Hall County, Georgia


Hall County is a county in the Northeast region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 203,136, up from 179,684 at the 2010 census. The county seat is Gainesville. The entirety of Hall County comprises the Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area">Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also part of the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, Combined Statistical Area.

History

Hall County was created on December 15, 1818, from Cherokee lands ceded by the Treaty of Cherokee Agency and Washington (1819)">Washington, D.C.">Washington (1819).
The county is named for Lyman Hall, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and governor of Georgia as both colony and state.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. The county is located in the upper Piedmont region of the state in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north.
Slightly more than half of Hall County, the eastern portion of the county, is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin, while the western half of the county is located in the Upper Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin.
The Chattahoochee River gathers strength in Hall County, as immortalized in Sidney Lanier's poem, "Song of the Chattahoochee":
OUT of the hills of Habersham,
Down the valleys of Hall,
I hurry amain to reach the plain,
Run the rapid and leap the fall,
Split at the rock and together again,

Adjacent counties

Attractions

Transportation

Major highways

Mass transit

Pedestrians and cycling

  • Chicopee Woods Bike Trail
  • Wilshire Trail

Demographics

Hall County remains extremely rural and many of its residents reside in unincorporated areas, accounting for more than half of the county's population.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 203,136 people, 71,022 households, and 48,776 families residing in the county. The median age was 37.8 years, with 24.3% of residents under the age of 18 and 16.3% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.2 males age 18 and over.
Seventy-four point one percent of residents lived in urban areas, while 25.9% lived in rural areas.
The census's redistricting data reports that 64.4% of residents identified as White, while Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 28.1% of the population; the non-Hispanic breakdown is shown in the table below.
RaceNum.Perc.
White 120,41859.28%
Black or African American 14,2567.02%
Native American3410.17%
Asian4,1982.07%
Pacific Islander850.04%
Other/mixed6,8283.36%
Hispanic or Latino57,01028.06%

There were 71,022 households in the county, of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 76,865 housing units, of which 7.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.1% were owner-occupied and 30.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 179,684 people, 60,691 households, and 45,275 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 68,825 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 74.1% white, 7.4% black or African American, 1.8% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 13.9% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 26.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 16.8% were American, 10.6% were Irish, 9.3% were English, and 8.9% were German.
Of the 60,691 households, 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.4% were non-families, and 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.35. The median age was 34.5 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $50,876 and the median income for a family was $57,774. Males had a median income of $38,671 versus $31,378 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,675. About 11.3% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, 139,277 people, 80,381 households and 80,009 families resided in the county. The population density was. There were 51,046 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 80.75% White, 7.27% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.35% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 8.75% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. About 19.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 80,381 households, 37.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were not families. About 19.20% 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 2.89 and the average family size was 3.26.
Age distribution was 26.90% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 32.30% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.90 males.
The median household income was $44,908, and the median family income was $50,100. Males had a median income of $31,769 versus $24,550 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,690. About 8.50% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 14.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Most of the county is in the Hall County School District. Portions in the city limits of Buford and Gainesville are in the Buford City School District and the Gainesville City School District, respectively.

Colleges and universities

High schools

Middle schools

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Politics

As of the 2020s, Hall County is a strongly Republican voting county, voting 71% for Donald Trump in 2024. Hall County previously had voting patterns similar to the Solid South, voting Democrat in all presidential elections until 1968, with the exception of narrowly supporting Herbert Hoover against Catholic Democrat Al Smith in 1928. Since then, it has been won by the GOP by landslide margins, in stark contrast to nearby inner suburban counties of Atlanta, with the exception of segregationist George Wallace in 1968 and favorite son Jimmy Carter in both of his campaigns. As a measure of how rapidly it turned to the GOP, Carter's 21-point victory in 1980 is the last time a Democrat managed even 40 percent of the county's vote. However, conservative Democrats held most state and local offices as late as 2000.
In 2022, local media reported that Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard was under investigation for allegations of theft and misuse of public funds.
For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Hall County is part of Georgia's 9th congressional district, currently represented by Andrew Clyde. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Hall County is part of District 49 and District 50. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Hall County is divided between districts Georgia's 27th [House of Representatives district|27], 28, 29, 30, 31, 100 and 103.