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Oconee County, Georgia

Coordinates: 33°50′N 83°26′W / 33.84°N 83.44°W / 33.84; -83.44
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For the city located within Washington County, see Oconee, Georgia.

Oconee County
County
Oconee County Courthouse in Watkinsville
Oconee County Courthouse in Watkinsville
Map of Georgia highlighting Oconee 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°50′N 83°26′W / 33.84°N 83.44°W / 33.84; -83.44
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedFebruary 24, 1875; 149 years ago (1875-02-24)
Named forOconee River
SeatWatkinsville
Largest townWatkinsville
Area
 • Total186 sq mi (480 km2)
 • Land184 sq mi (480 km2)
 • Water2.1 sq mi (5 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total41,799
 • Density227/sq mi (88/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district10th
Websitewww.oconeecounty.com

Oconee County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 41,799.[1] The county seat is Watkinsville.[2]

Oconee County is included in the Athens-Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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The county's name derives from the Oconee, a Muskogean people of central Georgia. The name exists in several variations, including Ocone, Oconi, Ocony, and Ekwoni.[3] Oconee County was created from the southwestern part of Clarke County in 1875 by the Georgia General Assembly. The new county was created to satisfy southwestern Clarke County residents' demand for their own county after the county seat was moved from Watkinsville to Athens by the General Assembly in 1872. It is named for the river flowing along part of its eastern border.[4]

The county was ranked as the third-best rural county to live in by Progressive Farmer magazine in 2006.[5]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 186 square miles (480 km2), of which 184 square miles (480 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (1.1%) is water.[6] The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state.

The entirety of Oconee County is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.[7]

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Communities

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Towns

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Unincorporated community

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18806,351—
18907,71321.4%
19008,60211.5%
191011,10429.1%
192011,067−0.3%
19308,082−27.0%
19407,576−6.3%
19507,009−7.5%
19606,304−10.1%
19707,91525.6%
198012,42757.0%
199017,61841.8%
200026,22548.9%
201032,66624.6%
202041,79928.0%
2023 (est.)44,182[8]5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1880[10] 1890-1910[11]
1920-1930[12] 1930-1940[13]
1940-1950[14] 1960-1980[15]
1980-2000[16] 2010[17]
Oconee County racial composition as of 2020[18]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 33,886 81.07%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,897 4.54%
Native American 31 0.07%
Asian 2,066 4.94%
Other/Mixed 1,572 3.76%
Hispanic or Latino 2,347 5.61%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 41,799 people, 13,423 households, and 10,727 families residing in the county.

Government

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Oconee County is governed by a four-member board of commissioners, which holds legislative power. The board is led by a separately-elected chairman, who holds executive power. The board is vested with budget and taxing authority, ordinance-making authority, and control of county property, roads and facilities. The chairman and all members of the board are elected from at-large districts (called "posts") to staggered terms of four years.[19]

The chairman of the board is the county's chief executive officer who, in consultation with the commissioners, appoints officers and staff as needed to administer the responsibilities of the board.

The current members of the Board are:[19]

  • Chairman: John Daniell
  • Post 1: Mark Thomas
  • Post 2: Chuck Horton
  • Post 3: Amrey Harden
  • Post 4: Mark Saxon

The judicial branch of government is administered through the Georgia court system as a part of the 10th Judicial District, Western Circuit.[20]

Primary law enforcement services in the portion of the county outside the City of Watkinsville are provided by the sheriff's office. (Law enforcement within the Watkinsville City Limits is the jurisdiction of the Watkinsville Police Department.)[21] The office of Sheriff is an elected position; since 2020, the office has been held by James Hale.

