Grady County, Georgia
Grady County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,236.[1] The county seat is Cairo.[2]
History
[edit | edit source]Grady County was created by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on August 17, 1905, from portions of Decatur and Thomas counties. The county is named for Henry W. Grady, editor of the Atlanta Constitution and noted orator.[3]
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 460 square miles (1,200 km2), of which 455 square miles (1,180 km2) is land and 5.7 square miles (15 km2) (1.2%) is water.[4]
The bulk of Grady County, centered on Cairo, is located on the Upper Ochlockonee River sub-basin of the larger Ochlockonee River basin. The county's northwestern corner is located in the Lower Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). Grady County's western border, from Whigham south, and all of its southern border, is located in the Lower Ochlockonee River sub-basin of the same Ochlockonee River basin. Finally, a very small chunk of the county's southeastern portion, bisected by U.S. Route 319, is located in the Apalachee Bay-St. Marks sub-basin of the Ochlockonee River basin.[5]
Grady County includes part of the Red Hills Region.
Major highways
[edit | edit source]- File:US 84.svg U.S. Route 84
- File:US 319.svg U.S. Route 319
- File:Georgia 35.svg State Route 35
- File:Georgia 38.svg State Route 38
- File:Georgia 38 Spur.svg State Route 38 Spur
- File:Georgia 93.svg State Route 93
- File:Georgia 111.svg State Route 111
- File:Georgia 112.svg State Route 112
- File:Georgia 188.svg State Route 188
- File:Georgia 262.svg State Route 262
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Mitchell County - north
- Thomas County - east
- Leon County, Florida - south
- Gadsden County, Florida - southwest
- Decatur County - west
Communities
[edit | edit source]Cities
[edit | edit source]Census-designated place
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Demographics
[edit | edit source]Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[6] | Pop 1990[7] | Pop 2000[8] | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 13,354 | 13,538 | 14,954 | 14,879 | 14,715 | 67.29% | 66.76% | 63.21% | 59.49% | 56.09% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6,214 | 6,356 | 7,074 | 7,129 | 7,285 | 31.31% | 31.34% | 29.90% | 28.50% | 27.77% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 108 | 75 | 185 | 135 | 89 | 0.54% | 0.37% | 0.78% | 0.54% | 0.34% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 17 | 19 | 72 | 94 | 110 | 0.09% | 0.09% | 0.30% | 0.38% | 0.42% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [11] | x [12] | 1 | 10 | 6 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 5 | 2 | 5 | 31 | 86 | 0.03% | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.12% | 0.33% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [13] | x [14] | 146 | 233 | 672 | x | x | 0.62% | 0.93% | 2.56% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 147 | 289 | 1,222 | 2,500 | 3,273 | 0.74% | 1.43% | 5.17% | 10.00% | 12.48% |
| Total | 19,845 | 20,279 | 23,659 | 25,011 | 26,236 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 26,236, along with 10,316 households and 6,320 families residing there.[15]
The median age was 40.6 years, 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18, and 19.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older; for every 100 females there were 92.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.9 males age 18 and over.[15]
39.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 60.6% lived in rural areas.[16]
The racial makeup of the county was 57.4% White, 28.0% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.0% from some other race, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 12.5% of the population.[17]
Of those households, 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 31.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 11,539 housing units, of which 10.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.2% were owner-occupied and 35.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.[15]
Education
[edit | edit source]Grady County Schools operates six public schools, including Cairo High School.
Politics
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020s, Grady County is a Republican stronghold, voting 68.9% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Grady County is part of Georgia's 1st congressional district, currently represented by Buddy Carter. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Grady County is part of District 11.[18] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Grady County is part of District 171.[19]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 8 | 1.66% | 452 | 93.97% | 21 | 4.37% |
| 1916 | 84 | 10.53% | 675 | 84.59% | 39 | 4.89% |
| 1920 | 232 | 20.73% | 887 | 79.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 100 | 6.35% | 1,449 | 92.06% | 25 | 1.59% |
| 1928 | 439 | 27.25% | 1,172 | 72.75% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 60 | 2.66% | 2,184 | 96.89% | 10 | 0.44% |
| 1936 | 163 | 8.91% | 1,659 | 90.71% | 7 | 0.38% |
| 1940 | 224 | 13.20% | 1,461 | 86.09% | 12 | 0.71% |
| 1944 | 223 | 11.84% | 1,661 | 88.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 244 | 11.19% | 1,516 | 69.54% | 420 | 19.27% |
| 1952 | 643 | 18.77% | 2,782 | 81.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 496 | 15.53% | 2,697 | 84.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 592 | 18.90% | 2,541 | 81.10% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,983 | 61.25% | 1,887 | 38.75% | 0 | 0.00% |
| "text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/American Independent |1968 | 561 | 9.67% | 1,425 | 24.56% | 3,817 | 65.78% |
| 1972 | 3,732 | 81.02% | 874 | 18.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,209 | 24.34% | 3,758 | 75.66% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 2,018 | 39.44% | 3,023 | 59.08% | 76 | 1.49% |
| 1984 | 3,886 | 63.22% | 2,261 | 36.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 2,989 | 61.10% | 1,883 | 38.49% | 20 | 0.41% |
| 1992 | 2,370 | 39.28% | 2,520 | 41.77% | 1,143 | 18.95% |
| 1996 | 2,674 | 43.23% | 2,862 | 46.27% | 649 | 10.49% |
| 2000 | 3,894 | 58.09% | 2,721 | 40.59% | 88 | 1.31% |
| 2004 | 5,068 | 61.80% | 3,092 | 37.70% | 41 | 0.50% |
| 2008 | 5,775 | 61.63% | 3,539 | 37.77% | 57 | 0.61% |
| 2012 | 5,924 | 62.93% | 3,419 | 36.32% | 70 | 0.74% |
| 2016 | 6,053 | 65.33% | 3,013 | 32.52% | 199 | 2.15% |
| 2020 | 7,034 | 65.70% | 3,619 | 33.80% | 54 | 0.50% |
| 2024 | 7,385 | 68.90% | 3,290 | 30.70% | 43 | 0.40% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Template:G.A. GovHead Template:G.A. GovRow Template:G.A. GovFoot
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Grady County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 96. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ↑ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Georgia - Table 58 - Race by Sex: 1980 and Table 59 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 12-52. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 15-65. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 1, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Grady County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Grady County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Grady County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
External links
[edit | edit source]- Grady County historical marker
- GeorgiaInfo Grady County Courthouse history
- The New Georgia Encyclopedia entry for Grady County Archived June 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
Template:Geographic Location Template:Grady County, Georgia Template:Georgia (U.S. state) Coordinates: 30°53′N 84°14′W / 30.88°N 84.23°W