Dodge County, Georgia

Dodge County
Dodge County Courthouse in Eastman
Map of Georgia highlighting Dodge County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°10′N 83°10′W / 32.17°N 83.17°W / 32.17; -83.17
Country United States
State Georgia
Founded1870; 152 years ago (1870)
Named forWilliam E. Dodge
SeatEastman
Largest cityEastman
Area
 • Total503 sq mi (1,300 km2)
 • Land496 sq mi (1,280 km2)
 • Water7.2 sq mi (19 km2)  1.4%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
20,605
 • Density44/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.dodgecountyga.com

Dodge County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2010, the population was 21,796. The county seat is Eastman. Dodge County lies in the Historic South and Black Belt region of Georgia, an area that was devoted to cotton production in the antebellum years. It has significant historic buildings and plantations, has a substantial African-American population, and shows cultural aspects of the South.

History

Prior to 1802, this section of Georgia was owned by the Creek Indians. Treaties were made in 1802-1805 by which all lands east of the Ocmulgee River were taken from the Creek Indians. This land was distributed by lottery to the citizens of Georgia. In 1803 Wilkinson County was organized under that treaty. Telfair and Laurens counties were formed from Wilkinson County. In 1808 Pulaski County was formed from Laurens. In 1869, the Macon and Brunswick Railroad was built. Towns began to spring up all up and down the line, and, as this section was so far removed from the county seat, Hawkinsville, it was deemed expedient to create a new county and place the county seat at this point. A large portion of the county was taken from Laurens County, and also smaller portions from Pulaski, Montgomery, and Telfair counties. Dodge County was organized on October 26, 1870, during the Reconstruction era. The county was named by the Republican-dominated legislature for William E. Dodge. The county courthouse was built by Dodge and used until 1908, on the same area the courthouse stands now.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 503 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 496 square miles (1,280 km2) is land and 7.2 square miles (19 km2) (1.4%) is water.

The western half of Dodge County, roughly west of Eastman, is located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The eastern half of the county is located in the Little Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin, with a small northern corner of Dodge County, north and west of Chester, located in the Lower Oconee River sub-basin of the larger Alamaha River basin. The rivers were important for trade, carrying cotton and timber downriver to markets.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
18805,358
189011,452113.7%
190013,97522.0%
191020,12744.0%
192022,54012.0%
193021,599−4.2%
194021,022−2.7%
195017,865−15.0%
196016,483−7.7%
197015,658−5.0%
198016,9558.3%
199017,6073.8%
200019,1718.9%
201021,79613.7%
2019 (est.)20,605−5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2019

2020 census

Dodge County racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 12,865 64.57%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 5,847 29.35%
Native American 21 0.11%
Asian 95 0.48%
Pacific Islander 8 0.04%
Other/Mixed 469 2.35%
Hispanic or Latino 620 3.11%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,925 people, 7,628 households, and 5,167 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 21,796 people, 8,177 households, and 5,528 families residing in the county. The population density was 44.0 inhabitants per square mile (17.0/km2). There were 9,857 housing units at an average density of 19.9 per square mile (7.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 66.8% white, 29.8% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.6% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.5% were English, and 12.9% were American.

Of the 8,177 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.4% were non-families, and 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 38.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,580 and the median income for a family was $46,460. Males had a median income of $38,050 versus $28,418 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,288. About 17.1% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.


Transportation

Major highways

Airport

The Heart of Georgia Regional Airport is located three miles east of Eastman off of State Route 46. Elevation 304'. Runway 02/20 is 6,506'x100'and has a precision instrument landing system. The airport is owned by the Heart of Georgia Regional Airport Authority and is home to the Middle Georgia State College Georgia Aviation campus. Middle Georgia State College operates the Federal Aviation Administration's #1 ranked student control tower in the United States. Other businesses at the airport include aircraft manufacturing, aircraft metal finishing, and general metal fabrication. The airport's fixed-base operator is located in the terminal building midfield. The terminal building is named after W. S. Stuckey Sr., founder of Stuckey's Candy Company (now Standard Candy) an aviation pioneer who is from Eastman.

