Elbert County, Georgia

Elbert County is a located in the  of. It was created on December 10, 1790. As of 2000, the population was 20,511. The 2005 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,799. The is.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 970 (375 ). 955 km² (369 sq mi) of it is land and 15 km² (6 sq mi) of it (1.54%) is water.

Major Highways

 * [[Image:Georgia 17.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:Georgia 72.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:Georgia 77.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:Georgia 79.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:Georgia 172.svg|25px]]
 * [[Image:Georgia 368.svg|25px]]

Adjacent Counties

 * (northeast)
 * (east)
 * (southeast)
 * (southeast)
 * (south)
 * (southwest)
 * (west)
 * (north-northwest)

Demographics
As of the of 2000, there were 20,511 people, 8,004 households, and 5,770 families residing in the county. The was 21/km² (56/sq mi). There were 9,136 housing units at an average density of 10/km² (25/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 66.94%, 30.85% or , 0.20% , 0.24% , 0.03% , 1.06% from , and 0.68% from two or more races. 2.38% of the population were or  of any race.

There were 8,004 households out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.90% were living together, 15.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,724, and the median income for a family was $34,276. Males had a median income of $27,221 versus $19,737 for females. The for the county was $14,535. About 14.60% of families and 17.30% of the population were below the, including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 17.20% of those age 65 or over.

Famous residents
Though a rural county, Elbert County has been home to many legends. Included in these are Revolutionary War heroine, who resided in southern Elbert County, and the Rev. , a popular minister and ferry operator, who may have been the inspiration for the song "". The county was also home to, author of "A Circuit Rider's Wife," a book that later inspired the popular movie "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain." , deceased, was Governor of Georgia from 1780-1781. Hon., deceased, who served as a Justice of the from 1910-1916, was born in Elbert County. Statesman and Judge Young L.G. Harris, deceased, for whom is named, was born in Elbert County. Former U.S. Secretary of War and 1824 U.S. Presidential candidate, as well as famed American explorer , lived at Petersburg township, which is now part of Elbert County. Legendary guitarist Baby Tate (Charles Henry Tate) was born in Elbert County. Recording artists, popular on the college music circuit, include two members from Elbert County, JoJo Glidewell and Jay Gulley.

Judiciary and government
Elbert County is part of the Northern Judicial Circuit of Georgia, which also includes the counties of Hart, Franklin, Madison, and Oglethorpe. Superior Court Judges for the Circuit are Hon. John H. Bailey of Elbert County, Hon. Lindsay A. Tise of Hart County, and Hon. Thomas L. Hodges of Elbert County. The District Attorney for the Northern Judicial Circuit is Hon. Robert W. Lavender of Elbert County, and the Public Defender for the circuit is Joel Shiver of Franklin County. Elbert County also has a State Court (jurisdictionally similar to the "District Courts" of other states), and the Elbert County State Court is served by Hon. Richard Campbell, Judge, and Hon. Gary Aston, Solicitor-General. Hon. Lanie Simmons is the Chief Judge of the Elbert County Magistrate Court, and Hon. Susan Sexton is the Judge of the Elbert County Probate Court.

Elbert County's governing authority, the Elbert County Board of Commissioners, is comprised of five Commissioners elected in districts, a Chairperson elected County-wide, and an appointed County Administrator. Current members of the Board of Commissioners are Tommy Lyon - Chairman, Horace Harper - Vice-Chairman, W. D. Albertson, Tim Case, Jerry Hewell, and John Hubbard. The current County Administrator is Bob Thomas. County officials include Hon. Barry Haston, Sheriff, County Clerk Phyllis Thompson, County Attorney Bill Daughtry, Hon. Susan Sexton, Election Superintendent, Chief Registrar Mae Davis, Hon. Pat Anderson, Clerk of Courts, Hon. Lorrie Higginbotham, Tax Commissioner, Board of Assessors Members Jim Purcell, Edwin Shive, and Francis Hubbard, and Chief Appraiser Kevin Cameron.

Civic organizations
Elbert County has many active civic organizations including, but not limited to, the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce, Elbert County Historical Society, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Pilot Club, Elbert Theatre Foundation (part of the Georgia Council for the Arts), NAACP, Boys and Girls Club, Elbert Civic League (part of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs), and Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, many local churches have very active missions programs, and many trade organizations, such as the Elbert Granite Association, are active. Elbert attorney Robert M. Heard, deceased, served as President of the State Bar of Georgia. Elberton has produced a past international president of Pilot Club International, Cynthia Weaver, and two past Governors of the Georgia District of Kiwanis International, Bob Lambertson and Hon. William F. Grant, deceased. John Stephen Jenkins, an Elbert County resident and attorney, served as District Governor for Rotary International District 6910, 2000-2001. Elbert County resident John Clarke has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia NAACP, and has also been awarded the prestigious Justice Robert Benham Public Service Award. Elbert County resident Joyce Davis has published a number of books on the history and architecture of Elbert County.

Historical and cultural sites
Historical and cultural sites in Elbert County include the cabin, the  gravesite, the  Cemetery, the Petersburg Township site, Vans Creek Church, the Elbert County Courthouse, the Elberton Seaboard-Airline Depot, the Rock Gym, the Granite Bowl, the Elberton Granite Museum and Exhibit, the Richard B. Russell Dam, the Elbert Theatre, the, Richard B. Russell State Park, and Bobby Brown State Park.