Fayette County, Georgia

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Fayette County, Georgia
240px
Seal of Fayette County, Georgia
Seal
Map of Georgia highlighting Fayette County
Location in the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded May 15, 1821
Named for Marquis de Lafayette
Seat Fayetteville
Largest city Peachtree City
Area
 • Total 199 sq mi (515 km2)
 • Land 194 sq mi (502 km2)
 • Water 5.0 sq mi (13 km2), 2.5%
Population
 • (2010) 106,567
 • Density 548/sq mi (212/km²)
Congressional districts 3rd, 13th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.fayettecountyga.gov

Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 106,567.[1] The county seat, Fayetteville, was established in 1823. Much of Fayette County is bordered on the east side by the Flint River.

Fayette County is included in the Greater Atlanta Metropolitan Area. It is located south of Fulton County, home of the City of Atlanta. Fayette County is only minutes from the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. As a suburb of Atlanta, Fayette County has increased rapidly in population and development since the late 20th century.

Fayette County came into being after the Creek Indian cession of land at Indian Springs. Designated in 1821, it and the county seat, Fayetteville, are named for the Marquis de Lafayette, one of General George Washington's ablest lieutenants in the Revolutionary War.

Fayette County has five incorporated municipalities within its borders; Fayetteville, Brooks, Woolsey, Tyrone and Peachtree City. Formerly, Inman was also a municipality, but gave up its charter years ago.

History

Fayette County was created on May 15, 1821, from territory ceded by the Creek people, who had historically inhabited the area. It was named for the Marquis de Lafayette, French hero of the American Revolutionary War.[2] Located in the Piedmont, the county was originally developed for agriculture, primarily cotton cultivation.

Peachtree City was chartered in 1959 and developed here as the only planned community in the county and the Southeast; it covers 16,000-acres,[3] The county population has increased rapidly since the late twentieth century, following development of residential and other facilities, as it is a suburb south of Atlanta and part of the metropolitan area. This has required construction of numerous schools and other infrastructure to serve new residents.

Government

Until May 2013, members of the county commission, the county's governing authority, and school board members were all elected at-large in the county. Because of the domination of voting by the large white majority in the county, the African-American minority felt unable to elect candidates of their choice. The NAACP had tried to negotiate with the county board of commissioners since 1993 to change the system in order to increase diverse representation, but made no progress. A coalition represented by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed suit in August 2011 against both the county commission and school board for violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. They asserted that the county at-large systems diluted the voting power of the significant minority of African Americans, who in 2013 comprised 20% of the county population.[4]

African Americans had been prevented by this system (and disenfranchisement prior to 1965) from electing a candidate of their choice to the county commission or school board for 191 years. As a result of Georgia State Conference of the NAACP, et al. v. Fayette County Board of Commissioners, et al. (2013), the federal court ordered the county on May 22, 2013 to change its electoral system for the County Council and the County School Board to single-member districts, in order to correct and prevent such dilution of voting power. The court's ruling required "the Board of Commissioners and Board of Education to develop a district-based remedial plan that contains at least one district in which black voters comprise a majority of the voting-age population by June 25, 2013."[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 199 square miles (520 km2), of which 194 square miles (500 km2) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km2) (2.5%) is water.[5]

The Flint River passes through the county. The entirety of Fayette County is located in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin).[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830 5,504 —
1840 6,191 12.5%
1850 8,709 40.7%
1860 7,047 −19.1%
1870 8,221 16.7%
1880 8,605 4.7%
1890 8,728 1.4%
1900 10,114 15.9%
1910 10,966 8.4%
1920 11,396 3.9%
1930 8,665 −24.0%
1940 8,170 −5.7%
1950 7,978 −2.4%
1960 8,199 2.8%
1970 11,364 38.6%
1980 29,043 155.6%
1990 62,415 114.9%
2000 91,263 46.2%
2010 106,567 16.8%
Est. 2014 109,664 [7] 2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]

Based on the 2010 census and 2013 estimates, Fayette County has 108,365 people. The racial makeup of the county was 71.7% White; 21.4% Black or African American; 0.4% Native American, 4.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; and 2.0% Two or More Races. 6.9% of the population was estimated as Hispanic or Latino of any race.[1]

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 91,263 people, 31,524 households, and 25,975 families residing in the county. The population density was 463 people per square mile (179/km²). There were 32,726 housing units at an average density of 166 per square mile (64/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.96% White, 12.87% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.76% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 2.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 31,524 households out of which 43.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.50% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.60% were non-families. 15.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county the population was spread out with 29.10% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 27.80% from 45 to 64, and 8.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $71,227, and the median income for a family was $78,853 (these figures had risen to $79,498 and $89,873 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[13]). Males had a median income of $54,738 versus $33,333 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,464. About 2.00% of families and 2.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.80% of those under age 18 and 4.60% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 106,567 people, 38,167 households, and 30,288 families residing in the county.[14] The population density was 548.3 inhabitants per square mile (211.7/km2). There were 40,793 housing units at an average density of 209.9 per square mile (81.0/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 71.1% white, 20.1% black or African American, 3.9% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.3% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.3% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 15.0% were English, 14.0% were German, 13.0% were Irish, and 8.1% were American.[16]

Of the 38,167 households, 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 20.6% were non-families, and 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 42.4 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $82,216 and the median income for a family was $92,976. Males had a median income of $68,381 versus $46,140 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,076. About 3.4% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Education

Fayette County is served by the Fayette County School System. As of a change in 2013 due to the federal lawsuit noted above, the five board members are elected from single-member districts. They hire a superintendent to manage daily operations of the schools.

High schools

Alternative schools

  • The Fayette County Alternative Education Program

Communities

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Carolyn Cary, "Fayette County", New Georgia Encyclopedia, 2006/2015
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 ABS Staff, "Fayette County at-large election process violates the Voting Rights Act", Atlanta Black Star, 22 May 2013, accessed 11 April 2015
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  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Other reading

  • Carolyn C. Cary, ed., The History of Fayette County, 1821-1971 (Fayetteville, Ga.: Fayette County Historical Society, 1977).
  • Fayette County Historical Society, The Fayette County Georgia Heritage Book (Waynesville, N.C.: Walsworth, 2003).

External links

 Fulton County
Coweta County Clayton County
  Fayette County, Georgia  
Spalding County

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