Toombs County, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Toombs County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Georgia
. It was created on August 18, 1905. As of 2000, the population was 26,067. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 27,820. The county seat
is Lyons
.
Toombs County is part of the Vidalia
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
, United States representative
and senator
. During the Civil War, Toombs also served in the Confederate Provisional Congress, as Secretary of State of the Confederate States, and a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. Toombs County was founded in 1905.
Toombs County is most famously known for its Vidalia onion
s.
Toombs County is also famous for being the boyhood home of Paul Anderson
. The county also is the home of 1996 Mr.Georgia bodybuilder Jason McBride and of former NFL football player Fred Stokes.
It was founded as the 142nd county in Georgia by the State Legislature
on August 18, 1905 and organized on October 9 of that year. The county was formed from portions of Emanuel
, Tattnall
and Montgomery
counties.
of 2000, there were 26,067 people, 9,877 households, and 6,825 families residing in the county. The population density
was 71 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 11,371 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.16% White
, 24.15% Black
or African American
, 0.21% Native American
, 0.47% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 5.34% from other races
, and 0.66% from two or more races. 8.86% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 9,877 households out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% were married couples
living together, 15.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,811, and the median income for a family was $34,478. Males had a median income of $26,988 versus $18,051 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $14,252. About 17.80% of families and 23.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 18.30% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. It was created on August 18, 1905. As of 2000, the population was 26,067. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 27,820. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Lyons
Lyons, Georgia
Lyons is a city in Toombs County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,169 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Toombs County.Lyons is part of the Vidalia Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.
Toombs County is part of the Vidalia
Vidalia, Georgia
Vidalia, is a city in Toombs and very slightly into Montgomery counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,491. It is the largest city in Toombs, but is not the county seat...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Vidalia micropolitan area
The Vidalia Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Georgia, anchored by the city of Vidalia....
.
History
The County is named for Robert ToombsRobert Toombs
Robert Augustus Toombs was an American political leader, United States Senator from Georgia, 1st Secretary of State of the Confederacy, and a Confederate general in the Civil War.-Early life:...
, United States representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. During the Civil War, Toombs also served in the Confederate Provisional Congress, as Secretary of State of the Confederate States, and a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. Toombs County was founded in 1905.
Toombs County is most famously known for its Vidalia onion
Vidalia onion
A Vidalia onion is a sweet onion of certain varieties, grown in a production area defined by law in Georgia and by the United States Code of Federal Regulations . The varieties include the hybrid yellow granex, varieties of granex parentage, or other similar varieties recommended by the Vidalia...
s.
Toombs County is also famous for being the boyhood home of Paul Anderson
Paul Edward Anderson
Paul Edward Anderson was a weightlifter, strongman, and powerlifter.- Biography :Anderson was born in Toccoa, Georgia, United States of America....
. The county also is the home of 1996 Mr.Georgia bodybuilder Jason McBride and of former NFL football player Fred Stokes.
It was founded as the 142nd county in Georgia by the State Legislature
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
on August 18, 1905 and organized on October 9 of that year. The county was formed from portions of Emanuel
Emanuel County, Georgia
Emanuel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 21,837. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,469. The county seat is Swainsboro.-History:...
, Tattnall
Tattnall County, Georgia
Tattnall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 22,305. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 23,179...
and Montgomery
Montgomery County, Georgia
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 8,270. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 9,060...
counties.
Government
Toombs County is governed by a 5-member Board of Commissioners, headed by Buddy West, the Chairman. It is also governed by Alvie Kight, Jr., who has been Sheriff for 9 years now.Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 368.64 square miles (954.8 km²), of which 366.65 square miles (949.6 km²) (or 99.46%) is land and 1.99 square miles (5.2 km²) (or 0.54%) is water.Major highways
U.S. Highway 1
U.S. Highway 280
Georgia State Route 4
Georgia State Route 29Georgia State Route 29State Route 29 is a north–south state route located in the central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The route travels from US 1/SR 4 south of Lyons northwest to SR 24 north of Milledgeville.-Route description:...
Georgia State Route 30Georgia State Route 30State Route 30 is an east–west route located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The route runs from SR 41 in Marion County east to SR 25 in Port Wentworth. The route is cosigned with U.S. Route 280 for a majority of its length....
Georgia State Route 56Georgia State Route 56State Route 56 is a north–south state route located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The route travels from U.S. Route 280/State Route 30 in Reidsville to U.S. Route 25/State Route 121 in Augusta.-Route description:...
Georgia State Route 86
Georgia State Route 297Georgia State Route 297State Route 297 is a north–south state route located in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The route travels from State Route 130/State Route 292 in Vidalia to U.S...
Adjacent counties
- Emanuel CountyEmanuel County, GeorgiaEmanuel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 21,837. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,469. The county seat is Swainsboro.-History:...
(north) - Tattnall CountyTattnall County, GeorgiaTattnall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 22,305. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 23,179...
(east) - Appling CountyAppling County, GeorgiaAppling County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population is 17,419. The 2007 Census Estimate placed the population at 17,946...
(south) - Jeff Davis CountyJeff Davis County, GeorgiaJeff Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on August 18, 1905. As of 2000, the population was 12,684. It was named for the only President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 13,291...
(southwest) - Montgomery CountyMontgomery County, GeorgiaMontgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 8,270. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 9,060...
(west)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 26,067 people, 9,877 households, and 6,825 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 71 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 11,371 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.16% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 24.15% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.21% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.47% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.34% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.66% from two or more races. 8.86% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 9,877 households out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,811, and the median income for a family was $34,478. Males had a median income of $26,988 versus $18,051 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $14,252. About 17.80% of families and 23.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 18.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- LyonsLyons, GeorgiaLyons is a city in Toombs County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,169 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Toombs County.Lyons is part of the Vidalia Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- Santa ClausSanta Claus, GeorgiaSanta Claus is a city in Toombs County, Georgia, United States. The population was 250 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Vidalia Micropolitan Statistical Area....
- VidaliaVidalia, GeorgiaVidalia, is a city in Toombs and very slightly into Montgomery counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,491. It is the largest city in Toombs, but is not the county seat...
Notable residents
(or former residents)- Mel Blount (football hall of famer and founder of Mel Blount Youth Home)
- Nick EasonNick EasonNicholas Eason is an American football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
(NFL player currently with the Pittsburgh Steelers) - Craig CampbellCraig CampbellCraig Campbell is a Canadian stand-up comedian, who now lives in Devon, England.He was the host of Ed's Late Night and From Wimps to Warriors...
(country music singer) - Fred StokesFred StokesLouis Fred Stokes is a former American football defensive end who played ten seasons in the National Football League. He started in Super Bowl XXVI. Stokes played college football at Georgia Southern University and was drafted in the 12th round of the 1987 NFL Draft...
(former pro football player) - Travares TillmanTravares TillmanTravares Arastius Tillman is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
(professional football player) - Don CollinsDon Collins (baseball)Donald Edward Collins is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for two seasons. He played for the Atlanta Braves in 1977 and the Cleveland Indians in 1980.-External links:...
(former professional baseball player)