Jenkins County, Georgia

Jenkins County, Georgia
County
Jenkins County Courthouse, in Millen
Jenkins County Courthouse, in Millen
Map of Georgia highlighting Jenkins County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°47′N 81°58′W / 32.79°N 81.96°W / 32.79; -81.96
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedAugust 17, 1905 (1905-08-17)
Named afterCharles Jones Jenkins
SeatMillen
Largest cityMillen
Area
 • Total
352 sq mi (910 km2)
 • Land347 sq mi (900 km2)
 • Water5.2 sq mi (13 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,674
 • Estimate 
(2025)
8,843 Increase
 • Density25/sq mi (9.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitejenkinscountyga.com

Jenkins County is a county located in the southeastern area of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,674.[1] The county seat is Millen.[2] Historic and bountiful Magnolia Springs State Park is located between Millen and Perkins.

History

Jenkins County was created on August 17, 1905, from portions of Bulloch, Burke, Emanuel and Screven counties, and named after the 44th Governor of Georgia, Charles Jones Jenkins.[3] The effort was spearheaded by Robert Gray Daniel (d. May 14, 1934), a director of the local Millen Bank, a 40-year member of the board of education and scion of the county's Daniel family who had large mercantile and farming enterprises.[4] The effect was to place the county seat of Millen in a position where the town could become a safe place for economic growth. But the first decade after formation was difficult due to lack of realistic economic planning and implementation. Local people were leaving for jobs in larger cities, and there were few new business start-ups.

During the Red Summer of 1919, there was a race riot on April 13, 1919 in Jenkins County, in which white mobs attacked the black community. Prosperous and respected local farmer Joe Ruffin, whose family had historically been slaves working the plantations of the Daniel family, was almost impoverished by the costs of his legal defense and vindication.[5]

Businesses in the county attract their workforce from throughout the area. Because the county population is relatively small, people notice that when jobs increase, the population increases. When an employer closes its business, the local population decreases as people seek opportunities elsewhere. For a number of years, the largest employer was Jockey International which employed manual and skilled laborers until reducing then closing operations in September 2007.[6] MI Windows and Doors had a long presence in the county at its manufacturing plant, closing in December 2007.[6]

Jenkins County owns the Millen Airport, which was established to increase local and regional transportation flexibility. Annual assessments show the airport has provided consistent benefit to the people and businesses in the county.[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 352 square miles (910 km2), of which 347 square miles (900 km2) is land and 5.2 square miles (13 km2) (1.5%) is water.[8]

Most of the southern portion of Jenkins County, from southwest of Millen to west of Hiltonia, is located in the Lower Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin, with the exception of very small parts of the southwestern corner of the county, north and east of Garfield, which are located in the Canoochee River sub-basin of the same Ogeechee River basin. The northwestern portion of Jenkins County is located in the Upper Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin, with just the northeastern corner of the county located in the Brier Creek sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.[9]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

City

Census-designated place

  • Perkins

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191011,520—
192014,32824.4%
193012,908−9.9%
194011,843−8.3%
195010,264−13.3%
19609,148−10.9%
19708,332−8.9%
19808,8416.1%
19908,247−6.7%
20008,5754.0%
20108,340−2.7%
20208,6744.0%
2025 (est.)8,843[10] Increase1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1880[12] 1890-1910[13]
1920-1930[14] 1930-1940[15]
1940-1950[16] 1960-1980[17]
1980-2000[18] 2010[19]

Racial and ethnic composition

Jenkins County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[20] Pop 1990[21] Pop 2000[22] Pop 2010[23] Pop 2020[24] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 5,154 4,802 4,766 4,508 4,611 58.30% 58.23% 55.58% 54.05% 53.16%
Black or African American alone (NH) 3,543 3,411 3,437 3,353 3,536 40.07% 41.36% 40.08% 40.20% 40.77%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1 5 10 22 29 0.01% 0.06% 0.12% 0.26% 0.33%
Asian alone (NH) 6 16 18 36 12 0.07% 0.19% 0.21% 0.43% 0.14%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [25] x [26] 4 1 5 x x 0.05% 0.01% 0.06%
Other race alone (NH) 1 0 4 7 30 0.01% 0.00% 0.05% 0.08% 0.35%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [27] x [28] 49 79 148 x x 0.57% 0.95% 1.71%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 136 13 287 334 303 1.54% 0.16% 3.35% 4.00% 3.49%
Total 8,841 8,247 8,575 8,340 8,674 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

The county reached its peak population in 1920.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,674. The median age was 42.5 years. 19.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 121.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 123.1 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[29][30][31]

The racial makeup of the county was 53.9% White, 40.9% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.1% from some other race, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.5% of the population.[31]

