Columbia County, Georgia
Columbia County | |
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UTC−4 (EDT) | |
Congressional district | 12th |
Website | www |
Columbia County is a
Columbia County is included in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan statistical area. It is located along the Savannah River.
History
Columbia County, the 12th county formed in Georgia, was created by an act of the Legislature of Georgia on December 10, 1790, from Richmond County.[4]
Prehistory and the colonial era
This area along the Savannah River had been inhabited for thousands of years by various cultures of
During the Colonial era, settlement of what would become Columbia County occurred primarily due to colonists settling at the second city in Georgia,
Because the
American Revolutionary War
Two small battles occurred in what would become the county during the Revolutionary War between
Formation of Columbia County
Just before and immediately after the
Around 1799, William Appling deeded a tract of land to the county for the purpose of building a courthouse. It was near Kiokee Creek and the Baptist Church which Marshall had founded. A courthouse was constructed, and served the county until around 1808. The small town that existed around the church and courthouse came to be known as "Columbia Courthouse." In 1809, the Baptist congregation left the town and constructed a new meeting house (a building which survives) several miles away near the junction of Kiokee and Greenbrier creeks. That same year, construction began on a new courthouse, which was completed in 1812. In 1816, Columbia Courthouse was chartered as the Town of Appling, named for the Appling family who had donated the land to the county, and for Colonel John Appling, a local resident who died in a campaign against the Seminole.
Early 19th century
Appling was the political, educational, social, and religious center of the county. Near Appling were located Mt. Carmel Academy and Columbia Institute. Mt. Carmel Academy was run by the famous Southern educator, Moses Waddel; it was here that John C. Calhoun and William H. Crawford were educated. Columbia Institute was started by a certain gentleman going by the surname Bush; he was none other than the Bushnell of Revolutionary War submariner fame.[citation needed] During the Georgia Gold Rush of the 1820s, some successful prospecting and mining occurred in Columbia County.
The 1830s were a period of major infrastructure projects and the coming of the railroad. When the Georgia Railroad was established, the judges determined that having trains' passing near Appling would disturb their proceedings; they insisted that the railway line that was built in the county from Atlanta to Augusta pass well below Appling. Construction of the Augusta Canal in the 1830s required Columbia County's cooperation, as the beginning of the canal and the locks were within the county.
In 1855, the Courthouse in Appling received a major overhaul, and after the remodeling was complete, the building was in more or less its present form. Despite the extensive project, builders retained the shell of the 1809–1812 building.
American Civil War
When Georgia seceded from the United States,
The war took a heavy toll on the white male population of the county; a plaque behind the bench in the main Courtroom bears the names of Columbia County's Confederate dead. During
Late 19th century
The railroad brought increased trade and population to Thomson. In 1870, the part of Columbia County which included Thomson, Dearing, and Wrightsboro, the 12,000 acre settlement established in 1768 by Colonial Governor James Wright as a settlement for displaced Quakers from North Carolina,[5] was combined with parts of Warren County to form McDuffie County—named after South Carolina's U.S. Senator: George McDuffie. Thomson became the county seat of the newly formed county.
On March 20, 1875, Appling suffered severe damage during a tornado. It never regained its former wealth and position in the county before the Civil War.
During Reconstruction, the legislature passed an act to establish a public school system for the first time. Like the rest of the state, the county developed segregated schools. The new communities of
20th century
The 20th century brought many changes to the county, with new technologies and modernization. In 1917, Harlem was badly damaged by fire. Bringing electricity to the county began. Men from Columbia County answered the call of duty and served in both
Between 1950 and 1990, the population increased dramatically. Agriculture declined, as farmland was redeveloped as suburban housing and community centers for persons employed in Augusta. Numerous personnel stationed at Fort Gordon eventually settled in Columbia County. During the 1960s, the schools were integrated largely without incident under the leadership of Superintendent John Pierce Blanchard. The unincorporated communities of Martinez (formerly Lulaville, named after a Cuban doctor) and Evans (possibly named after Confederate General Clement A. Evans[1]) became the population centers of the county, since they were located nearest to Augusta.
