Echols County, Georgia
County in Georgia, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Echols County (/ˈɛkəlz/) is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,697. The county seat is Statenville.[1] Since 2008,[2] Statenville is a disincorporated municipality. Echols and Webster counties are the only two counties in Georgia to currently have no incorporated municipalities. The county was established in 1858 and named in honor of Robert Milner Echols.[3] Echols County is part of the Valdosta metropolitan area.
Echols County, Georgia | |
|---|---|
Echols County Courthouse in Statenville | |
 Flag | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Georgia | |
| Coordinates: 30°43′N 82°54′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | December 13, 1858 |
| Named after | Robert Milner Echols |
| Seat | Statenville |
| Largest community | Statenville |
| Area | |
• Total | 421 sq mi (1,090 km2) |
| • Land | 415 sq mi (1,070 km2) |
| • Water | 5.8 sq mi (15 km2) 1.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,697 |
• Estimate (2024) | 3,698  |
| • Density | 8.91/sq mi (3.44/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | echolscountyga |
History
On December 13, 1858, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill establishing Echols County from a south-eastern section of Lowndes County and a south-western section Clinch County. The original borders of the county were a line from the mouth of the Suwanoochee Creek directly south to the state line, then along the state line, then north to the junction of Grand Bay Creek and Mud Swamp, then up the course of Grand Bay Creek to Carter's Ford, then a direct line to where Cow's Creek enters the Alapaha River, then up the creek to Griffins' Mill, then a direct line to Jack's Fort on Suwanoochee Creek, and then down Suwanoochee Creek to its mouth. With the exception of some minor adjustments of the border Echols shares with Lowndes and the loss of a thin strip to Florida following Florida v. Georgia, the borders of Echols County has changed little since its establishment. Statenville was declared the county seat in 1859.
At the time of the 1860 census, Echols County had a white population of 1,177, with 314 slaves, and no free people of color.[4]
Echols County became notable as it has served as a place of banishment for many of Georgia's criminals. As the Georgia State Constitution forbids banishment beyond the borders of the state, officials instead ban the offender from 158 of Georgia's 159 counties, with Echols remaining as their only option.[5] Few criminals have been documented as actually moving to Echols.[6] This is because almost all banished criminals choose to leave the state instead of moving to Echols County.[7]
Banishment, including 158-county banishment, has repeatedly been upheld by Georgia courts. The first case when banishment was upheld was in the 1974 case State v Collett, when the Georgia Supreme Court upheld the banishment of a drug dealer from seven counties.[8] The most recent time banishment was upheld, in 2011, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled it was constitutional to banish David Nathan Thompson (a mentally ill man who was convicted of firing a gun into a home, although no one was injured) from all but one county in Georgia.[9]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 421 square miles (1,090 km2), of which 415 square miles (1,070 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (1.4%) is water.[10] The county contains a notable swamp, Whitehead Bay.[11]
The western half of Echols County is located in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. The eastern half of the county, from well east of Statenville to just west of Fargo, is located in the Upper Suwannee River sub-basin of the same Suwannee River basin.[12]
Major highways
Major waterways
- Alapaha River
- Alapahoochee River
- Grand Bay Creek (known in the 1800s as Irwin's River and later as Irwin's Creek)
- Suwannee River
- Suwanoochee Creek
Railways
- Georgia Southern and Florida Railway
- Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
- Plant System (now part of CSX)
- Statenville Railway (Defunct, it was used from 1910 to 1924. It ran from Statenville to Haylow, Georgia)
Adjacent counties
- Clinch County – northeast
- Columbia County, Florida – southeast
- Hamilton County, Florida – south
- Lowndes County – west
- Lanier County – north
Unincorporated communities
- Fruitland
- Howell
- Needmore
- Statenville (county seat)
Extinct town
- Tarver (formerly Statenville Station and Huckleberry)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 1,491 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,978 | 32.7% | |
| 1880 | 2,553 | 29.1% | |
| 1890 | 3,079 | 20.6% | |
| 1900 | 3,209 | 4.2% | |
| 1910 | 3,309 | 3.1% | |
| 1920 | 3,313 | 0.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,744 | −17.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,964 | 8.0% | |
| 1950 | 2,494 | −15.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,876 | −24.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,924 | 2.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,297 | 19.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,334 | 1.6% | |
| 2000 | 3,754 | 60.8% | |
| 2010 | 4,034 | 7.5% | |
| 2020 | 3,697 | −8.4% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 3,698 | [13]  | 0.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790-1880[15] 1890-1910[16] 1920-1930[17] 1930-1940[18] 1940-1950[19] 1960-1980[20] 1980-2000[21] 2010[22] 2020[23] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[24] | Pop 2010[22] | Pop 2020[23] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 2,688 | 2,555 | 2,328 | 71.60% | 63.34% | 62.97% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 252 | 163 | 147 | 6.71% | 4.04% | 3.98% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 43 | 55 | 37 | 1.15% | 1.36% | 1.00% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 3 | 12 | 8 | 0.08% | 0.30% | 0.22% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1 | 9 | 2 | 0.03% | 0.22% | 0.05% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 28 | 56 | 84 | 0.75% | 1.39% | 2.27% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 739 | 1,183 | 1,091 | 19.69% | 29.33% | 29.51% |
| Total | 3,754 | 4,034 | 3,697 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 3,697 people, 1,286 households, and 1,097 families residing in the county.[25][26] The median age was 37.2 years, 26.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 14.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older.[26]
For every 100 females there were 101.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.9 males age 18 and over.[26] No residents lived in urban areas while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[25]
The racial makeup of the county was 68.5% White, 4.2% Black or African American, 1.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 14.7% from some other race, and 10.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 29.5% of the population.[27]
There were 1,286 households in the county, of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[26]
There were 1,531 housing units, of which 16.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.3% were owner-occupied and 30.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%.[26]
Education
Echols County School District, the only school district in the county,[28] operates public schools.
