Bibb County, Georgia
Bibb County | |
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UTC−4 (EDT) | |
Congressional districts | 2nd, 8th |
Website | www |
Bibb County is located in the
Bibb County has a consolidated city-county government following a merger of the county with its county seat and largest city, Macon, in 2014. They were later joined in this consolidated government in 2015 by the county's only other municipality, Payne City.[2]
History
This area was inhabited for thousands of years by successive indigenous peoples. The
For centuries, the historic
In the late 18th century, the cotton gin was invented, making profitable the processing of short-staple cotton. This could be grown across the uplands of the South, in contrast to the long-staple cotton of the Low Country. Bibb is considered one of the counties of the
Bibb County was created by act of the
The county was named for Dr.
Civil War to present
During the Civil War, an estimated 10% of the white males in the county lost their lives while serving in the
Well into the 20th century, the county depended on cotton and other agriculture as its economic base. It was subject to related vagaries of weather, financial markets, and the devastation of the invasive boll weevil in the early 20th century, which destroyed cotton crops across the South.
After the Civil War and during the 20th century, the county seat of Macon continued to serve as the county's principal population center, site of the most significant landmarks, and the location of major historical events.
On July 31, 2012, voters in the City of Macon (57.8% approval) and Bibb County (56.7% approval) passed a referendum to merge the governments of the city and the county, based on the authorization of House Bill 1171 passed by the Georgia General Assembly earlier in the year.[5] Four previous consolidation attempts (in 1933, 1960, 1972, and 1976) had failed.[6][7][8] The consolidation took effect on January 1, 2014, along with the deannexation from the city of a small portion of land in Jones County.
In addition to Macon, Bibb County contained one other municipality, Payne City (or Payne), an enclave of around 200 people that was surrounded entirely by the preconsolidation City of Macon. In the 2012 referendum, Payne City voters rejected consolidation by a vote of 9 to 7, so it was not merged into the consolidated government. In early 2015, at the request of the small city's government, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill dissolving Payne City, merging it with the rest of Macon-Bibb County.[2]
Geography
According to the
Adjacent counties
- Jones County – northeast
- Twiggs County – east
- Houston County – south
- Peach County – south-southwest
- Crawford County – southwest
- Monroe County – northwest
National protected areas
- Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Ocmulgee National Monument
Communities
Cities
Unincorporated communities
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1830 | 7,154 | — | |
1840 | 9,802 | 37.0% | |
1850 | 12,699 | 29.6% | |
1860 | 16,291 | 28.3% | |
1870 | 21,255 | 30.5% | |
1880 | 27,147 | 27.7% | |
1890 | 42,370 | 56.1% | |
1900 | 50,473 | 19.1% | |
1910 | 56,646 | 12.2% | |
1920 | 71,304 | 25.9% | |
1930 | 77,042 | 8.0% | |
1940 | 83,783 | 8.7% | |
1950 | 114,079 | 36.2% | |
1960 | 141,249 | 23.8% | |
1970 | 143,418 | 1.5% | |
1980 | 150,256 | 4.8% | |
1990 | 149,967 | −0.2% | |
2000 | 153,887 | 2.6% | |
2010 | 155,547 | 1.1% | |
2020 | 157,346 | 1.2% | |
2023 (est.) | 156,512 | [11] | −0.5% |
U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790-1880[13] 1890-1910[14] 1920-1930[15] 1930-1940[16] 1940-1950[17] 1960-1980[18] 1980-2000[19] 2010[20] 2020[21] |
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000[22] | Pop 2010[20] | Pop 2020[21] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH)
|
76,262 | 65,494 | 56,787 | 49.56% | 42.11% | 36.09% |
Black or African American alone (NH)
|
72,503 | 80,744 | 85,234 | 47.11% | 51.91% | 54.17% |
Alaska Native alone (NH)
|
255 | 287 | 281 | 0.17% | 0.18% | 0.18% |
Asian alone (NH) | 1,632 | 2,492 | 3,209 | 1.06% | 1.60% | 2.04% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 35 | 74 | 42 | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
Other race alone (NH) | 92 | 215 | 602 | 0.06% | 0.14% | 0.38% |
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,085 | 1,852 | 4,454 | 0.71% | 1.19% | 2.83% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,023 | 4,389 | 6,737 | 1.31% | 2.82% | 4.28% |
Total | 153,887 | 155,547 | 157,346 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 157,346 people, 56,726 households, and 33,573 families residing in the county.
