Jenkins County, Georgia

Jenkins County, Georgia
Jenkins County is a county located in the southeastern area of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,674. The county seat is Millen. Historic and bountiful Magnolia Springs State Park is located between Millen and Perkins.
History
Jenkins County was created on August 17, 1905, from portions of Bulloch, Burke, Emanuel and Screven counties, and named after the 44th Governor of Georgia, Charles Jones Jenkins. The effort was spearheaded by Robert Gray Daniel (d. 14 May 1934), a director of the local Millen Bank, a 40-year member of the board of education and scion of the county's Daniel family who had large mercantile and farming enterprises. The effect was to place the county seat of Millen in a position where the town could become a safe place for economic growth. But the first decade after formation was difficult due to lack of realistic economic planning and implementation. Local people were leaving for jobs in larger cities, and there were few new business start-ups.
During the Red Summer of 1919, there was a race riot on April 13, 1919 in Jenkins County, in which white mobs attacked the black community. Prosperous and respected local farmer Joe Ruffin, whose family had historically been slaves working the plantations of the Daniel family, was almost impoverished by the costs of his legal defense and vindication.
Businesses in the county attract their workforce from throughout the area. Because the county population is relatively small, people notice that when jobs increase, the population increases. When an employer closes its business, the local population decreases as people seek opportunities elsewhere. For a number of years, the largest employer was Jockey International which employed manual and skilled laborers until reducing then closing operations in September 2007. MI Windows and Doors had a long presence in the county at its manufacturing plant, closing in December 2007.
Jenkins County owns the Millen Airport, which was established to increase local and regional transportation flexibility. Annual assessments show the airport has provided consistent benefit to the people and businesses in the county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.5%) is water.
Most of the southern portion of Jenkins County, from southwest of Millen to west of Hiltonia, is located in the Lower Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin, with the exception of very small parts of the southwestern corner of the county, north and east of Garfield, which are located in the Canoochee River sub-basin of the same Ogeechee River basin. The northwestern portion of Jenkins County is located in the Upper Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin, with just the northeastern corner of the county located in the Brier Creek sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.
Major highways
U.S. Route 25
State Route 17
State Route 17 Bypass
State Route 21
State Route 23
State Route 67
State Route 121
State Route 555 (Savannah River Parkway)
State Route 565 (Savannah River Parkway)
Adjacent counties
Burke County (north)
Screven County (east)
Bulloch County (south)
Emanuel County (west)
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,575 people, 3,214 households, and 2,269 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 3,907 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 56.29% White, 40.49% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 2.06% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 3.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,214 households, out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.90% were married couples living together, 19.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $24,025, and the median income for a family was $29,539. Males had a median income of $28,804 versus $20,252 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,400. About 22.30% of families and 28.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.60% of those under age 18 and 25.50% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,340 people, 3,192 households, and 2,164 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 4,221 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 54.9% white, 40.5% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 2.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 13.0% were American, 10.1% were English, 7.4% were Irish, and 6.3% were German.
Of the 3,192 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.2% were non-families, and 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.16. The median age was 38.2 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,686 and the median income for a family was $35,876. Males had a median income of $36,391 versus $25,814 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,629. About 17.6% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over.
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,674 people, 3,443 households, and 2,095 families residing in the county.
Communities
Millen
Perkins
Politics
See also
Camp Lawton (Georgia)
Central Savannah River Area
National Register of Historic Places listings in Jenkins County, Georgia
List of counties in Georgia
References
Georgia (U.S. state) counties
1905 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
Populated places established in 1905