Richmond County, Georgia

History

The county is named for Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond, a British politician and office-holder sympathetic to the cause of the American colonies. Richmond was also a first cousin to King George III.

Richmond County was established in 1777 by the first Constitution of the (newly independent) State of Georgia. As such, it is one of the original counties of the state. It was formed from a portion of the colonial Parish of St. Paul after the Revolution disestablished the Church of England in the (former) Royal Province of Georgia.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 329 sqmi, of which 324 sqmi is land and 4.3 sqmi (1.3%) is water.

The vast majority of Richmond County is located in the Middle Savannah River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin, with just the southwestern corner of the county, from a line running north from Blythe through the middle of Fort Gordon, located in the Brier Creek sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.

Adjacent counties

• Edgefield County, South Carolina (north)
• Aiken County, South Carolina (northeast)
• Burke County (south)
• Jefferson County (southwest)
• McDuffie County (west)
• Columbia County (northwest)

Pedestrians and cycling

• Augusta Canal Historic Trail
• New Bartram Trail
• Phinizy Swamp Constructed Wetlands Trail
• River Levee Trail
• Riverwalk Augusta Trail

Communities

Cities

• Augusta (county seat)
• Blythe
• Hephzibah

Army installation

• Fort Gordon

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 206,607 people and 42,363 families residing in the county. The median age was 35.5 years, 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18, and 15.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.6 males age 18 and over. 91.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 8.3% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 34.4% White, 55.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.3% from some other race, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.5% of the population.

There were 82,363 households in the county, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 39.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 92,057 housing units, of which 10.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 49.5% were owner-occupied and 50.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.2%.

Politics

As of the 2020s, Richmond County is a strongly Democratic Party voting county, voting 67.79% for Kamala Harris in 2024. Similar to most urban counties in the state with majority African American populations, Richmond County has backed the Democratic Party candidate by increasing margins since 1992. However, in every presidential election from 1952 to 1988 which did not have Georgian Jimmy Carter on the ballot, the county backed the Republican candidate for president. In 1968 it was one of only eight counties in Georgia where George Wallace came in third. Prior to 1952, the county voted like a typical Solid South county, voting for Democratic presidential candidates by landslide margins until backing Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond in 1948. 1928 was an exception to this rule with Herbert Hoover beating Al Smith handily due to anti-Catholic sentiment.

For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Richmond County is part of Georgia's 12th congressional district, currently represented by Rick Allen. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Richmond County is divided between District 22 and District 23. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Richmond County is part of districts 126, 127, 129, 130 and 132.

Transportation

Major highways

Education

All of Richmond County is in the Richmond County School System.

Notable people

• David E. Twiggs
• John Twiggs
• Levi Twiggs

References

References

1. "Richmond County".
2. "Census - Geography Profile: Richmond County, Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. Krakow, Kenneth K.. (1975). "Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins". Winship Press.
4. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
5. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
6. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
8. (1880). "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800". United States Census Bureau.
9. (1910). "1910 Census of Population - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
10. (1930). "1930 Census of Population - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
11. (1940). "1940 Census of Population - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
12. (1950). "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -". United States Census Bureau.
13. (1980). "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
14. (2000). "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
15. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Richmond County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
16. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Richmond County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
17. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Richmond County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
18. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
19. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
20. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
21. "Georgia General Assembly".
22. "Georgia General Assembly".
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
24. (November 5, 2022). "2022 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
25. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Richmond County, GA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].