Crime
In 2022, Bibb County had the highest crime rate in Georgia. Bibb County had a rate of 52.6 crimes per 1,000 residents. The most common was larceny theft, of which there were 3,694 incidents, while the second most common crime was aggravated assault, with 1,911 committed. Overall, Bibb had the highest crime rate for seven of the ten crime categories, including murder, robbery, motor vehicle theft and arson.[23]
Government and politics
Since the 2014 consolidation, Macon-Bibb has been governed by a mayor, elected
Like all other Georgia counties, Bibb has an elected
Elections
In 2013, the consolidated city-county held its first elections. Macon's incumbent mayor Robert Reichert received 49% of the vote in the general election on September 17 over the other five mayoral candidates, but a winner had to take a majority of the vote. Reichert subsequently won 63% of the vote in a runoff election against former Macon mayor C. Jack Ellis.[28] Reichert was unopposed for re-election in 2016, following the death of his only opponent before the election. Under the city-county charter, the mayor is subject to term limits and may serve only two consecutive terms. Reichert had to leave office in December 2020.[29]
As an urban county with a majority African-American population, voters in Bibb County today consistently vote at high rates for
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 26,559 | 37.53% | 43,408 | 61.34% | 796 | 1.12% |
2016 | 24,043 | 38.24% | 36,787 | 58.50% | 2,050 | 3.26% |
2012 | 25,623 | 39.54% | 38,585 | 59.54% | 595 | 0.92% |
2008 | 27,037 | 40.69% | 38,987 | 58.67% | 424 | 0.64% |
2004 | 28,107 | 48.64% | 29,322 | 50.74% | 359 | 0.62% |
2000 | 24,071 | 48.36% | 24,996 | 50.22% | 709 | 1.42% |
1996 | 20,778 | 41.61% | 26,727 | 53.53% | 2,427 | 4.86% |
1992 | 19,847 | 36.72% | 28,070 | 51.93% | 6,132 | 11.35% |
1988 | 22,179 | 49.96% | 22,084 | 49.74% | 133 | 0.30% |
1984 | 24,170 | 47.77% | 26,427 | 52.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
1980 | 15,175 | 31.53% | 31,770 | 66.01% | 1,185 | 2.46% |
1976 | 12,819 | 28.66% | 31,902 | 71.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
1972 | 27,402 | 72.87% | 10,201 | 27.13% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 13,490 | 32.59% | 10,579 | 25.55% | 17,328 | 41.86% |
1964 | 25,641 | 58.98% | 17,831 | 41.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 10,523 | 42.24% | 14,387 | 57.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 7,242 | 32.61% | 14,966 | 67.39% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 6,121 | 29.42% | 14,687 | 70.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 3,837 | 27.26% | 7,011 | 49.80% | 3,229 | 22.94% |
1944 | 1,884 | 26.04% | 5,352 | 73.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 1,371 | 16.85% | 6,729 | 82.70% | 37 | 0.45% |
1936 | 452 | 7.29% | 5,722 | 92.34% | 23 | 0.37% |
1932 | 405 | 8.42% | 4,372 | 90.93% | 31 | 0.64% |
1928 | 2,078 | 47.58% | 2,289 | 52.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 455 | 10.38% | 3,647 | 83.17% | 283 | 6.45% |
1920 | 458 | 18.41% | 2,030 | 81.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
1916 | 58 | 2.51% | 2,048 | 88.77% | 201 | 8.71% |
1912 | 71 | 3.70% | 1,741 | 90.82% | 105 | 5.48% |
1908 | 565 | 21.91% | 1,946 | 75.46% | 68 | 2.64% |
1904 | 236 | 9.86% | 2,117 | 88.47% | 40 | 1.67% |
1900 | 250 | 11.42% | 1,897 | 86.66% | 42 | 1.92% |
1896 | 670 | 18.36% | 1,854 | 50.81% | 1,125 | 30.83% |
1892 | 641 | 14.67% | 3,627 | 83.00% | 102 | 2.33% |
1888 | 1,121 | 32.45% | 2,215 | 64.11% | 119 | 3.44% |
1884 | 857 | 33.17% | 1,727 | 66.83% | 0 | 0.00% |
1880 | 908 | 36.38% | 1,588 | 63.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
United States Congress
Senators | Name | Party | Assumed Office | Level | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senate Class 2 | Raphael Warnock | Democratic | 2021 | ||
Senate Class 3 | Jon Ossoff | Democratic | 2021 | ||
Representatives | Name | Party | Assumed Office | ||
District 2 | Sanford Bishop | Democratic | 1993 | ||
District 8 | Austin Scott | Republican | 2011 |
Georgia General Assembly
Georgia State Senate
District | Name | Party | Assumed office | |
---|---|---|---|---|
18 | John F. Kennedy | Republican | 2015 | |
25 | Burt Jones | Republican | 2013 | |
51 | David Lucas | Democratic | 2011 |