During the 1980s and 1990s and demographic shifts, Evans gradually became the de facto county seat, as the Columbia County Government Center and the Government Complex Addition were built there to serve the growing population in the county's eastern areas. Court functions remained in Appling since Georgia state law required that superior court sessions must be held at the county seat and courthouse of each county at least twice a year. In 1998, the legislature changed the law to allow counties with unincorporated county seats to hold court sessions at annexes or satellite courthouses.[1] With the 1993 passage of legislation requiring incorporated cities to provide at least three municipal services, Appling was not able to maintain its status as an incorporated city. (There was question as to whether it was ever incorporated.[6][7]) Appling was one of 187 inactive cities in Georgia that lost its charter on June 1, 1995. Today it is nearly a dead town.[1] Following these changes, the county proceeded to build an expansive Courthouse Annex in Evans, completed in 2001. Appling retains its status as de jure county seat, but all governmental functions are carried out in Evans.[1]
Historic sites in Appling include the Courthouse and Jail, the Marshall Monument, and various places associated with Kiokee Baptist Church. Other sites in the county include Stevens Creek Dam and Canal Locks, the birthplace of the comedian Oliver Hardy in Harlem, and various cemeteries.
Geography
According to the
The southern three-quarters of Columbia County is located in the Middle
Adjacent counties
- Richmond County (southeast)
- McDuffie County (west)
- Lincoln County (northwest)
- McCormick County, South Carolina (north)
- Edgefield County, South Carolina (northeast)
Bodies of water
- Clarks Hill Lake (Strom Thurmond Lake)
- Savannah River
- Kiokee Creek
- Little Kiokee Creek
- Euchee Creek
- Steiner Creek
- Tudor Branch
- Greenbrier Creek
- Boggy Gut Creek
- Cobb Creek
- Crawford Creek
- Reed Creek
- Sandy Run Creek
Geological formations
- Heggie's Rock
- Burks Mountain
- Mount Carmel
Communities
Cities
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1800 | 8,345 | — | |
1810 | 11,242 | 34.7% | |
1820 | 12,695 | 12.9% | |
1830 | 12,606 | −0.7% | |
1840 | 11,356 | −9.9% | |
1850 | 11,961 | 5.3% | |
1860 | 11,860 | −0.8% | |
1870 | 13,529 | 14.1% | |
1880 | 10,465 | −22.6% | |
1890 | 11,281 | 7.8% | |
1900 | 10,653 | −5.6% | |
1910 | 12,328 | 15.7% | |
1920 | 11,718 | −4.9% | |
1930 | 8,793 | −25.0% | |
1940 | 9,433 | 7.3% | |
1950 | 9,525 | 1.0% | |
1960 | 13,423 | 40.9% | |
1970 | 22,327 | 66.3% | |
1980 | 40,118 | 79.7% | |
1990 | 66,031 | 64.6% | |
2000 | 89,288 | 35.2% | |
2010 | 124,053 | 38.9% | |
2020 | 156,010 | 25.8% | |
2023 (est.) | 165,162 | [10] | 5.9% |
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1880[12]1890-1910[13] 1920-1930[14] 1930-1940[15] 1940-1950[16] 1960-1980[17] 1980-2000[18] 2010[19] |
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic)
|
99,111 | 63.53% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
|
27,621 | 17.7% |
Native American
|
354 | 0.23% |
Asian
|
7,102 | 4.55% |
Pacific Islander
|
271 | 0.17% |
Other/Mixed
|
9,693 | 6.21% |
Latino
|
11,858 | 7.6% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 156,010 people, 46,890 households, and 33,620 families residing in the county. The county's population went up 26% in the preceding decade.
