Douglas County, Georgia

Encyclopedia : D : DO : DOU : Douglas County, Georgia

Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 92,174. The county's explosive growth is evident with a population of 112,760 according to the 2005 U.S. Census Estimate. The county seat is Douglasville, Georgia ⁶.

This county is a part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area.

Contents

History

Georgia Historical Marker Script

This county, created by Act of the Legislature October 17, 1870, is named for Stephen A. Douglas, the "Little Giant," a Vermonter who was Congressman from Illinois 1843 to '47, Senator from '47 to '61, and Democratic candidate for President in 1860 on the ticket with gov. Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, for Vice President. Among the first County Officers were: sheriff T.H. Sellman, Clerk of Superior Court A.L. Gorman, Ordinary Wm. Hindman, Tax Receiver Jno. M. James, Tax Collector M.D. Watkins, Treasurer C.P. Bower, Coroner S.W. Biggers and Surveyor John M. Hughey.

Name

Formed soon after the end of the US Civil War, Douglas County was originally named by the reconstruction legislature after Frederick Douglass, the Civil War-era abolitionist; however, the official honoree was later changed to Stephen A. Douglas, an Illinois senator and the Democratic opponent of Abraham Lincoln in the presidential election of 1860.

County Seat

The Oct. 17, 1870 act creating Douglas County provided that on the first Monday in November 1870, voters of the new county would elect county officers and also by ballot would select the site of the county seat. In the election, some voters chose a site near the center of the county, but a larger number voted for several different named sites (which may have been different names for the settlement known as "Skinned Chestnut" or "Skin(t) Chestnut"--the early name of Douglasville). Thinking that the majority of voters had intended Skinned Chestnut, the courthouse commissioners chose this site as county seat and proceeded to sell lots and build a courthouse. However, a group of citizens filed suit against the commissioners. The case ultimately went to the Georgia Supreme Court, which ruled against the commissioners. However, both sides agreed to postpone further action until the route of the Georgia Western Railroad through Douglas County was determined. To clear up the matter, the General Assembly enacted legislation on Feb. 28, 1874, directing that an election be held on Apr. 7, 1874, to determine the location of the county seat--but with the provision that the site be located on the Georgia Western Railroad. In the election, voters confirmed Douglasville as the county seat. On Feb. 25, 1875, the General Assembly incorporated Douglasville.

Geography

Adjacent Counties

Area

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 519 km² (200 mi²). 516 km² (199 mi²) of it is land and 2 km² (1 mi²) of it (0.48%) is water.

Bodies of Water

The Chattahoochee River borders the County to the East.
Sweetwater Creek runs in the eastern side of the county in the Lithia Springs Area.
George Sparks Reservoir makes its home at Sweetwater Creek State Park.
The Dog River is a small, almost creek like river in the western side of Douglas county and travels south and eastward until it ends at the Dog River Resevior in the Southern part of the county.
The Dog River Reservior is Douglas County's main source of drinking water, and also a private lake for residents of the county.

Parks

Sweetwater Creek State Park, located in Douglas County, is host to the ruins of a Civil War-era mill destroyed in General Sherman's campaign through Georgia.
Hunter Park is located within the city limits of Douglasville, and is home to the Majority of the sports events held in Douglas County. It's home to the Douglas county Boys and Girls Club.
Deer Lick Park is located in the Northeast Corner of the County and is the 3rd largest park in the county. Home also, to sporting events and just recently finished a renovation of the park.
Woodrow Wilson Park and Lithia Springs Girls Ball Field is located in Lithia Springs next to Sweetwater Creek. This has led to the ball field flooding many times during heavy rain storms.
Boundary Waters Aquatic Center Opened in July of 2005 in the Southeastern section of the County, and is home to Douglas County swim team the Stingrays. The Center also provides aquatic therapy, and swim lessons to the county's citizens for a low fee. Residents outside the county can use the center as well, for a slightly higher fee.

Other Parks in the County include:

Post Rd Park
Clinton Farm and Nature Preserve
Bill Arp Park
Fairplay Park
Winston Park
Mt Carmel Ball Field
Dog River Park/Resevior

Elevation

Douglas County's elevation above sea level ranges as low as 875 feet to as high as 1,209 feet; its highest elevation lies inside the city of Douglasville. Douglas County sits in Georgia's Piedmont reigon, which makes its elevation vary due to many rolling hills that Douglas County sits on near the tail end of the Appalachian Mountains. There are no high mountain peaks in Douglas County, just a range of hills and valleys.

Major Highways

I-20 runs east to west in the northern end of the county.
U.S. Hwy 78/Ga Hwy 8 (also known as Bankhead Hwy, or Veterans Memorial Hwy) runs almost parallel to I-20 slightly north of the interstate. From the Carroll county line in Villa Rica to the Cobb County Line in Austell.
Ga Hwy 92 runs from Fulton County Northwest into Paulding County North of Douglasville. It bears the name Fairburn Rd. as well as Dallas Hwy North of Douglasville. The route is a major route for residents of Paulding County as well as a direct link to Interstate 20. Plans are in the works by the Georgia DOT to reroute Ga Hwy 92 as a continuous road just east of Downtown Douglasville, citing traffic and growing population, as well as an outdated railroad crossing as needs for the project.
Ga Hwy 5 runs South from Carroll County, through Douglasville, then joins Hwy 78/Ga 8 from Douglasville into Cobb County in Austell.
Ga Hwy 166 runs from Fulton County, briefly joins Ga 92, then spilts just north of the Fulton County line, and runs parallel to the Chattahoochee River to the Carroll County Line.
Ga Hwy 6 Runs along the eastern border of Douglas County, in some spots, running just feet from the Border of Cobb County. It is named Thornton Rd through all of the county, save the last mile to the north, where it is known as "C.H. James Pkwy" and is joined by US Hwy 278 after exiting briefly from Cobb County, and returning to the Southwest portion of the county. The route serves as a major highway for Residents of Cobb County and Paulding County as well, being a direct route to Interstate 20, as well as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Ga Hwy 61 Runs a very short distance in the northwest corner of the county in Villa Rica north to South from Carroll County, then enters Paulding County a short time later.

