Jenkins County, Georgia

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. The county seat is Millen. Historic 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. 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."Operation Fatal for R.G. Daniel Leading Millen Citizen. Butler Herald (Butler, Georgia) May 17, 1934. Accessed via genealogytrails.com on April 26, 2023.

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.oe Ruffin Wins Vindication Savannah. Cumming North Georgian (Cumming, Georgia) June 8, 1923. Accessed via genealogytrails.com on April 26, 2023.

For a number of years, the largest employer in the county was Jockey International which employed manual and skilled laborers until reducing then closing operations in September 2007."Plant Closing Devastates Millen". Statesboro Herald, updated November 19, 2007. Accessed April 26, 2023. MI Windows and Doors had a long presence in the county at its manufacturing plant, closing in December 2007.

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.Economic Impact Report for Millen Airport. Georgia Department of Transportation. September 2020. Accessed April 26, 2023.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.5%) is water.

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.

Major highways

U.S. Route 25 State Route 17 State Route 17 Bypass State Route 21 State Route 23 State Route 67 State Route 121 State Route 555 (Savannah River Parkway) State Route 565 (Savannah River Parkway)

Adjacent counties Burke County (north) Screven County (east) Bulloch County (south) Emanuel County (west)

Communities

City Millen

Unincorporated Communities Birdsville Butts Herndon

Census-designated place Perkins

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Jenkins County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)5,1544,8024,7664,5084,61158.30%58.23%55.58%54.05%53.16%Black or African American alone (NH)3,5433,4113,4373,3533,53640.07%41.36%40.08%40.20%40.77%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)151022290.01%0.06%0.12%0.26%0.33%Asian alone (NH)6161836120.07%0.19%0.21%0.43%0.14%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census415xx0.05%0.01%0.06%Other race alone (NH)1047300.01%0.00%0.05%0.08%0.35%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census4979148xx0.57%0.95%1.71%Hispanic or Latino (any race)136132873343031.54%0.16%3.35%4.00%3.49%Total8,8418,2478,5758,3408,674 100.00%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.

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.

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.

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%.

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. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Jenkins County is part of District 126.

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

Jenkins County, Georgia

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