There were 3,245 households, including 2,095 families, in the county, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 33.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[30]

There were 4,066 housing units, of which 20.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.4% were owner-occupied and 33.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.2%.[30]

Politics

As of the 2020s, Jenkins County is a strongly Republican voting county, voting 64.88% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Jenkins County is part of Georgia's 12th congressional district, currently represented by Rick Allen. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Jenkins County is part of District 23.[32] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Jenkins County is part of District 126.[33]

United States presidential election results for Jenkins County, Georgia[34]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 17 5.70% 272 91.28% 9 3.02%
1916 20 4.66% 402 93.71% 7 1.63%
1920 49 12.89% 331 87.11% 0 0.00%
1924 16 6.67% 200 83.33% 24 10.00%
1928 332 44.80% 409 55.20% 0 0.00%
1932 20 3.77% 510 96.23% 0 0.00%
1936 32 3.51% 880 96.49% 0 0.00%
1940 69 6.82% 940 92.98% 2 0.20%
1944 101 12.64% 698 87.36% 0 0.00%
1948 98 10.11% 595 61.40% 276 28.48%
1952 368 23.99% 1,166 76.01% 0 0.00%
1956 261 20.70% 1,000 79.30% 0 0.00%
1960 313 18.78% 1,354 81.22% 0 0.00%
1964 1,509 62.43% 908 37.57% 0 0.00%
1968 574 22.71% 704 27.86% 1,249 49.43%
1972 1,769 78.52% 484 21.48% 0 0.00%
1976 563 23.63% 1,820 76.37% 0 0.00%
1980 824 33.05% 1,632 65.46% 37 1.48%
1984 1,399 55.80% 1,108 44.20% 0 0.00%
1988 1,288 57.30% 953 42.39% 7 0.31%
1992 929 34.05% 1,401 51.36% 398 14.59%
1996 955 38.77% 1,336 54.24% 172 6.98%
2000 1,317 50.79% 1,250 48.21% 26 1.00%
2004 1,898 55.74% 1,494 43.88% 13 0.38%
2008 1,936 56.25% 1,482 43.06% 24 0.70%
2012 1,887 55.60% 1,488 43.84% 19 0.56%
2016 1,895 62.01% 1,123 36.75% 38 1.24%
2020 2,161 62.55% 1,266 36.64% 28 0.81%
2024 2,217 64.88% 1,179 34.50% 21 0.61%
United States Senate election results for Jenkins County, Georgia2
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,155 63.38% 1,194 35.12% 51 1.50%
2020 1,943 62.36% 1,173 37.64% 0 0.00%
United States Senate election results for Jenkins County, Georgia3
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,104 32.80% 806 23.95% 1,456 43.26%
2020 1,945 62.46% 1,169 37.54% 0 0.00%
2022 1,826 66.09% 912 33.01% 25 0.90%
2022 1,647 65.33% 874 34.67% 0 0.00%
Georgia Gubernatorial election results for Jenkins County
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2022 1,893 68.24% 871 31.40% 10 0.36%

Education

The Jenkins County School District has three schools, including the Jenkins County High School.

Notable people

  • Farmer Brady, baseball player
  • Max Burns, politician and academic
  • Russell Davis III, football player
  • Nathan Deal, politician
  • Linda Schrenko, superintendent
  • Courtney Smith, football player
  • Melvin E. Thompson, educator and politician
  • Bennie Ward, physicist
  • Kountry Wayne, comedian

See also

References

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Jenkins County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 120. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  4. ^ "Operation Fatal for R.G. Daniel Leading Millen Citizen. Butler Herald (Butler, Georgia) May 17, 1934. Accessed via genealogytrails.com on April 26, 2023.
  5. ^ oe Ruffin Wins Vindication Savannah. Cumming North Georgian (Cumming, Georgia) June 8, 1923. Accessed via genealogytrails.com on April 26, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Plant Closing Devastates Millen". Statesboro Herald, updated November 19, 2007. Accessed April 26, 2023.
  7. ^ Economic Impact Report for Millen Airport. Georgia Department of Transportation. September 2020. Accessed April 26, 2023.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  10. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  11. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  13. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024.
  14. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  15. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  16. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  17. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  18. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  19. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  20. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Georgia - Table 58 - Race by Sex: 1980 and Table 59 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 12-52. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
  21. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 15-65. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 1, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  22. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Jenkins County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jenkins County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jenkins County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  26. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  27. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  28. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  29. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  30. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  31. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  32. ^ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  33. ^ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  34. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 20, 2018.

32°47′N 81°58′W / 32.79°N 81.96°W / 32.79; -81.96

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