Barrow County, Georgia
History
Barrow County was created from portions of Gwinnett, Jackson, and Walton counties when Georgia voters approved a constitutional amendment on November 3, 1914, making Barrow County the 149th Georgia county out of 159. Barrow County was named after David Crenshaw Barrow, Jr., a University of Georgia mathematics and engineering professor who was later Chancellor serving in that position from 1906 to 1925. Barrow died on January 11, 1929, in Athens and is buried in Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 163 square miles (420 km), of which 160 square miles (410 km) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km) (1.6%) is water. The entirety of Barrow County is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.
Adjacent counties
- Hall County – north
- Clarke County – east
- Jackson County – east
- Oconee County – southeast
- Walton County – south
- Gwinnett County – west
Communities
Cities
Towns
Census-designated place
Other unincorporated communities
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1920 | 13,188 | — | |
1930 | 12,401 | −6.0% | |
1940 | 13,064 | 5.3% | |
1950 | 13,115 | 0.4% | |
1960 | 14,485 | 10.4% | |
1970 | 16,859 | 16.4% | |
1980 | 21,354 | 26.7% | |
1990 | 29,721 | 39.2% | |
2000 | 46,144 | 55.3% | |
2010 | 69,367 | 50.3% | |
2020 | 83,505 | 20.4% | |
2023 (est.) | 92,792 | 11.1% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 2020 |
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 38,543 | 51,736 | 55,582 | 83.53% | 74.58% | 66.56% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,456 | 7,769 | 10,141 | 9.66% | 11.20% | 12.14% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 119 | 130 | 130 | 0.26% | 0.19% | 0.16% |
Asian alone (NH) | 1,000 | 2,359 | 3,233 | 2.17% | 3.40% | 3.87% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 15 | 28 | 17 | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
Other race alone (NH) | 27 | 141 | 459 | 0.06% | 0.20% | 0.55% |
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 524 | 1,167 | 3,383 | 1.14% | 1.68% | 4.05% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,460 | 6,037 | 10,560 | 3.16% | 8.70% | 12.65% |
Total | 46,144 | 69,367 | 83,505 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
At the 2020 United States census, there were 83,505 people, 27,765 households, and 20,948 families residing in the county. In 2010, there here were 69,367 people, 23,971 households, and 18,214 families living in the county. The population density was 432.7 inhabitants per square mile (167.1/km). There were 26,400 housing units at an average density of 164.7 per square mile (63.6/km).
In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 84.84% White, 10.72% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.20% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.50% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. 3.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Barrow County is considered a part of the Atlanta, GA combined statistical area despite its comparatively small population. In 2010, the racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 78.8% White, 11.4% Black or African American, 3.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.7% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.6% were American, 10.7% were Irish, 9.1% were German, and 8.5% were English.
In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $48,958 and the median income for a family was $55,415. Males had a median income of $42,869 versus $33,175 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,882. About 9.4% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Winder-Barrow Cluster:
- Winder-Barrow High School
- Richard B. Russell Middle School
- Winder-Barrow Middle School (1956-2013)
- Bear Creek Middle School (WBMS replacement)
- Holsenbeck Elementary School
- Bramlett Elementary School
- Statham Elementary School
- County Line Elementary
Apalachee Cluster:
- Apalachee High School
- Westside Middle School
- Haymon-Morris Middle School
- Auburn Elementary School
- Kennedy Elementary School
- Bethlehem Elementary School
- Yargo Elementary School
- Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy
Transportation
Major highways
- Interstate 85
- U.S. Route 29
- U.S. Route 29 Business
- State Route 8
- State Route 11
- State Route 53
- State Route 81
- State Route 82
- State Route 124
- State Route 211
- State Route 316
- State Route 324
- State Route 330
- State Route 403 (unsigned designation for I-85)
Politics
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 26,804 | 70.64% | 10,453 | 27.55% | 689 | 1.82% |
2016 | 21,108 | 72.35% | 6,580 | 22.55% | 1,486 | 5.09% |
2012 | 18,725 | 74.10% | 6,028 | 23.85% | 517 | 2.05% |
2008 | 17,625 | 71.55% | 6,657 | 27.02% | 351 | 1.42% |
2004 | 13,520 | 76.17% | 4,095 | 23.07% | 135 | 0.76% |
2000 | 7,925 | 65.49% | 3,657 | 30.22% | 520 | 4.30% |
1996 | 5,342 | 51.65% | 3,928 | 37.98% | 1,072 | 10.37% |
1992 | 4,328 | 43.36% | 3,991 | 39.98% | 1,663 | 16.66% |
1988 | 4,738 | 65.64% | 2,442 | 33.83% | 38 | 0.53% |
1984 | 4,123 | 63.53% | 2,367 | 36.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
1980 | 2,284 | 36.20% | 3,876 | 61.44% | 149 | 2.36% |
1976 | 1,364 | 22.29% | 4,756 | 77.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
1972 | 3,423 | 79.79% | 867 | 20.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 1,372 | 26.52% | 1,070 | 20.68% | 2,731 | 52.79% |
1964 | 2,316 | 50.42% | 2,277 | 49.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 577 | 17.30% | 2,759 | 82.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 442 | 16.32% | 2,266 | 83.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 236 | 9.07% | 2,367 | 90.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 155 | 7.55% | 1,554 | 75.69% | 344 | 16.76% |
1944 | 257 | 14.52% | 1,513 | 85.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 219 | 11.91% | 1,615 | 87.82% | 5 | 0.27% |
1936 | 172 | 12.69% | 1,181 | 87.16% | 2 | 0.15% |
1932 | 23 | 2.01% | 1,111 | 97.03% | 11 | 0.96% |
1928 | 684 | 58.81% | 479 | 41.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 88 | 11.55% | 501 | 65.75% | 173 | 22.70% |
1920 | 412 | 36.05% | 731 | 63.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
1916 | 102 | 10.60% | 712 | 74.01% | 148 | 15.38% |