Bartow County, Georgia
Bartow County is located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 100,157. The county seat is Cartersville. Traditionally considered part of northwest Georgia, Bartow County is now included in the Atlanta metropolitan area, mainly in the southeastern part near Cartersville, which has become an exurb more than from downtown Atlanta on I-75. It has a sole commissioner government, and is the largest county by population of the few remaining in Georgia with a sole commissioner. History. Bartow County was created from the Cherokee lands of the  Cherokee County territory on December 3, 1832, and named Cass County, after General Lewis Cass (1782–1866) Secretary of War under President Andrew Jackson, Minister to France and Secretary of State under President James Buchanan, who was instrumental in the removal of Native Americans from the area. However, the county was renamed on December 6, 1861, in honor of Francis S. Bartow because of Cass's support of the Union, even though Bartow never visited in the county, living away near Savannah all of his life. Cass had supported the doctrine of popular sovereignty, the right of each state to determine  its own laws independently of the Federal government, the platform of conservative Southerners who removed his name. The first county seat was at Cassville, but after the burning of the county courthouse and the Sherman Occupation, the seat moved to Cartersville, where it remains. The county was profoundly affected by the Civil War, setting it back economically for many decades. May 18 and 19, 1864, General George Henry Thomas led the Army of the Cumberland after General William J. Hardee's Corps of the Army of Tennessee, and General James B. McPherson led his Federal Army of the Tennessee flanking  Hardee's army to the west. This huge army was disruptive and sought food. Elements were out of control and sacked homes depleting meager supplies. Property destruction and the deaths of one-third of the county's soldiers during the war caused financial and social calamity for many. Slaves gained their freedom, and for over a decade exercised the political franchise through the Republican Party. In 1870, about one black family in 12 owned real estate. More of the blacks lived in white-headed households, working as domestic servants and laborers. The great majority of freed people were day laborers  or farm laborers, while a sizable minority occupied skilled positions such as blacksmiths, wheelwrights, and iron workers. By the late 1870s, hardship was experienced by everyone. Geography. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and or 2.2% is water. The bulk of Bartow County is located in the Etowah River sub-basin of the ACT River Basin (Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin). The northeastern portion of the county around Rydal is located in the Coosawattee River sub-basin of the same ACT River Basin, while an even smaller northwestern section  around Adairsville is located in the Oostanaula River sub-basin of the larger ACT River Basin. The Etowah is mostly part of Lake Allatoona in southeast Bartow and southwest Cherokee counties, with the Allatoona Dam near Cartersville also impounding Allatoona Creek into northwest Cobb county. The peninsula between the two major arms of the lake is home to Red Top Mountain State Park, east-southeast of Cartersville and just southeast of the dam. Demographics. 2000 census. As of 2000, there were 76,019 people, 27,176 households, and 21,034 families living in the county. The population density was 64/km (166/mi ). There were 28,751 housing units at an average density of 24 persons/km (63 persons/mi). The racial makeup of the county was 87.79% White, 8.68% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.62% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. 3.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 27,176 households, out of which 38.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 22.60% were non-families. 18.70% of  all households were made up of individuals, and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.14. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 33.00% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males . The median income for a household in the county was $43,660, and the median income for a family was $49,198. Males had a median income of $35,136 versus $24,906 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,989. 8.60% of the population and 6.60% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.60% were under the age of 18 and 12.20% were 65 or older. 2010 census. As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 100,157 people, 35,782 households, and 26,529 families living in the  county. The population density was . There were 39,823 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 82.7% white, 10.2% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 13.9% were American, 10.0% were Irish, 9.3% were English, and 7.8% were German. Of the 35,782 households, 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 13.5% had  a female householder with no husband present, 25.9% were non-families, and 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.20. The median age was 36.2 years. The median income for a household in the county was $49,216 and the median income for a family was $56,281. Males had a median income of $42,835 versus $31,225 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,241. About 10.8% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including  18.9% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over. 2020 census. As of the 2020 United States census, there were 108,901 people, 39,742 households, and 28,529 families residing in the county. Education. Public education in Bartow County is administered by Bartow County School District and Cartersville City Schools. Excel Christian Academy and The Trinity School are private institutions. Politics. Bartow County has voted Republican consistently since 1984. Mitt Romney carried the county in 2012 with 75 percent of the vote. Barack Obama won a small minority of votes in the county, at 23.5 percent, that  same year, making Bartow one of the least Democratic counties in Georgia.