Government and politics
Prior to 1948, Columbia County was strongly Democratic in presidential elections as a part of the Solid South. Starting with the 1948 election, it began to break away from the Democratic Party as the party became more supportive of civil rights. It voted in line with the state as a whole from 1952 to 1976, but was one of the few counties Ronald Reagan won statewide in 1980. Since then, it has become a Republican Party stronghold. Underlining this, Jimmy Carter is the last Democrat to manage even 40 percent of the county's vote.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 50,013 | 62.04% | 29,232 | 36.26% | 1,375 | 1.71% |
2016 | 43,085 | 66.07% | 18,887 | 28.96% | 3,235 | 4.96% |
2012 | 41,765 | 70.70% | 16,451 | 27.85% | 855 | 1.45% |
2008 | 39,322 | 70.89% | 15,703 | 28.31% | 441 | 0.80% |
2004 | 35,549 | 75.31% | 11,442 | 24.24% | 212 | 0.45% |
2000 | 26,660 | 74.04% | 8,969 | 24.91% | 379 | 1.05% |
1996 | 21,291 | 67.18% | 8,601 | 27.14% | 1,801 | 5.68% |
1992 | 16,657 | 59.07% | 7,115 | 25.23% | 4,428 | 15.70% |
1988 | 16,401 | 77.75% | 4,617 | 21.89% | 76 | 0.36% |
1984 | 12,294 | 76.74% | 3,727 | 23.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
1980 | 6,293 | 52.71% | 5,335 | 44.69% | 310 | 2.60% |
1976 | 3,423 | 42.27% | 4,674 | 57.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
1972 | 4,839 | 83.65% | 946 | 16.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 1,636 | 34.46% | 905 | 19.06% | 2,207 | 46.48% |
1964 | 2,575 | 64.33% | 1,428 | 35.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 1,155 | 49.25% | 1,190 | 50.75% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 463 | 34.84% | 866 | 65.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 530 | 38.43% | 849 | 61.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 59 | 5.57% | 164 | 15.47% | 837 | 78.96% |
1944 | 72 | 12.41% | 508 | 87.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 46 | 6.79% | 627 | 92.61% | 4 | 0.59% |
1936 | 34 | 4.86% | 659 | 94.14% | 7 | 1.00% |
1932 | 11 | 2.04% | 528 | 97.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
1928 | 234 | 45.61% | 279 | 54.39% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 47 | 15.67% | 213 | 71.00% | 40 | 13.33% |
1920 | 0 | 0.00% | 476 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
1916 | 6 | 1.10% | 521 | 95.60% | 18 | 3.30% |
1912 | 2 | 0.74% | 234 | 86.99% | 33 | 12.27% |
1908 | 12 | 3.51% | 144 | 42.11% | 186 | 54.39% |
1904 | 2 | 0.60% | 189 | 56.76% | 142 | 42.64% |
1900 | 42 | 15.67% | 215 | 80.22% | 11 | 4.10% |
1896 | 401 | 67.39% | 192 | 32.27% | 2 | 0.34% |
1892 | 101 | 4.75% | 451 | 21.22% | 1,573 | 74.02% |
1888 | 0 | 0.00% | 397 | 98.51% | 6 | 1.49% |
1884 | 0 | 0.00% | 402 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
1880 | 0 | 0.00% | 244 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
Moves toward incorporation
For more than a decade, there have been discussions by county officials to incorporate the county into a city. This issue first became moot in 1996 when the city of Augusta and Richmond County consolidated their governments. A state law mandating three mile buffer zones between cities effectively halted any efforts for Columbia County to incorporate, as it was contiguous to Augusta-Richmond County.
In 2005, talks of incorporating the county into a city resurfaced when the Georgia state legislature abolished the three mile buffer zone, thus allowing Sandy Springs in North Fulton County (contiguous to Atlanta) to become a city. Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross led a campaign to bring the idea of county incorporation back to life. However, it was referred to as "consolidation," since counties in Georgia alone cannot incorporate, but can rather consolidate with an existing municipality within the county. The plan was to hold a referendum to incorporate the de facto county seat, Evans (currently a census-designated place), as a city and then simultaneously consolidate it with Columbia County.
