Irwin County, Georgia

Irwin County, Georgia
Irwin County Courthouse, Ocilla
Location in the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 15, 1818
Seat	Ocilla
Largest city	Ocilla
Area
• Total	363 sq mi (940 km2)
• Land	354 sq mi (917 km2)
• Water	8.4 sq mi (22 km2), 2.3%
Population
• (2010)	9,538
• Density	27/sq mi (10/km²)
Congressional district	8th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.ocillachamber.net

Irwin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,538. The county seat is Ocilla. The county was created on December 15, 1818. It was named for Governor Jared Irwin.

The Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site [1] is in Irwin County.

Georgia Sweet Potato Festival

Ocilla is home to the annual Georgia Sweet Potato Festival which is currently held on the last Saturday in October.

The first festival was held on November 21, 1961. The major address was by Agriculture Commissioner Phil Campbell. Ginger Gail Land was selected the first Sweet Potato Princess. One of the most popular parts of the festival was the cooking competition and display of dishes from favorite sweet potato recipes. The winning recipes were published and widely distributed.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 363 square miles (940 km²), of which 354 square miles (920 km²) is land and 8.4 square miles (22 km²) (2.3%) is water.

The majority and entire central and western portion of Irwin County, bordered by a line running southeast from Fitzgerald, is located in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. The eastern corner of the county is located in the Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys-Satilla River basin

Major highways

• U.S. Route 129
• U.S. Route 319
• State Route 11
• State Route 32
• State Route 35
• State Route 90
• State Route 107
• State Route 125
• State Route 158
• State Route 206

Adjacent counties

• Ben Hill County (north) (created 1906 from Irwin and Wilcox counties)
• Coffee County (east) (created in 1854 from Clinch, Irwin, Telfair, and Ware counties.)
• Berrien County (south) (created in 1856 from Coffee, Irwin, and Lowdnes counties)
• Tift County (southwest) (created 1905 from Berrien, Irwin, and Worth counties.)
• Turner County (northwest) (created from Dooly, Irwin, Wilcox, and Worth counties)

History

The territories of Appling, Irwin, and Early counties were land newly ceded in 1814 and 1818. These counties were created by a legislative act on December 15, 1818. All or portions of Irwin's five adjacent counties were created from Irwin county along with all of Cook, Colquitt, Lanier, Lowdnes, counties and portions of Atkinson, Brooks, Echols, Wilcox, and Worth counties. Irwin was divided into 16 districts of 20 miles and 10 chains square with lots of 70 chains square containing 490 acres according to the Act of 1818. In 1820 each lot was priced at $18, but by 1831 the price was down to $5 per lot.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	411		—
1830	1,180		187.1%
1840	2,038		72.7%
1850	3,334		63.6%
1860	1,699		−49.0%
1870	1,837		8.1%
1880	2,696		46.8%
1890	6,316		134.3%
1900	13,645		116.0%
1910	10,461		−23.3%
1920	12,670		21.1%
1930	12,199		−3.7%
1940	12,936		6.0%
1950	11,973		−7.4%
1960	9,211		−23.1%
1970	8,036		−12.8%
1980	8,988		11.8%
1990	8,649		−3.8%
2000	9,931		14.8%
2010	9,538		−4.0%
Est. 2014	9,104		−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,931 people, 3,644 households, and 2,696 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 4,149 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.98% White, 25.88% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,644 households out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.80% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,257, and the median income for a family was $35,234. Males had a median income of $28,827 versus $20,532 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,867. About 13.50% of families and 17.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.30% of those under age 18 and 20.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 9,538 people, 3,495 households, and 2,475 families residing in the county. The population density was 26.9 inhabitants per square mile (10.4/km²). There were 4,033 housing units at an average density of 11.4 per square mile (4.4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.4% white, 25.9% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 16.4% were American, 13.1% were English, and 9.3% were Irish.

Of the 3,495 households, 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.2% were non-families, and 25.8% of all 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 38.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,376 and the median income for a family was $51,262. Males had a median income of $40,070 versus $23,786 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,561. About 14.9% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.1% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Ocilla

Unincorporated communities

• Irwinville
• Mystic
• Waterloo
• Wray

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Irwin County, Georgia