | |
| 1950 | 6,712 | −21.4% | |
| 1960 | 5,342 | −20.4% | |
| 1970 | 4,596 | −14.0% | |
| 1980 | 5,155 | 12.2% | |
| 1990 | 4,903 | −4.9% | |
| 2000 | 6,179 | 26.0% | |
| 2010 | 7,421 | 20.1% | |
| 2020 | 7,471 | 0.7% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 7,076 | [6] | −5.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1880[8] 1890-1910[9] 1920-1930[10] 1930-1940[11] 1940-1950[12] 1960-1980[13] 1980-2000[14] 2010[15] | |||
At the2000 census there were 6,179 people, 2,011 households, and 1,395 families living in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8/km2). There were 2,447 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 64.56% White, 33.18% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 1.25% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 3.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 2,011 households 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples living together, 13.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 27.80% of households were one person and 14.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08.
The age distribution was 22.40% under the age of 18, 10.20% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 128.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 139.80 males.
The median household income was $24,053 and the median family income was $29,696. Males had a median income of $27,203 versus $22,679 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,005. About 21.60% of families and 25.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 30.20% of those under age 18 and 26.70% of those age 65 or over.
At the2010 census, there were 7,421 people, 2,152 households, and 1,519 families living in the county. The population density was 25.1 inhabitants per square mile (9.7/km2). There were 2,625 housing units at an average density of 8.9 per square mile (3.4/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 61.3% white, 35.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 2.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 32.4% wereEnglish, and 8.1% wereAmerican. Of the 2,152 households, 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 26.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 37.9 years.
The median household income was $35,422 and the median family income was $45,042. Males had a median income of $35,114 versus $25,329 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,043. About 14.3% of families and 24.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and 36.4% of those age 65 or over.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 4,157 | 55.64% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,875 | 38.48% |
| Native American | 9 | 0.12% |
| Asian | 17 | 0.23% |
| Other/Mixed | 141 | 1.89% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 272 | 3.64% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 7,471 people, 1,862 households, and 1,159 families residing in the county.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1916 | 40 | 9.03% | 372 | 83.97% | 31 | 7.00% |
| 1920 | 101 | 22.39% | 350 | 77.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 0 | 0.00% | 772 | 88.84% | 97 | 11.16% |
| 1928 | 101 | 24.46% | 312 | 75.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 29 | 2.51% | 1,127 | 97.41% | 1 | 0.09% |
| 1936 | 94 | 13.64% | 594 | 86.21% | 1 | 0.15% |
| 1940 | 117 | 19.02% | 495 | 80.49% | 3 | 0.49% |
| 1944 | 151 | 22.60% | 517 | 77.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 39 | 4.41% | 560 | 63.28% | 286 | 32.32% |
| 1952 | 261 | 16.94% | 1,280 | 83.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 149 | 13.06% | 992 | 86.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 226 | 18.90% | 970 | 81.10% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 849 | 46.42% | 980 | 53.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 251 | 15.00% | 488 | 29.17% | 934 | 55.83% |
| 1972 | 1,093 | 78.80% | 294 | 21.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 344 | 19.98% | 1,378 | 80.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 550 | 25.16% | 1,599 | 73.15% | 37 | 1.69% |
| 1984 | 833 | 51.84% | 774 | 48.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 709 | 51.64% | 658 | 47.92% | 6 | 0.44% |
| 1992 | 601 | 35.37% | 880 | 51.80% | 218 | 12.83% |
| 1996 | 460 | 33.90% | 751 | 55.34% | 146 | 10.76% |
| 2000 | 813 | 51.62% | 752 | 47.75% | 10 | 0.63% |
| 2004 | 1,192 | 58.03% | 847 | 41.24% | 15 | 0.73% |
| 2008 | 1,408 | 63.60% | 794 | 35.86% | 12 | 0.54% |
| 2012 | 1,366 | 63.09% | 772 | 35.66% | 27 | 1.25% |
| 2016 | 1,421 | 67.60% | 646 | 30.73% | 35 | 1.67% |
| 2020 | 1,583 | 69.28% | 689 | 30.15% | 13 | 0.57% |
| 2024 | 1,648 | 72.41% | 622 | 27.33% | 6 | 0.26% |
Places adjacent to Wheeler County, Georgia | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofWheeler County, Georgia,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated community | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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