Jasper County, Georgia


Jasper County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,588, up from 13,900 in 2010. The county seat is Monticello. Jasper County is part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA.

History

This area was inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. At the time of European-American settlement, it was inhabited by the Cherokee and Muscogee Creek peoples, who became known as among the Five Civilized Tribes of the Southeast.
The county was created on December 10, 1807, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly with land that was originally part of Baldwin County. It became part of the new area of upland settlement through the South eventually known as the Black Belt, and a center of large plantations for short-staple cotton. Invention of the cotton gin in the late 18th century had made processing of this type of cotton profitable, and it was cultivated throughout the inland areas. As migration continued to the west, the county population rapidly rose and fell through the nineteenth century. Georgia settlers pushed Congress for the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which eventually forced most of the Native Americans west of the Mississippi River.
Jasper County was originally named Randolph County. Because of Randolph's opposition to U.S. entry into the War of 1812, the General Assembly changed the name of Randolph County to Jasper County on December 10, 1812, to honor Sergeant William Jasper, an American Revolutionary War hero from South Carolina. However, Randolph's reputation eventually was restored, and in 1828, the General Assembly created a new Randolph County.
Newton County was created from a part of the original Jasper County in 1821.
In March 1921, the bodies of at least nine Black men were found mutilated in shallow graves or local rivers. Reports indicated the men were held in peonage by a local farmer, John Williams.
The Jasper County courthouse was shown and used for filming the courthouse scenes in the 1992 comedy film My Cousin Vinny. Although the setting of the movie is in Beechum County, Alabama, near the end of the movie, Sheriff Farley, actually mentions Jasper County, Georgia by name.

Government

Jasper County has a five-member county commission, elected from single-member districts. The commission elects a chairman and vice-chairman to aid in conducting business. The county is protected by a combined Fire Rescue Department providing EMS and Fire Services. The department operates out of seven fire stations with the majority of their manpower being volunteers. The department employs 50 personnel, which include full-time, part-time, and volunteer employees, and is headed by a Fire Chief Christopher Finch.

Politics

As of the 2020s, Jasper County is a strongly Republican voting county, voting 79% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Jasper County is part of Georgia's 10th congressional district, currently represented by Mike Collins. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Jasper County is part of District 25. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Jasper County is part of District 144.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
The western portion of Jasper County, west of a line formed by State Route 11 to northwest of Monticello, then along the eastern border of the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The eastern portion of the county is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin.

Major highways

City

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 14,588 people, 5,412 households, and 3,807 families residing in the county.
The median age was 41.7 years; 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 74.8% White, 16.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.5% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.
Of those households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 6,270 housing units, of which 13.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.5% were owner-occupied and 19.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.

Notable people