The initiative drew strong opposition from officials in
Education
Columbia County is served by the
Elementary schools
- Baker Place Elementary School
- Bel-Air Elementary School (closed May 21, 2013)
- Blue Ridge Elementary School
- Brookwood Elementary School
- Cedar Ridge Elementary School
- Euchee Creek Elementary School
- Evans Elementary School
- Greenbrier Elementary School
- Grovetown Elementary School
- Lewiston Elementary School
- Martinez Elementary School
- North Columbia Elementary School
- North Harlem Elementary School
- Parkway Elementary School
- River Ridge Elementary School
- Riverside Elementary School
- South Columbia Elementary School
- Stevens Creek Elementary School
- Westmont Elementary School
Middle schools
- Columbia Middle School
- Evans Middle School
- Greenbrier Middle School
- Grovetown Middle School
- Harlem Middle School
- Lakeside Middle School
- Riverside Middle School
- Stallings Island Middle School
High schools
- Evans High School
- Greenbrier High School
- Grovetown High School
- Harlem High School
- Lakeside High School
Other education
- Crossroads Academy (alternative school)
- Augusta Christian Schools (private)
- Augusta Preparatory Day School (private)
- Evans Christian Academy (private)
- School for Arts Infused Learning (SAIL) (public charter school, K-8)
- Savanah River Academy (private)
- Avila Catholic Academy (private)
- Augusta Science Academy (private)
Transportation
Major highways
- Interstate 20
- U.S. Route 78
- U.S. Route 221
- U.S. Route 278
- State Route 10
- State Route 28
- State Route 47
- State Route 104
- State Route 150
- State Route 223
- State Route 232
- State Route 383
- State Route 388
- State Route 402(unsigned designation for I-20)
Pedestrians and cycling
- Augusta Canal Historic Trail
- Euchee Creek Greenway (Under construction)[22]
- Evans to Locks Road Trail
The company BCycle has introduced the first bike share program to Columbia County.
Notable people
- Nathan Crawford Barnett, Member of the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Secretary of State for over 30 years
- Oliver Hardy, (comedian, born in Harlem)
- Paul Hamilton Hayne, (poet and author)
- Henry Louis Benning, (Confederate general for whom Fort Benning was named. It was renamed Fort Moore in May 2023.[23])
- William Few
- Abraham Baldwin
- George Walton
- George W. Crawford
- William H. Crawford, (presidential candidate in 1824)
- Thomas Watson, (populist leader and Georgia senator born in Thomson when it was still in Columbia County)
- George McDuffie, (South Carolina governor and senator in the early 19th century)
- Jesse Mercer, (a long-time preacher in the county for whom Mercer University is named)
- Ben Hayslip, (Grammy Nominated country music songwriter)
- Dave Haywood
- Charles Kelley, of Lady A from Columbia County, where there is now the Lady Antebellum pavilion.
Sister city
Columbia County is
See also
- Central Savannah River Area
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia County, Georgia
- Professional Disc Golf Association
- List of counties in Georgia
References
- ^ a b c d e f Columbia Court House Archived February 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine at Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia, website. Accessed February 15, 2008.
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Columbia County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived(PDF) from the original on July 10, 2003.
- ^ Staff writer. "Wrightsboro". ExploreGeorgia.org. Georgia Department of Economic Development. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
- ^ Columbia County Archived July 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Georgia.gov, accessed February 15, 2008.
- ^ Ed Lightsey, "Columbia County: Supply and Demand" Archived October 25, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Georgia Trend, January 2006, accessed February 15, 2008
- ^ "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 19, 2015.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- US Census Bureau.
- US Census Bureau. 1880.
- US Census Bureau. 1910.
- US Census Bureau. 1930.
- US Census Bureau. 1940.
- US Census Bureau. 1950.
- US Census Bureau. 1980.
- US Census Bureau. 2000.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
- ^ Zauner, Brooke. "Extending Greenway Trails in Columbia County".
- ^ Herb Scribner (25 Mar 2023) 6 Army bases named after Confederate leaders get dates for new names
- ^ "Miasta partnerskie i zaprzyjaźnione Nowego Sącza". Urząd Miasta Nowego Sącza (in Polish). Archived from the original on May 23, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
External links
- Columbia County official site
- Columbia County official Convention & Visitors Bureau site
- Development Authority of Columbia County
- Columbia County Court House at Carl Vinson Institute of Government website. Includes a history of the county.
- Columbia County Board of Education
- Heggie's Rock Nature Preserve
- Columbia County historical marker
- Damascus Baptist Church historical marker
- First Baptist Church in Georgia historical marker
- Sharon Baptist Church historical marker
- Shiloh Methodist Church historical marker