Peach County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,981.[1] Its county seat is Fort Valley.[2] Founded in 1924, it is the state's newest county, taken from Houston and Macon counties on July 18 of that year.[3] Its namesake is the peach on account of it being located in a peach-growing district.[4]

Peach County
Peach County Courthouse in Fort Valley
Peach County Courthouse in Fort Valley
Map of Georgia highlighting Peach County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°34′N 83°50′W / 32.56°N 83.83°W / 32.56; -83.83
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedJuly 18, 1924; 100 years ago (1924-07-18)
Named forPeach fruit
SeatFort Valley
Largest cityFort Valley
Area
 • Total
151 sq mi (390 km2)
 • Land150 sq mi (400 km2)
 • Water1.0 sq mi (3 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
27,981
 • Density187/sq mi (72/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.peachcounty.net

Peach County is included in the Warner Robins, GA metropolitan statistical area, which is included in the Macon-Warner Robins, GA combined statistical area.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 151 square miles (390 km2), of which 150 square miles (390 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.7%) is water.[5] It is the fifth-smallest county in Georgia by area.

The majority of Peach County is located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. A small portion of the northern edge of the county, north of Byron, is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The very western tip of Peach County is located in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin).[6]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Communities

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Cities

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
193010,268
194010,3781.1%
195011,70512.8%
196013,84618.3%
197015,99015.5%
198019,15119.8%
199021,18910.6%
200023,66811.7%
201027,69517.0%
202027,9811.0%
2023 (est.)28,805[7]2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1880[9] 1890-1910[10]
1920-1930[11] 1930-1940[12]
1940-1950[13] 1960-1980[14]
1980-2000[15] 2010[16] 2020[17]
Peach County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
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.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000[18] Pop 2010[16] Pop 2020[17] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 11,654 12,499 12,119 49.24% 45.13% 43.31%
Black or African American alone (NH) 10,682 12,647 12,139 45.13% 45.67% 43.38%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 66 59 63 0.28% 0.21% 0.23%
Asian alone (NH) 77 222 194 0.33% 0.80% 0.69%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 8 8 6 0.03% 0.03% 0.02%
Other race alone (NH) 21 26 98 0.09% 0.09% 0.35%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 162 344 815 0.68% 1.24% 2.91%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 998 1,890 2,547 4.22% 6.82% 9.10%
Total 23,668 27,695 27,981 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 27,981 people, 10,136 households, and 6,596 families residing in the county.

Education

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It is in the Peach County School District.[19] Peach County High School is the comprehensive high school.

Politics

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Since the 1990s, Peach County has been a bellwether,[20] usually voting for the winning candidate in United States presidential elections. It has voted for the national winner in six of the past eight elections, only picking the national loser in 2000 and 2020.[21] Before this, Peach County voted for the Democratic candidate in most elections during the 20th century, often by large margins.

United States presidential election results for Peach County, Georgia[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 7,105 52.81% 6,293 46.77% 57 0.42%
2020 6,506 51.82% 5,922 47.17% 126 1.00%
2016 5,413 50.08% 5,100 47.18% 296 2.74%
2012 5,287 45.83% 6,148 53.29% 102 0.88%
2008 5,173 46.20% 5,927 52.94% 96 0.86%
2004 4,554 53.24% 3,961 46.31% 39 0.46%
2000 3,525 49.39% 3,540 49.60% 72 1.01%
1996 2,676 39.63% 3,582 53.05% 494 7.32%
1992 2,327 33.37% 3,677 52.73% 969 13.90%
1988 2,782 48.00% 2,972 51.28% 42 0.72%
1984 2,652 44.05% 3,369 55.95% 0 0.00%
1980 1,642 31.76% 3,415 66.05% 113 2.19%
1976 1,163 22.57% 3,989 77.43% 0 0.00%
1972 3,747 60.83% 2,413 39.17% 0 0.00%
1968 904 23.16% 1,362 34.89% 1,638 41.96%
1964 1,970 55.40% 1,585 44.57% 1 0.03%
1960 628 30.47% 1,433 69.53% 0 0.00%
1956 461 23.03% 1,541 76.97% 0 0.00%
1952 374 19.70% 1,523 80.24% 1 0.05%
1948 166 13.91% 642 53.81% 385 32.27%
1944 236 20.43% 919 79.57% 0 0.00%
1940 155 17.24% 738 82.09% 6 0.67%
1936 49 5.91% 767 92.52% 13 1.57%
1932 56 8.54% 595 90.70% 5 0.76%
1928 208 26.67% 572 73.33% 0 0.00%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Peach County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Peach County". georgia.gov. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  4. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 172. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  10. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  11. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  12. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  13. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  14. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  15. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  16. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Peach County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Peach County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Peach County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Peach County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 1, 2022. - Text list
  20. ^ David Wasserman (October 6, 2020), "The 10 Bellwether Counties That Show How Trump Is in Serious Trouble", The New York Times
  21. ^ "Pivot Counties in Georgia", ballotpedia.org, retrieved September 23, 2024
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.

Further reading

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32°34′N 83°50′W / 32.56°N 83.83°W / 32.56; -83.83