Dodge County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dodge County
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Dodge County Courthouse in Eastman
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Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
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 Georgia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | 1870 |
| Named for | William E. Dodge |
| Seat | Eastman |
| Largest city | Eastman |
| Area | |
| • Total | 503 sq mi (1,300 km2) |
| • Land | 496 sq mi (1,280 km2) |
| • Water | 7.2 sq mi (19 km2) 1.4%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19,925 |
| • Density | 40/sq mi (20/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
Dodge County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2020, the population was 19,925. The county seat is Eastman. Dodge County lies in the Historic South and Black Belt region of Georgia, an area that was devoted to cotton production in the antebellum years. It has significant historic buildings and plantations, has a substantial African-American population, and shows cultural aspects of the South.
Contents
History
Prior to 1802, this section of Georgia was owned by the Creek Indians. Treaties were made in 1802-1805 by which all lands east of the Ocmulgee River were taken from the Creek Indians. This land was distributed by lottery to the citizens of Georgia. In 1803 Wilkinson County was organized under that treaty. Telfair and Laurens counties were formed from Wilkinson County. In 1808 Pulaski County was formed from Laurens. In 1869, the Macon and Brunswick Railroad was built. Towns began to spring up all up and down the line, and, as this section was so far removed from the county seat, Hawkinsville, it was deemed expedient to create a new county and place the county seat at this point. A large portion of the county was taken from Laurens County, and also smaller portions from Pulaski, Montgomery, and Telfair counties. Dodge County was organized on October 26, 1870, during the Reconstruction era. The county was named by the Republican-dominated legislature for William E. Dodge. The county courthouse was built by Dodge and used until 1908, on the same area the courthouse stands now.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 503 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 496 square miles (1,280 km2) is land and 7.2 square miles (19 km2) (1.4%) is water.
The western half of Dodge County, roughly west of Eastman, is located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The eastern half of the county is located in the Little Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin, with a small northern corner of Dodge County, north and west of Chester, located in the Lower Oconee River sub-basin of the larger Alamaha River basin. The rivers were important for trade, carrying cotton and timber downriver to markets.
Adjacent counties
- Laurens County - northeast
- Wheeler County - east
- Telfair County - southeast
- Wilcox County - west
- Pulaski County - west
- Bleckley County - northwest
Communities
Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
- Empire
- Plainfield
- Ontario
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 5,358 | — | |
| 1890 | 11,452 | 113.7% | |
| 1900 | 13,975 | 22.0% | |
| 1910 | 20,127 | 44.0% | |
| 1920 | 22,540 | 12.0% | |
| 1930 | 21,599 | −4.2% | |
| 1940 | 21,022 | −2.7% | |
| 1950 | 17,865 | −15.0% | |
| 1960 | 16,483 | −7.7% | |
| 1970 | 15,658 | −5.0% | |
| 1980 | 16,955 | 8.3% | |
| 1990 | 17,607 | 3.8% | |
| 2000 | 19,171 | 8.9% | |
| 2010 | 21,796 | 13.7% | |
| 2020 | 19,925 | −8.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 19,776 | −9.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 |
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| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 12,865 | 64.57% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,847 | 29.35% |
| Native American | 21 | 0.11% |
| Asian | 95 | 0.48% |
| Pacific Islander | 8 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 469 | 2.35% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 620 | 3.11% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,925 people, 7,628 households, and 5,167 families residing in the county.
Transportation
Major highways
US 23
US 280
US 319
US 341
US 341 Bus.
US 441
SR 27
SR 27 Bus.
SR 30
SR 31
SR 46
SR 46 Conn.
SR 87
SR 117
SR 126
SR 165
SR 230
SR 257
Airport
The Heart of Georgia Regional Airport is located three miles east of Eastman off of State Route 46. Elevation 304'. Runway 02/20 is 6,506'x100'and has a precision instrument landing system. The airport is owned by the Heart of Georgia Regional Airport Authority and is home to the Middle Georgia State College Georgia Aviation campus. Middle Georgia State College operates the Federal Aviation Administration's #1 ranked student control tower in the United States. Other businesses at the airport include aircraft manufacturing, aircraft metal finishing, and general metal fabrication. The airport's fixed-base operator is located in the terminal building midfield. The terminal building is named after W. S. Stuckey Sr., founder of Stuckey's Candy Company (now Standard Candy) an aviation pioneer who is from Eastman.
Education
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Dodge (Georgia) para niños
