Treutlen County (/ˈtruːtlɪn/ TROOT-lin) is a county located in the east central and Magnolia midlands portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,406.[1] The county seat is Soperton.[2] Treutlen County is host to the Million Pines Arts and Crafts Festival which takes place during the first weekend in November.
Treutlen County | |
|---|---|
 Treutlen County Courthouse in Soperton | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Georgia | |
 Georgia's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 32°24′N 82°34′W / 32.4°N 82.57°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | November 5, 1918 |
| Named for | John A. Treutlen |
| Seat | Soperton |
| Largest city | Soperton |
| Area | |
• Total | 202 sq mi (520 km2) |
| • Land | 199 sq mi (520 km2) |
| • Water | 3.0 sq mi (8 km2) 1.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,406 |
| • Density | 32/sq mi (12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 12th |
| Website | treutlencountygov.com |
History
editBefore colonization, the area was home to the Muscogee.[3] Following the American Revolution, the location's wiregrass (Aristida stricta) attracted settlers, and a timber industry began to develop around the area's longleaf pine forests, supporting occupations from cabinetmaking and milling to turpentine and other naval stores production.[3]
The area's landscape made it difficult to build roads, resulting in a sparse population until after the Civil War when railroads arrived. In 1902, the Macon, Dublin and Savannah Railroad completed its extension from Macon to Vidalia and constructed a railroad depot near Lothair. The newly-incorporated town of Soperton quickly outgrew Lothair due to the new rail link.[3]
An official process to create Treutlen County was spearheaded by Neil L. Gillis, known as the "father of Treutlen County" due to his efforts. The state constitutional amendment to create Treutlen County was proposed by the Georgia General Assembly on August 21, 1917, and ratified November 5, 1918, officially making it Georgia's 154th county.[3] The county is made up of former sections of Emanuel and Montgomery counties, and is named for John A. Treutlen,[4] Georgia's first state governor following adoption of the state Constitution of 1777. By this time, as Soperton had become larger than Lothair, it was the clear choice for county seat.[3]
During the 1920s, a local cotton farmer named James Fowler planted over 7 million pine trees across 10,000 acres of land. Fowler worked together with scientist Charles Herty, who developed a process to use pine pulp to create paper.[3]
Geography
editAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 202 square miles (520 km2), of which 199 square miles (520 km2) is land and 3.0 square miles (7.8 km2) (1.5%) is water.[5] Approximately 90% of the county is forested.[6]
The western portion of Treutlen County, west of Soperton, is located in the Lower Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The eastern portion of the county is located in the Ohoopee River sub-basin of the larger Altamaha River basin.[7]
Major highways
edit
Adjacent counties
edit- Emanuel County (northeast)
- Montgomery County (southeast)
- Wheeler County (southwest)
- Laurens County (west)
- Johnson County (northwest)
Communities
editCity
edit- Soperton (county seat)
Unincorporated community
editDemographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 7,664 | — | |
| 1930 | 7,488 | −2.3% | |
| 1940 | 7,632 | 1.9% | |
| 1950 | 6,522 | −14.5% | |
| 1960 | 5,874 | −9.9% | |
| 1970 | 5,647 | −3.9% | |
| 1980 | 6,087 | 7.8% | |
| 1990 | 5,994 | −1.5% | |
| 2000 | 6,854 | 14.3% | |
| 2010 | 6,885 | 0.5% | |
| 2020 | 6,406 | −7.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 6,341 | [8] | −1.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1880[10] 1890-1910[11] 1920-1930[12] 1930-1940[13] 1940-1950[14] 1960-1980[15] 1980-2000[16] 2010[17] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 4,065 | 63.46% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,999 | 31.21% |
| Native American | 19 | 0.3% |
| Asian | 7 | 0.11% |
| Other/Mixed | 146 | 2.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 170 | 2.65% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,406 people, 2,490 households, and 1,654 families residing in the county.
Politics
edit| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 2,250 | 72.09% | 864 | 27.68% | 7 | 0.22% |
| 2020 | 2,101 | 68.28% | 952 | 30.94% | 24 | 0.78% |
| 2016 | 1,809 | 66.93% | 862 | 31.89% | 32 | 1.18% |
| 2012 | 1,652 | 60.05% | 1,074 | 39.04% | 25 | 0.91% |
| 2008 | 1,826 | 61.65% | 1,112 | 37.54% | 24 | 0.81% |
| 2004 | 1,691 | 61.22% | 1,052 | 38.09% | 19 | 0.69% |
| 2000 | 1,062 | 54.10% | 879 | 44.78% | 22 | 1.12% |
| 1996 | 723 | 41.10% | 912 | 51.85% | 124 | 7.05% |
| 1992 | 898 | 38.31% | 1,116 | 47.61% | 330 | 14.08% |
| 1988 | 970 | 57.19% | 726 | 42.81% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1984 | 1,086 | 56.30% | 843 | 43.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 668 | 33.33% | 1,307 | 65.22% | 29 | 1.45% |
| 1976 | 465 | 22.88% | 1,567 | 77.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1972 | 1,346 | 86.50% | 210 | 13.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 474 | 25.00% | 341 | 17.99% | 1,081 | 57.01% |
| 1964 | 722 | 35.15% | 1,331 | 64.80% | 1 | 0.05% |
| 1960 | 216 | 18.90% | 927 | 81.10% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 117 | 10.86% | 960 | 89.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 101 | 6.66% | 1,416 | 93.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 26 | 3.86% | 413 | 61.37% | 234 | 34.77% |
| 1944 | 34 | 3.67% | 893 | 96.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 38 | 3.11% | 1,184 | 96.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 23 | 2.46% | 912 | 97.44% | 1 | 0.11% |
| 1932 | 36 | 4.07% | 849 | 95.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 64 | 14.04% | 392 | 85.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 27 | 10.71% | 222 | 88.10% | 3 | 1.19% |
| 1920 | 107 | 28.92% | 263 | 71.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Treutlen County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Cooksey, Elizabeth B. "Treutlen County". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 246. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ Jones, Carson (June 2019). "Community Wildfire Protection Plan" (PDF). Georgia Forestry Commission.
- ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 27, 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 January 31, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.