Politics
Echols County is one of the most Republican counties in Georgia, having voted over 90% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Echols County is part of Georgia's 8th congressional district, currently represented by Austin Scott. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Echols County is part of District 8, currently represented by Russ Goodman.[29] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Echols County is part of District 174, currently represented by John Corbett.[30]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 40 | 17.78% | 185 | 82.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 91 | 32.85% | 186 | 67.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1888 | 43 | 21.72% | 150 | 75.76% | 5 | 2.53% |
| 1892 | 54 | 16.07% | 270 | 80.36% | 12 | 3.57% |
| 1896 | 52 | 22.91% | 174 | 76.65% | 1 | 0.44% |
| 1900 | 38 | 22.62% | 130 | 77.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1904 | 12 | 7.02% | 159 | 92.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1908 | 15 | 9.68% | 140 | 90.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 144 | 97.30% | 4 | 2.70% |
| 1916 | 0 | 0.00% | 173 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 11 | 2.22% | 482 | 97.37% | 2 | 0.40% |
| 1928 | 29 | 8.45% | 314 | 91.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 5 | 1.19% | 414 | 98.81% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 30 | 9.06% | 300 | 90.63% | 1 | 0.30% |
| 1940 | 18 | 3.91% | 441 | 95.87% | 1 | 0.22% |
| 1944 | 42 | 8.27% | 466 | 91.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 32 | 5.14% | 332 | 53.38% | 258 | 41.48% |
| 1952 | 94 | 15.02% | 532 | 84.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 134 | 20.24% | 528 | 79.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 108 | 29.59% | 257 | 70.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 399 | 68.44% | 184 | 31.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 53 | 8.26% | 56 | 8.72% | 533 | 83.02% |
| 1972 | 404 | 85.59% | 68 | 14.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 111 | 15.95% | 585 | 84.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 259 | 33.08% | 515 | 65.77% | 9 | 1.15% |
| 1984 | 453 | 66.62% | 227 | 33.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 422 | 62.99% | 245 | 36.57% | 3 | 0.45% |
| 1992 | 361 | 39.63% | 312 | 34.25% | 238 | 26.13% |
| 1996 | 335 | 45.09% | 308 | 41.45% | 100 | 13.46% |
| 2000 | 614 | 68.37% | 272 | 30.29% | 12 | 1.34% |
| 2004 | 757 | 76.39% | 231 | 23.31% | 3 | 0.30% |
| 2008 | 981 | 82.58% | 201 | 16.92% | 6 | 0.51% |
| 2012 | 917 | 82.99% | 173 | 15.66% | 15 | 1.36% |
| 2016 | 1,007 | 85.19% | 156 | 13.20% | 19 | 1.61% |
| 2020 | 1,256 | 87.10% | 167 | 11.58% | 19 | 1.32% |
| 2024 | 1,307 | 90.89% | 127 | 8.83% | 4 | 0.28% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 1,232 | 86.88% | 162 | 11.42% | 24 | 1.69% |
| 2020 | 1,057 | 89.05% | 130 | 10.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 558 | 40.41% | 36 | 2.61% | 787 | 56.99% |
| 2020 | 1,058 | 89.21% | 128 | 10.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2022 | 937 | 88.40% | 100 | 9.43% | 23 | 2.17% |
| 2022 | 861 | 90.73% | 88 | 9.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2022 | 956 | 89.77% | 94 | 8.83% | 15 | 1.41% |