Henry County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry County
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Henry County Courthouse and Confederate monument
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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 |
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| State |  Georgia |
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| Founded | May 15, 1821 | ||
| Named for | Patrick Henry | ||
| Seat | McDonough | ||
| Largest city | Stockbridge | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 327 sq mi (850 km2) | ||
| • Land | 322 sq mi (830 km2) | ||
| • Water | 4.4 sq mi (11 km2) 1.4%% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 240,712 | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional districts | 3rd, 10th, 13th | ||
Henry County is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2020 census, the population of Henry County was 240,712, up from 203,922 in 2010. The seat of government is McDonough. The county was named for Patrick Henry.
Henry County is part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area. The Henry County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History
Henry County, Georgia, was created by the Georgia State Legislature in 1821 from land acquired from the Creek Indian Nation by the First Treaty of Indian Springs. Henry's original land area was much larger than it is today, stretching from near Indian Springs (present-day Indian Springs State Park) in the south to the Chattahoochee River near Sandy Springs in the north; encompassing most of present-day Metropolitan Atlanta. Before one year had passed, the size of the county was diminished through the separation of land areas which, in whole or in part, became the present-day DeKalb, Fulton, Fayette and Newton counties. Later divisions resulted in Clayton, Spalding, Rockdale and Butts counties.
In the beginning Henry County was a virgin wilderness, having just been ceded from the Creek Nation. Prior to 1821, the Creeks and a few trappers and traders were the only residents of this area. The Creek Indians left their mark through place names, a few small Indian Mounds scattered around the county and through the arrowheads and broken pottery which can be found throughout Henry County.
Jesse Johnson, son of John Johnson and great-grandfather of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson, was a "first settler" of Henry County. He was a prosperous farmer, the second sheriff (1822–1835), and judge, before he moved to Texas. Jonesboro Road stretches through the county. In 1995, Henry County was the sixth-fastest-growing county in the United States.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 327 square miles (850 km2), of which 322 square miles (830 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (1.4%) is water.
The vast majority of Henry County is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin, with just a very small western corner, west of Hampton, located in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin).
Adjacent counties
- DeKalb County – north
- Rockdale County – northeast
- Newton County – east Northeast
- Butts County – southeast
- Spalding County – southwest
- Clayton County – west
Communities
Cities
Census-designated place
- Heron Bay (part)
Unincorporated communities
- Blacksville
- Ellenwood (part)
- Flippen
- Kelleytown
- Luella
- Ola
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 10,566 | — | |
| 1840 | 11,756 | 11.3% | |
| 1850 | 14,726 | 25.3% | |
| 1860 | 10,702 | −27.3% | |
| 1870 | 10,102 | −5.6% | |
| 1880 | 14,193 | 40.5% | |
| 1890 | 16,220 | 14.3% | |
| 1900 | 18,602 | 14.7% | |
| 1910 | 19,927 | 7.1% | |
| 1920 | 20,420 | 2.5% | |
| 1930 | 15,924 | −22.0% | |
| 1940 | 15,119 | −5.1% | |
| 1950 | 15,857 | 4.9% | |
| 1960 | 17,619 | 11.1% | |
| 1970 | 23,724 | 34.7% | |
| 1980 | 36,309 | 53.0% | |
| 1990 | 58,741 | 61.8% | |
| 2000 | 119,341 | 103.2% | |
| 2010 | 203,922 | 70.9% | |
| 2020 | 240,712 | 18.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 254,613 | 24.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 2020 |
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| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 95,550 | 107,083 | 86,297 | 80.06% | 52.51% | 35.85% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 17,435 | 74,056 | 116,431 | 14.61% | 36.32% | 48.37% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 245 | 482 | 427 | 0.21% | 0.24% | 0.18% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,062 | 5,902 | 7,976 | 1.73% | 2.89% | 3.31% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 45 | 110 | 119 | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 162 | 504 | 1,650 | 0.14% | 0.25% | 0.69% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,150 | 3,972 | 9,375 | 0.96% | 1.95% | 3.89% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,692 | 11,813 | 18,437 | 2.26% | 5.79% | 7.66% |
| Total | 119,341 | 203,922 | 240,712 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 240,712 people, 79,550 households, and 60,471 families residing in the county.
Economy
Goya Foods has its Atlanta offices in an unincorporated area near McDonough.
Additionally, a pair of warehouses used to exist along US 23 south of McDonough, one of which was owned by Whirlpool Corporation, and the other by Toys 'R' Us.
Media
WKKP is the local radio media outlet. It broadcasts 24 hours a day on 100.9 FM and 1410 AM, and has a classic country format.
The Henry Herald is the local county news print media.
Sports
The semi-professional soccer team Georgia Revolution FC plays in the National Premier Soccer League at the Warhawk Stadium.
Atlanta Motor Speedway is located in Henry County and hosts an annual NASCAR race and many other events throughout the year, including the 2021 Publix Atlanta Marathon, which moved to the Speedway premises.
Education
Local public schools are operated by the Henry County Schools.
Enriched Virtual Program
- Impact academy
Alternative schools
- EXCEL Academy (known as Patrick Henry alternative)
- Mainstay Academy (GNETS - Special Education)
Private schools
- ABC Montessori (Toddler - 12)
- Bible Baptist Christian School (K4–12)
- Community Christian School (Nursery–12)
- Creekside Christian Academy
- Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (K3–12)
- Lake Dow Christian Academy
- New Creation Christian Academy
- North Henry Academy (K3–8)
- Strong Rock Christian School (K–12)
- Peoples Baptist Academy
- Heritage Baptist Christian School
- The Sharon School
- McDonough Methodist Academy
Higher education
Mercer University has a Regional Academic Center in McDonough. The center, opened in 2003, offers programs through the university's College of Continuing and Professional Studies and Mercer's Tift College of Education. Clayton State University and Gordon College also offer a range of college courses at the Academy for Advanced Studies in McDonough.
Southern Crescent Technical College's Henry County Center (in McDonough) offers programs in Allied Health, Business Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Computer Information Systems, Personal Services, Public Safety, and Drafting Technology.
Transportation
Major highways
Interstate 75
Interstate 675
U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 23
U.S. Route 41
State Route 3
State Route 20
State Route 42
State Route 81
State Route 138
State Route 155
State Route 401 (unsigned designation for I-75)
State Route 413 (unsigned designation for I-675)
Pedestrians and cycling
- Reeves Creek Trail
Transit systems
- Henry County operates its own reservation-based transit service for use by county residents. In addition, Xpress, a regional commuter bus service operated by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, serves park-and-ride lots in Stockbridge, Hampton, and McDonough.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Henry (Georgia) para niños
