Madison County, Georgia

Madison County, Georgia
Madison County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,120. The county seat is Danielsville. The county was created on December 5, 1811. The county's largest city is Comer with a population of 1,200.
Madison County was included in the Athens–Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta–Athens–Clarke County–Sandy Springs, GA Combined Statistical Area.
History
Madison County was organized by an act of the General Assembly of Georgia on December 11, 1811. It was named for James Madison, who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. It was the 38th county formed in Georgia, and began to function as a county in 1812. Madison County was formed from the counties of Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Jackson, Oglethorpe.
Early agriculture in Madison County was devoted to food crops and livestock (cattle, hogs, and sheep), which were sufficient to feed the population. Just after the Civil War ended, the demand for a cash crop led to major reliance on cotton. The soils of Madison County were heavily damaged by this cotton monoculture. From the 1930s on, agriculture became more diverse. Today, agribusiness dominates the local economy, with poultry production particularly important.
Madison and Oglethorpe counties share Watson Mill Bridge State Park, the site of the longest covered bridge in Georgia. The bridge, which is over 100 years old, spans 229 feet of the South Fork of the Broad River. There are also facilities for camping, hiking trails, picnicking, and fishing in the park.
The Madison County Courthouse, one of the most ornate in Georgia, was built in 1901 for the sum of $18,314. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. New Hope Presbyterian Church, established in 1788, is the third oldest church in Georgia.
Lt. Col. Lemuel Penn, a decorated veteran of World War II and a United States Army Reserve officer, was murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan on July 11, 1964, nine days after passage of the Civil Rights Act, on a Broad River bridge on the Georgia State Route 172 in Madison County.
Postal history
In 1879, there were only four post offices in Madison County: Danielsville, Fort Lamar, Madison Springs and Paoli. In 1889, Madison county had post offices at Carlton, Danielsville, Dowdy, Fort Lamar, Gholston (Gholston's Stand), Hix, Ila, Madison Springs, Medicus, Paoli and Planter.
By 1900, additional post offices had been opened in Alvin, Berea, Boggs, Carruth, Comer, Fiveforks (now Comer), Jeptha, Larkin, Monitor, Neese, Pocataligo and Sorrells, while the offices in Gholston and Medicus had been closed. By 1910, most of these post offices had closed; the only remaining ones were in Carlton, Colbert, Comer, Danielsville and Hull.
By 1920, the office in Ila had reopened. The county would retain these six post offices
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.1%) is water.
The vast majority of Madison County is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin, with just a very small portion of the county's western edge located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.
Adjacent counties
Franklin County, Georgia – north
Hart County, Georgia – northeast
Elbert County, Georgia – east
Oglethorpe County, Georgia – south
Clarke County, Georgia – southwest
Jackson County, Georgia – west
Banks County, Georgia – northwest
Major highways
U.S. Route 29
State Route 8
State Route 22
State
Route 72 Business
State
Route 72 Bypass
State
Route 72 Spur
State Route 98
State Route 106
State Route 172
State Route 174
State Route 191
State Route 281
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,730 people, 9,800 households, and 7,330 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 10,520 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 89.01% White, 8.46% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 1.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,800 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,347, and the median income for a family was $42,189. Males had a median income of $31,324 versus $22,426 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,998. About 9.20% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 16.50% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 28,120 people, 10,508 households, and 7,804 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 11,784 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 87.6% white, 8.4% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.9% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.7% were American, 9.1% were Irish, 9.1% were English, and 7.2% were German.
Of the 10,508 households, 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.7% were non-families, and 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 39.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,343 and the median income for a family was $49,713. Males had a median income of $37,963 versus $28,732 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,975. About 14.7% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 30,120 people, 10,744 households, and 8,153 families residing in the county.
Government
The citizens of Madison County are represented by an elected six member board of commissioners. Each commissioner represents one of five districts plus a chairman of the board elected at large for the whole county.
Education
Madison County public education is served by the Madison County School District. The Madison County Board of Education oversees and operates the public charter school system in the School District. Madison County Board of Education operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 high school and 1 career academy.
The Madison County Board of Education is overseen by 5 elected board members, from 5 districts in the county. The Board appoints a School Superintendent who works at the pleasure of the Board as a whole.
The district has 290 full-time teachers and over 4,621 students.
Public Schools
Colbert Elementary School
Comer Elementary School
Danielsville Elementary School
Hull-Sanford Elementary School
Ila Elementary School
Madison County Middle School (MCMS), Home of the Mustangs
Madison County High School (MCHS), Home of the Red Raiders
Broad River College and Career Academy
Private schools
Union Christian Academy, Hull
The Busy Box Pre-School, Hull
The Learning Train Pre-School, Colbert
Building Blocks Pre-School, Hull
Communities
Cities
Carlton
Colbert
Comer
Danielsville
Hull
Ila
Unincorporated communities
Alvin
Dogsboro
Fort Lamar
Hix
Paoli
Planter
Pocataligo
Shiloh
Notable people
Allen Daniel Jr. – major general, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, state senator, namesake of Danielsville
Josh Fields – Major League baseball player
Crawford W. Long – the man who first used ether in surgery
Ralph Hudgens – Georgia insurance and safety fire commissioner
Jake Westbrook – former Major League baseball player
Historic sites
Watson Mill Bridge – the longest original-site covered bridge in Georgia
Birthplace of Crawford W. Long
Murder site of Lt. Col. Lemuel Penn
William Bartram Trail
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison County, Georgia
List of counties in Georgia
References
External links
Madison County Official Website
Madison County Chamber of Commerce
Georgia (U.S. state) counties
1811 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
Populated places established in 1811
Athens – Clarke County metropolitan area
Counties of Appalachia