Heard County is a county located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. At the 2020 census, the population was 11,412, down from 11,834 in 2010.[1] The county seat is Franklin.[2] The county was created on December 22, 1830.

Heard County
Heard County courthouse in Franklin
Heard County courthouse in Franklin
Map of Georgia highlighting Heard County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°18′N 85°08′W / 33.3°N 85.13°W / 33.3; -85.13
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 22, 1830; 193 years ago (1830-12-22)
Named forStephen Heard
SeatFranklin
Largest cityFranklin
Area
 • Total
301 sq mi (780 km2)
 • Land296 sq mi (770 km2)
 • Water5.1 sq mi (13 km2)  1.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
11,412
 • Density38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websiteheardcountyga.com

Heard County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA.

History

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Heard County was created by Act of the Legislature on December 22, 1830.[3] It was named for Stephen Heard,[4] elected President of the Council on February 18, 1781, thus, in the absence of Governor Howley, becoming Governor de facto. Heard moved to Wilkes County from Hanover County, Virginia, and fought in the American Revolutionary War where he distinguished himself at Kettle Creek. The first sheriff, Jonathan Mewsick, was commissioned in 1832.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 301 square miles (780 km2), of which 296 square miles (770 km2) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km2) (1.7%) is water.[5]

The vast majority of Heard County is located in the Middle Chattahoochee River-Lake Harding sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin), with just a very small northwestern corner of the county, west of Ephesus, located in the Upper Tallapoosa River sub-basin of the ACT River Basin (Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin).[6]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18405,329
18506,92329.9%
18607,80512.7%
18707,8660.8%
18808,76911.5%
18909,5579.0%
190011,17717.0%
191011,1890.1%
192011,126−0.6%
19309,102−18.2%
19408,610−5.4%
19506,975−19.0%
19605,333−23.5%
19705,3540.4%
19806,52021.8%
19908,62832.3%
200011,01227.6%
201011,8347.5%
202011,412−3.6%
2023 (est.)12,034[7]5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1880[9] 1890-1910[10]
1920-1930[11] 1930-1940[12]
1940-1950[13] 1960-1980[14]
1980-2000[15] 2010[1] 2020[16]
Heard County racial composition as of 2020[17]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 9,589 84.03%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 930 8.15%
Native American 33 0.29%
Asian 53 0.46%
Pacific Islander 4 0.04%
Other/Mixed 550 4.82%
Hispanic or Latino 253 2.22%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,412 people, 4,502 households, and 3,254 families residing in the county.

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Heard County, Georgia[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 5,335 85.70% 859 13.80% 31 0.50%
2020 4,519 83.78% 824 15.28% 51 0.95%
2016 3,370 79.41% 743 17.51% 131 3.09%
2012 3,160 75.63% 948 22.69% 70 1.68%
2008 3,133 74.05% 1,042 24.63% 56 1.32%
2004 2,788 70.48% 1,148 29.02% 20 0.51%
2000 1,947 60.88% 1,178 36.84% 73 2.28%
1996 1,170 41.14% 1,248 43.88% 426 14.98%
1992 1,190 36.36% 1,456 44.49% 627 19.16%
1988 1,551 63.77% 874 35.94% 7 0.29%
1984 1,492 64.81% 810 35.19% 0 0.00%
1980 875 38.33% 1,348 59.05% 60 2.63%
1976 433 21.37% 1,593 78.63% 0 0.00%
1972 1,239 81.78% 276 18.22% 0 0.00%
1968 303 16.72% 356 19.65% 1,153 63.63%
1964 807 43.18% 1,061 56.77% 1 0.05%
1960 181 12.88% 1,224 87.12% 0 0.00%
1956 194 14.92% 1,106 85.08% 0 0.00%
1952 184 13.40% 1,189 86.60% 0 0.00%
1948 77 9.63% 670 83.75% 53 6.63%
1944 185 24.93% 557 75.07% 0 0.00%
1940 221 25.40% 647 74.37% 2 0.23%
1936 155 17.55% 725 82.11% 3 0.34%
1932 24 2.36% 989 97.34% 3 0.30%
1928 390 44.17% 493 55.83% 0 0.00%
1924 35 9.49% 327 88.62% 7 1.90%
1920 14 2.95% 461 97.05% 0 0.00%
1916 11 2.15% 439 85.74% 62 12.11%
1912 11 1.83% 526 87.38% 65 10.80%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 106. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 153.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "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 19, 2015.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  10. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  11. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  12. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  13. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  14. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  15. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  16. ^ US 2020 Census Bureau report, Heard County, Georgia
  17. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
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33°18′N 85°08′W / 33.30°N 85.13°W / 33.30; -85.13