Secondary roads

Lee Rd. runs in the eastern portion of the county in the Lithia Springs area. The roads intersect I-20, begins at Fairburn Rd to the south and terminates at Sweetwater Rd north of I-20.
Post Rd. runs in the western portion of Douglas County in the Winston area. The Road begins at the southern border with Carroll County, and runs north, intersects I-20 and termniates at Bankhead Hwy (US 78) in Winston.

Local Media

The newspaper that serves the Douglas County area is the Douglas County Sentinel, a paper that circulates Tuesday-Sunday, with its largest publication on Sunday. The paper has been in circulation since 1902.

The county also has a secondary paper that circulates on Wednesday, the Douglas Neighbor, a paper that is run by the publisher of the Marietta Daily Journal. This paper is delivered free of charge.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also serves readers of Douglas County, seven days a week, with its largest paper on Sunday.

Television

Douglas County is served by the , but has a small information TV station on cable, DCTV 23. The station broadcasts board meetings and special events as well as classified job listings.

Government

Douglas County is Governed by the Douglas County Board of Commissions and its Chairman, Tom Worthan, elected in 2004. The remaining commissioners are represenatives from Douglas County's four districts.

In 2004, Douglas County voted in the majority for President George W. Bush (Republican), as well as the candidate for U.S. Senate, Johnny Isakson (Republican).

Law Enforcement

Douglas County Law Enforcement is handled by the Douglas County Sheriffs Department, run by Sheriff Phil Miller elected in 2000. Inside Douglasville City Limits, Law enforcement is handled by the Douglasville Police Dept.

County Courthouse

Most Government offices in the county are located at the Douglas County Courthouse complex, about 1 mile south of the downtown area of Douglasville. The exception being the Douglas County Board of Education and the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce, the former located outside of Douglasville next to Hunter Park, the latter located in Downtown Douglasville.

The County Courthouse was constructed in 1997-98 and opened in 1998 after the county services needed a new courthouse for the ever growing and changing county. The services prior to the opening were scattered all over downtown Douglasville in 7-8 offices. The old Douglas County courthouse, built in 1956, remains in downtown and is now used as a museum and a satellite school for the University of West Georgia.

Schools

Douglas County is home to 19 Elementary Schools, 6 Middle Schools, 4 High Schools, Crossroads Night school and numerous private academies. Schools are run by the [Douglas County School System].

Secondary Schools

School times are as follows:

Elementary schools: 8:00am-2:45pm
Middle Schools: 8:30am-3:30pm
High Schools: 8:30am-3:30pm

Douglas County's 4 High Schools are:

Robert S. Alexander Comprehensive High School (Mascot: Cougars)
Douglas County Comprehensive High School(Mascot: Tigers)
Chapel Hill High School (Mascot: Panthers)
Lithia Springs Comprehensive High School (Mascot: Lions)

Douglas County's 6 Middle Schools are:

Fairplay Middle School (Mascot: Jaguars)
Chesnut Log Middle School (Mascot: Bears)
Chapel Hill Middle School (Mascot: Wildcats)
Turner Middle School (Mascot: Indians)
Stewart Middle School (Mascot: Eagles)
Yeager Middle School (Mascot: Mustangs)

Douglas County's 19 Elementary Schools are:

Annette Winn Elementary
Arbor Station Elementary
Beulah Elementary
Burnett Elementary
Bill Arp Elementary
Bright Star Elementary
Chapel Hill Elementary
Dorsett Shoals Elementary
Eastside Elementary
Factory Shoals Elementary
Holly Springs Elementary
Lithia Springs Elementary
Mirror Lake Elementary
Mt Carmel Elementary
New Manchester Elementary
North Douglas Elementary
South Douglas Elementary
Sweetwater Elementary
Winston Elementary

Technical School

Douglas County is home to a campus for the West Central Technical College, whose main campus is located in Carrollton, GA. The school serves those seeking higher education in technical fields, as well as adult education and GED classes in Douglas County.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 92,174 people, 32,822 households, and 24,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 179/km² (462/mi²). There were 34,825 housing units at an average density of 67/km² (175/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 77.28% White, 18.51% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 2.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 32,822 households out of which 38.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.10% were non-families. 18.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.60% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 33.50% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 7.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,108, and the median income for a family was $54,082. Males had a median income of $38,204 versus $28,475 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,172. About 5.70% of families and 7.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Austell
Douglasville
Lithia Springs(Unincorperated as of 2001.)
Villa Rica
Winston(unincorporated)

Unincorporated Communities

Fairplay
Chapel Hill
Bill Arp
Beulah

References

(1994-2002). [Roadside Georgia: Archives of Douglas County]. Retrieved December 23, 2004.
[Carl Vinson Institute of Government, UGA] Retrieved March 2006.

External links

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