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Oconee County, Georgia[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 16,595 65.87% 8,162 32.40% 436 1.73%
2016 13,425 65.96% 5,581 27.42% 1,347 6.62%
2012 13,098 73.34% 4,421 24.76% 340 1.90%
2008 12,120 70.57% 4,825 28.09% 229 1.33%
2004 10,276 72.37% 3,789 26.68% 134 0.94%
2000 7,611 68.15% 3,184 28.51% 373 3.34%
1996 5,116 58.05% 2,992 33.95% 705 8.00%
1992 4,125 51.08% 2,745 33.99% 1,206 14.93%
1988 4,265 67.89% 1,990 31.68% 27 0.43%
1984 3,471 70.29% 1,467 29.71% 0 0.00%
1980 2,065 47.29% 2,141 49.03% 161 3.69%
1976 1,184 34.70% 2,228 65.30% 0 0.00%
1972 2,029 81.39% 464 18.61% 0 0.00%
1968 713 28.16% 414 16.35% 1,405 55.49%
1964 1,241 53.63% 1,073 46.37% 0 0.00%
1960 297 19.60% 1,218 80.40% 0 0.00%
1956 314 21.36% 1,156 78.64% 0 0.00%
1952 337 22.19% 1,182 77.81% 0 0.00%
1948 94 10.05% 579 61.93% 262 28.02%
1944 195 25.49% 570 74.51% 0 0.00%
1940 177 21.66% 635 77.72% 5 0.61%
1936 173 26.25% 483 73.29% 3 0.46%
1932 39 5.43% 664 92.48% 15 2.09%
1928 300 46.58% 344 53.42% 0 0.00%
1924 46 11.89% 279 72.09% 62 16.02%
1920 108 24.05% 341 75.95% 0 0.00%
1916 0 0.00% 497 74.96% 166 25.04%
1912 1 0.26% 208 53.47% 180 46.27%

Education

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Oconee County School District

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The Oconee County School District provides education for grades pre-school to twelve and consists of six elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools.[23] The district has 361 full-time teachers and over 5,615 students.[24]

Private schools

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There are currently three private schools located in the county. They are:

Colleges and universities

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The University of North Georgia maintains a satellite campus near Watkinsville. It was a Gainesville State College campus until the 2012 merger of Gainesville State College with North Georgia College and State University.[28]

The College of Athens (CoA) is a private Christian college that was established in 2012 near Watkinsville. CoA currently offers certificates, undergraduate, and graduate degrees in nine various major areas.[29]

Media

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There is one weekly-published newspaper in Oconee County: The Oconee Enterprise.

Cox Media Group also operates a radio broadcast facility on Tower Place in northeast Oconee County. Four radio stations are operated from this facility:[30]

  • WNGC 106.1 FM
  • WGMG 102.1 FM (Magic 102.1)
  • WPUP 100.1 FM (Power 100.1)
  • WRFC 960 AM (The Ref)

Transportation

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Major highways

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Pedestrians and cycling

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The city has limited walkability options available. However, since 2017 plans are being discussed to develop a multi-use trail network.[31]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Oconee County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1999). Georgia Place-names (PDF). Macon, GA.: Winship Press. pp. 163–164. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  4. ^ Oconee County Chamber of Commerce, "History of Oconee County" Archived April 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Steve Hargreaves (February 2, 2006). "Best places to live: Rural America". CNNMoney.com. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  9. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  11. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  12. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  13. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  14. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  15. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  16. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  17. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  18. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  19. ^ a b Board Of Commissioners Archived March 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine section of Oconee County website. Last accessed April 4, 2012.
  20. ^ Official website Archived August 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine of the 10th Judicial District of Georgia, Western Circuit
  21. ^ 2011 Official Oconee County Newcomer's Guide Last accessed April 4, 2012.
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  23. ^ Georgia Board of Education[permanent dead link], Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  24. ^ School Stats Archived April 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  25. ^ Founding Principles Archived February 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine section of Westminster Christian Academy website. Last accessed April 4, 2012.
  26. ^ Who we are Archived March 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine section of Prince Avenue website. Last accessed April 4, 2012.
  27. ^ History Archived February 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine section of Athens Academy website. Last accessed April 4, 2012.
  28. ^ History of GSC Archived April 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine section of Gainesville State College website. Last accessed April 4, 2012.
  29. ^ College of Athens Retrieved July 5, 2022
  30. ^ Athens location information Archived April 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Cox Media Group website. Last accessed April 4, 2012.
  31. ^ "Plans for Oconee County taking shape". Gate House Media LLC. June 14, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
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33°50′N 83°26′W / 33.84°N 83.44°W / 33.84; -83.44

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