Georgia House of Representatives
District | Name | Party | Assumed office | |
---|---|---|---|---|
140 | Robert Dickey
|
Republican | 2011 | |
141 | Allen Peake | Republican | 2011 | |
142 | Miriam Paris | Democratic | 2017 | |
143 | James Beverly | Democratic | 2011 | |
144 | Bubber Epps | Republican | 2008 |
Recreation
Lake Tobesofkee, about 10 miles (16 km) west of Macon, has three parks. Claystone, Sandy Beach, and Arrowhead Parks, each with a beach, and children's playgrounds. Sandy Beach has lighted tennis courts, a water park with many attractions, and a softball field.[36]
Transportation
Major highways
- Interstate 16
- Interstate 75
- Interstate 475
- U.S. Route 23
- U.S. Route 41
- U.S. Route 41 Business (Macon)
- U.S. Route 80
- U.S. Route 129
- U.S. Route 129 Alternate (Macon)
- State Route 11
- State Route 19
- State Route 22
- State Route 49
- State Route 74
- State Route 87
- State Route 87 Connector
- State Route 247
- State Route 401(unsigned designation for I-75)
- State Route 404(unsigned designation for I-16)
- State Route 408(unsigned designation for I-475)
- State Route 540 (Fall Line Freeway)
Pedestrians and cycling
- Heritage Trail
- Ocmulgee Heritage Trail
See also
References
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Bibb County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ a b Lee, Maggie (April 1, 2015). "Payne City officially dissolved". The Telegraph | Macon.com. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
- ^ Charles M. Hudson, Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun, University of Georgia Press, 1997, pp. 157-162
- ISBN 9780865545984.
- ^ "HB 1171 - Macon-Bibb County; create and incorporate new political body corporate". Archived from the original on October 30, 2012.
- ^ City-County Consolidation Proposals, 1921 - Present Archived July 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, National Association of Counties. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ "The Effects on City-County Consolidation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ Consolidation pass for Macon and Bibb county in the 2012 vote.CONSOLIDATION OF CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS: ATTEMPTS IN FIVE CITIES Archived January 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 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.
- ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bibb County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bibb County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bibb County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ https://metroatlantaceo.com/news/2023/12/georgia-counties-highest-crime-rates/#:~:text=The%20Georgia%20county%20with%20the%20second%20highest,robbery%20and%20motor%20vehicle%20theft%2C%20as%20well
- ^ Jim Gaines (July 28, 2012). "Last details of Macon-Bibb consolidation debate aired". The Telegraph.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Mike Stucka (July 31, 2012). "Macon-Bibb County consolidation wins with strong majorities". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on July 19, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ Erica Lockwood (July 13, 2012). "Consolidation: 3 Areas of Macon and Bibb Affected Differently". 13 WMAZ. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013.
- ^ "Sheriff David Davis | bibbsheriff.us". Retrieved June 17, 2019.
- ^ "Election Race Results | Macon, GA - Warner Robins, GA | 13WMAZ.com". Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
- ^ Dunlap, Stanley (May 25, 2016). "Reichert reveals plans for final term, reflects on past". The Telegraph | Macon.com. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
- ^ "Statewide Advisory Flag Referendum". Georgia Secretary of State. July 7, 2004. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20051118120032/http://geoelections.free.fr/. Archived from the original on November 18, 2005. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ "House Members List". Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ "Senate Members List". Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ "Georgia Counties by 2012 Legislative and Congressional District" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ "Tobesofkee parks and beaches". Retrieved June 2, 2012.