Education

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Vote-buying controversy

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Dodge County has been at the center of several voter fraud and vote buying controversies over the past several decades.

1990s

The most notable incident of voter fraud in Dodge County in the 1990s is the case of United States vs. McCranie. In this case, there were two defendants being tried together for several different methods of voter fraud. These methods included vote buying, vote selling, multiple voting, and votes cast by felons and deceased voters. The case involved the winners of the July 9, 1996, races for Dodge County Sheriff and Dodge County Commissioner. The races were decided by 9 votes and 31 votes, respectively. The original results of the election had been contested, and a secondary election took place in an attempt to resolve the issue. In the secondary election, the Dodge County Sheriff's race was overturned, but the results of the Dodge County Commissioner's race remained the same.

A joint federal-state investigation into the events of this election found that the defendants likely worked together to buy votes. This was backed up with bank records that showed that the defendants had each obtained $15,000 in cash in $20 bills from the Bank of Eastman. The two defendants were accused of voter fraud and sentenced on March 12, 1999. Many federal officials described the 1996 election trial as the largest election-fraud prosecution in United States history.

2000s

The most notable case of voter fraud in the 2000s is the case of the 2004 Dodge County Sheriff's race. Former Dodge County Sheriff Lawton Douglas Jr. was indicted on two counts of conspiracy and four counts of vote buying in July 2009. This indictment came due to an investigation of the 2004 election, and did not include any charges for the potentially fraudulent 2008 election. Former Sheriff Lawton Douglas received a maximum sentence. The sentencing cited Douglas's use of cash, liquor, and drugs to buy votes in the election. Also, Douglas had people accompany voters into the polling booths to ensure that the vote actually went to him. His sentence was 18 months in federal prison.

Election results

United States presidential election results for Dodge County, Georgia
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 5,843 72.39% 2,172 26.91% 57 0.71%
2016 5,021 71.64% 1,839 26.24% 149 2.13%
2012 5,214 67.24% 2,442 31.49% 98 1.26%
2008 5,543 67.40% 2,595 31.55% 86 1.05%
2004 4,584 65.52% 2,384 34.08% 28 0.40%
2000 3,472 59.08% 2,326 39.58% 79 1.34%
1996 2,478 42.86% 2,696 46.64% 607 10.50%
1992 2,287 36.43% 3,002 47.82% 989 15.75%
1988 2,677 54.95% 2,164 44.42% 31 0.64%
1984 2,765 52.39% 2,513 47.61% 0 0.00%
1980 1,719 26.64% 4,635 71.83% 99 1.53%
1976 848 13.87% 5,267 86.13% 0 0.00%
1972 4,346 83.10% 884 16.90% 0 0.00%
1968 1,055 18.54% 1230 21.61% 3,406 59.85%
1964 3,285 58.03% 2,376 41.97% 0 0.00%
1960 1,134 23.80% 3,630 76.20% 0 0.00%
1956 738 17.50% 3,479 82.50% 0 0.00%
1952 454 11.64% 3,445 88.36% 0 0.00%
1948 210 8.49% 1,725 69.75% 538 21.75%
1944 237 14.16% 1,437 85.84% 0 0.00%
1940 171 11.74% 1,280 87.91% 5 0.34%
1936 71 5.31% 1,259 94.24% 6 0.45%
1932 33 1.16% 2,809 98.80% 1 0.04%
1928 273 28.74% 677 71.26% 0 0.00%
1924 91 5.19% 1,654 94.30% 9 0.51%
1920 177 22.01% 627 77.99% 0 0.00%
1916 35 3.95% 788 88.84% 64 7.22%
1912 28 3.87% 684 94.48% 12 1.66%


See also

Coordinates: 32°10′N 83°10′W / 32.17°N 83.17°W / 32.17; -83.17


This page was last updated at 2022-08-08 05:55 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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