Grady County, Georgia

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Grady County, Georgia
Grady County Courthouse
Location in the state of Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded	August 17, 1905 (1905)
Named for	Henry W. Grady
Seat	Cairo
Largest city	Cairo
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	460 sq mi (1,191 km²) 455 sq mi (1,178 km²) 5.7 sq mi (15 km²), 1.2%
Population  - (2020)  - Density	26,236 55/sq mi (21/km²)
Congressional district	2nd
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.gradycountyga.gov

Grady County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,236. The county seat is Cairo.

History

Grady County was created by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on August 17, 1905, from portions of Decatur and Thomas Counties.

The county is named for Henry W. Grady, editor of the Atlanta Constitution and noted orator.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 460 square miles (1,200 km²), of which 455 square miles (1,180 km²) is land and 5.7 square miles (15 km²) (1.2%) is water.

The bulk of Grady County, centered on Cairo, is located on the Upper Ochlockonee River sub-basin of the larger Ochlockonee River basin. The county's northwestern corner is located in the Lower Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). Grady County's western border, from Whigham south, and all of its southern border, is located in the Lower Ochlockonee River sub-basin of the same Ochlockonee River basin. Finally, a very small chunk of the county's southeastern portion, bisected by U.S. Route 319, is located in the Apalachee Bay-St. Marks sub-basin of the Ochlockonee River basin.

Grady County includes part of the Red Hills Region.

Major highways

• U.S. Route 84
• U.S. Route 319
• State Route 35
• State Route 38
• State Route 38 Spur
• State Route 93
• State Route 111
• State Route 112
• State Route 188
• State Route 262

Adjacent counties

• Mitchell County - north
• Thomas County - east
• Leon County, Florida - south
• Gadsden County, Florida - southwest
• Decatur County - west

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	18,457		—
1920	20,306		10.0%
1930	19,200		−5.4%
1940	19,654		2.4%
1950	18,928		−3.7%
1960	18,015		−4.8%
1970	17,826		−1.0%
1980	19,845		11.3%
1990	20,279		2.2%
2000	23,659		16.7%
2010	25,011		5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 23,659 people, 8,797 households, and 6,509 families living in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 9,991 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.61% White, 30.15% Black or African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.20% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. 5.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,797 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 16.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 22.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.30% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,656, and the median income for a family was $34,253. Males had a median income of $27,181 versus $20,128 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,278. About 16.70% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.90% of those under age 18 and 19.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 25,011 people, 9,418 households, and 6,730 families living in the county. The population density was 55.0 inhabitants per square mile (21.2 /km²). There were 10,760 housing units at an average density of 23.7 per square mile (9.2 /km²). The racial makeup of the county was 62.8% white, 28.7% black or African American, 0.7% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 5.7% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 16.1% were American, 9.2% were English, and 8.6% were Irish.

Of the 9,418 households, 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.5% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.10. The median age was 37.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,247 and the median income for a family was $39,159. Males had a median income of $32,396 versus $28,917 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,785. About 22.0% of families and 25.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.5% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

Grady County Racial Composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White	14,715	56.09%
Black or African American	7,285	27.77%
Native American	89	0.34%
Asian	110	0.42%
Pacific Islander	6	0.02%
Other/Mixed	758	2.89%
Hispanic or Latino	3,273	12.48%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 26,236 people, 9,136 households, and 6,320 families residing in the county.

Education

Grady County Schools operates public schools.

Communities

Cities

• Cairo
• Whigham

Census-designated place

• Calvary

Unincorporated communities

• Beachton

Politics

United States presidential election results for Grady County, Georgia

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	7,034	65.70%	3,619	33.80%	54	0.50%
2016	6,053	65.33%	3,013	32.52%	199	2.15%
2012	5,924	62.93%	3,419	36.32%	70	0.74%
2008	5,775	61.63%	3,539	37.77%	57	0.61%
2004	5,068	61.80%	3,092	37.70%	41	0.50%
2000	3,894	58.09%	2,721	40.59%	88	1.31%
1996	2,674	43.23%	2,862	46.27%	649	10.49%
1992	2,370	39.28%	2,520	41.77%	1,143	18.95%
1988	2,989	61.10%	1,883	38.49%	20	0.41%
1984	3,886	63.22%	2,261	36.78%	0	0.00%
1980	2,018	39.44%	3,023	59.08%	76	1.49%
1976	1,209	24.34%	3,758	75.66%	0	0.00%
1972	3,732	81.02%	874	18.98%	0	0.00%
1968	561	9.67%	1,425	24.56%	3,817	65.78%
1964	2,983	61.25%	1,887	38.75%	0	0.00%
1960	592	18.90%	2,541	81.10%	0	0.00%
1956	496	15.53%	2,697	84.47%	0	0.00%
1952	643	18.77%	2,782	81.23%	0	0.00%
1948	244	11.19%	1,516	69.54%	420	19.27%
1944	223	11.84%	1,661	88.16%	0	0.00%
1940	224	13.20%	1,461	86.09%	12	0.71%
1936	163	8.91%	1,659	90.71%	7	0.38%
1932	60	2.66%	2,184	96.89%	10	0.44%
1928	439	27.25%	1,172	72.75%	0	0.00%
1924	100	6.35%	1,449	92.06%	25	1.59%
1920	232	20.73%	887	79.27%	0	0.00%
1916	39	4.89%	675	84.59%	84	10.53%
1912	21	3.66%	453	78.92%	100	17.42%
1908	238	25.08%	463	48.79%	248	26.13%

See also

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

External links

• Grady County historical marker
• GeorgiaInfo Grady County Courthouse history
• The New Georgia Encyclopedia entry for Grady County Archived June 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine