Richmond County, Georgia

Not to be confused with Richmond County, New York; Richmond County, North Carolina; Richmond County, Virginia; or Augusta, Georgia.

Augusta-Richmond County
Consolidated city-county
Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Coordinates: 33°22′N 82°04′W / 33.36°N 82.07°W / 33.36; -82.07
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedFebruary 5, 1777 (1777)[1]
Named afterCharles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond
SeatAugusta
Largest cityAugusta
Area
 • Total
329 sq mi (850 km2)
 • Land324 sq mi (840 km2)
 • Water4.3 sq mi (11 km2)  1.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
206,607
 • Density638/sq mi (246/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district12th
Websiteaugustaga.gov

Richmond County is located in the state of Georgia in the U.S. As of the 2020 census, the population was 206,607.[2] It is one of the original counties of Georgia, created on February 5, 1777. Following an election in 1995, Augusta (the county seat) consolidated governments with Richmond County. The consolidated entity is known as Augusta-Richmond County, or simply Augusta. Exempt are the cities of Hephzibah and Blythe, in southern Richmond County, which voted to remain separate. Richmond County is included in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan statistical area.

History

The county is named for Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond, a British politician and office-holder sympathetic to the cause of the American colonies.[3] Richmond was also a first cousin to King George III.

Richmond County was established in 1777 by the first Constitution of the (newly independent) State of Georgia. As such, it is one of the original counties of the state. It was formed from a portion of the colonial Parish of St. Paul after the Revolution disestablished the Church of England in the (former) Royal Province of Georgia.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 329 square miles (850 km2), of which 324 square miles (840 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (1.3%) is water.[4]

The vast majority of Richmond County is located in the Middle Savannah River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin, with just the southwestern corner of the county, from a line running north from Blythe through the middle of Fort Gordon, located in the Brier Creek sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.[5]

Adjacent counties

Pedestrians and cycling

  • Augusta Canal Historic Trail
  • New Bartram Trail
  • Phinizy Swamp Constructed Wetlands Trail
  • River Levee Trail
  • Riverwalk Augusta Trail

Communities

Cities

Army installation

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179011,317—
18005,475−51.6%
18106,18913.0%
18208,60839.1%
183011,64435.3%
184011,9322.5%
185016,24636.2%
186021,28431.0%
187025,72420.9%
188034,66534.8%
189045,19430.4%
190053,73518.9%
191058,8869.6%
192063,6928.2%
193072,99014.6%
194081,86312.2%
1950108,87633.0%
1960135,60124.5%
1970162,43719.8%
1980181,62911.8%
1990189,7194.5%
2000199,7755.3%
2010200,5490.4%
2020206,6073.0%
2024 (est.)206,303[6]−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1880[8] 1890-1910[9]
1920-1930[10] 1930-1940[11]
1940-1950[12] 1960-1980[13]
1980-2000[14] 2010[15] 2020[16]
Richmond County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[17] Pop 2010[15] Pop 2020[16] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 88,660 76,236 68,397 44.38% 38.01% 33.10%
Black or African American alone (NH) 98,584 107,365 112,947 49.35% 53.54% 54.67%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 506 570 511 0.25% 0.28% 0.25%
Asian alone (NH) 2,949 3,278 3,907 1.48% 1.63% 1.89%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 228 374 391 0.11% 0.19% 0.19%
Other race alone (NH) 361 310 905 0.18% 0.15% 0.44%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 2,942 4,209 8,100 1.47% 2.10% 3.92%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5,545 8,207 11,449 2.78% 4.09% 5.54%
Total 199,775 200,549 206,607 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 206,607 people and 42,363 families residing in the county. The median age was 35.5 years, 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18, and 15.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.6 males age 18 and over. 91.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 8.3% lived in rural areas.[18][19][20]

The racial makeup of the county was 34.4% White, 55.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.3% from some other race, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.5% of the population.[20]

There were 82,363 households in the county, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 39.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[19]

There were 92,057 housing units, of which 10.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 49.5% were owner-occupied and 50.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.2%.[19]

Politics

As of the 2020s, Richmond County is a strongly Democratic Party voting county, voting 67.79% for Kamala Harris in 2024. Similar to most urban counties in the state with majority African American populations, Richmond County has backed the Democratic Party candidate by increasing margins since 1992. However, in every presidential election from 1952 to 1988 which did not have Georgian Jimmy Carter on the ballot, the county backed the Republican candidate for president. In 1968 it was one of only eight counties in Georgia where George Wallace came in third. Prior to 1952, the county voted like a typical Solid South county, voting for Democratic presidential candidates by landslide margins until backing Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond in 1948. 1928 was an exception to this rule with Herbert Hoover beating Al Smith handily due to anti-Catholic sentiment.

For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Richmond County is part of Georgia's 12th congressional district, currently represented by Rick Allen. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Richmond County is divided between District 22 and District 23.[21] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Richmond County is part of districts 126, 127, 129, 130 and 132.[22]

United States presidential election results for Richmond County, Georgia[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1880 1,497 38.12% 2,430 61.88% 0 0.00%
1884 1,945 37.13% 3,293 62.87% 0 0.00%
1888 113 11.91% 808 85.14% 28 2.95%
1892 3,224 25.59% 8,301 65.89% 1,073 8.52%
1896 1,698 30.06% 3,716 65.78% 235 4.16%
1900 215 9.34% 2,045 88.84% 42 1.82%
1904 174 6.31% 1,816 65.82% 769 27.87%
1908 267 10.91% 1,727 70.55% 454 18.55%
1912 177 7.76% 1,871 81.99% 234 10.25%
1916 238 6.86% 2,708 78.04% 524 15.10%
1920 511 16.14% 2,656 83.86% 0 0.00%
1924 1,296 33.71% 2,169 56.43% 379 9.86%
1928 5,104 70.99% 2,086 29.01% 0 0.00%
1932 738 12.96% 4,873 85.58% 83 1.46%
1936 551 7.06% 7,239 92.69% 20 0.26%
1940 641 9.85% 5,855 89.97% 12 0.18%
1944 1,152 14.28% 6,918 85.72% 0 0.00%
1948 1,528 11.89% 2,450 19.07% 8,868 69.03%
1952 9,347 52.13% 8,584 47.87% 0 0.00%
1956 10,251 60.05% 6,819 39.95% 0 0.00%
1960 11,978 54.83% 9,868 45.17% 0 0.00%
1964 21,481 61.32% 13,545 38.67% 3 0.01%
1968 14,993 41.30% 11,777 32.44% 9,532 26.26%
1972 24,362 72.55% 9,219 27.45% 0 0.00%
1976 17,893 42.67% 24,042 57.33% 0 0.00%
1980 19,619 43.72% 24,104 53.72% 1,148 2.56%
1984 29,869 58.48% 21,208 41.52% 0 0.00%
1988 27,566 57.12% 20,489 42.46% 203 0.42%
1992 24,227 40.70% 28,910 48.57% 6,386 10.73%
1996 23,670 41.62% 30,738 54.05% 2,461 4.33%
2000 25,485 44.29% 31,413 54.60% 640 1.11%
2004 29,764 42.90% 39,262 56.59% 350 0.50%
2008 26,842 33.80% 52,100 65.60% 480 0.60%
2012 25,845 32.64% 52,560 66.39% 769 0.97%
2016 24,461 32.17% 48,814 64.21% 2,750 3.62%
2020 26,780 30.75% 59,119 67.89% 1,178 1.35%
2024 26,472 31.67% 56,657 67.79% 449 0.54%
[24]
United States Senate election results for Richmond County, Georgia3
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
2022 18,014 30.11% 41,812 69.89% 0 0.00%

Transportation

Further information: Transportation in Augusta, Georgia

Major highways

Education

All of Richmond County is in the Richmond County School System.[25]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Richmond County". New Georgia Encyclopedia.
  2. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Richmond County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  3. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 188. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  6. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  7. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  8. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  9. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  10. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  11. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  12. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  13. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  14. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  15. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Richmond County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Richmond County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Richmond County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  19. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  20. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  22. ^ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  23. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  24. ^ "2022 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Georgia by county. November 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  25. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Richmond County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2024. - Text list

Further reading

  • A. Ray Rowland (ed.), Historical Markers of Richmond County, Georgia. Augusta, GA: Richmond County Historical Society, 1966.
  • Richmond County History. Augusta, GA: Richmond County Historical Society, 1969-date. —Journal, established Winter 1969.

33°22′N 82°04′W / 33.36°N 82.07°W / 33.36; -82.07

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