Oglethorpe County, Georgia
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Oglethorpe County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,825.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Lexington.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>
Oglethorpe County is included in the Athens-Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA Combined Statistical Area. It is the largest county in Northeast Georgia.
History
Oglethorpe County was originally part of a large tract of land surrendered by Creek and Cherokee Native Americans to the Colony of Georgia in the treaty of 1773. The county itself was founded on December 19, 1793, and is named for Georgia's founder, General James Oglethorpe.
On September 10, 1919, Obe Cox was accused of murdering a White farmer's wife. He was seized by a White mob taken to the scene of the crime, his body riddled with bullets and burned at the stake. Several thousand persons witnessed the scene. The lynching was controversial as the local black community "thanked" the mob for just killing Cox and not attacking their community.<ref name=Brundage>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After an investigation the black media of the time reported that the blacks who wrote the letter thanking the lynching "do not stand for much in the town and are excused for their utter ignorance in condoning [lynching]."<ref name=Brundage/>
Controversy
In June 2018, Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office came under protest after a controversial hire was made of former Athens-Clarke County Police Officer Tyler Saulters.<ref name=HunterRiggall2018>Template:Cite web</ref> Saulters, who was fired from ACCPD, was involved in a controversial use of deadly force with his vehicle, striking a fleeing misdemeanor suspect<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while attempting to apprehend him in Athens, GA. Protestors were upset that Oglethorpe County Sheriff, David Gabriel, defended the hire and the use of force by the former ACCPD officer.<ref name=HunterRiggall2018/>
In April 2021, Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Davis was arrested and charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for two counts of aggravated assault.<ref name=AJC2021>Template:Cite news</ref> The arrest stemmed from an on-duty use-of-force, in Clarke County.<ref name=AJC2021/> Davis struck a vehicle he had already performed a traffic stop on.<ref name=AJC2021/> After striking the vehicle, Davis discharged his duty weapon at the vehicle.<ref name=AJC2021/> When the vehicle fled from the unprovoked and unjustified shooting by the Deputy, the deputy pursued and involved officers from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.<ref name=AJC2021/> ACCPD requested an investigation by the GBI, which is standard in most officer involved shootings in Georgia.<ref name=AJC2021/>
In August 2024, YouTuber DG Hamblin, produced interviews with a former Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Deputy about his experiences as a police officer.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref name= HamblinPt2>Template:Cite AV media</ref> During the interviews excessive use of force by a Sheriff's commander and failure to report that use of force was discussed as well as Sheriff's commanders' interactions with the controversial Poulan Police Department.<ref name=HamblinPt2/>
On August 29, 2024, Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Deputies engaged in a pursuit with a motorcycle for a minor traffic violation (missing registration plate) inside Oglethorpe County.<ref name=WayneFord2024>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=FoxATL2024>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=JoyPurcell2024>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=classiccity2024>Template:Cite web</ref> During the pursuit, speeds reached 100 mph (160 km/h).<ref name=WayneFord2024/><ref name=classiccity2024/> According to the Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office, the Deputy pursuing the motorcycle called the chase off inside Clarke County but continued to follow the motorcycle.<ref name=FoxATL2024/><ref name=classiccity2024/> The motorcyclist was involved in a collision with another vehicle at the intersection of Lexington Road and Woodgrove Road<ref name=classiccity2024/><ref name=WayneFord2024/> in Clarke County. The motorcyclist died on scene, according to the Georgia State Patrol, who investigated the collision and pursuit that led up to the fatal collision.<ref name=WayneFord2024/><ref name=FoxATL2024/><ref name=JoyPurcell2024/><ref name=classiccity2024/>
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state.
The majority of Oglethorpe County is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin. A narrow western portion of the county, in a line from just north of Woodville, through Crawford, to just south of Winterville, is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. A small part of the southern portion of the county, from Maxeys east, is located in the Little River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
River
Adjacent counties
- Elbert County (northeast)
- Wilkes County (east)
- Taliaferro County (southeast)
- Greene County (south)
- Oconee County (west)
- Clarke County (west)
- Madison County (north)
National protected area
- Oconee National Forest (part)
- Watson Mill Bridge State Park (part)
Communities
Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
Demographics
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 10,903 | 73.54% |
| Black or African American | 2,248 | 15.16% |
| Native American | 40 | 0.27% |
| Asian | 134 | 0.9% |
| Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 626 | 4.22% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 869 | 5.86% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,825 people, 5,651 households, and 3,711 families residing in the county.
Education
Recreation
- White Water Rafting on the Broad and South Fork Broad Rivers
- ATV and Motor Bike Park
- Sportsman Hunting: Seasonal Whitetail Deer, Turkey and Rabbit
Historic Districts and Heritage Research, Antique Stores in Historic Lexington, Agriculture and Agritourism as well as Oglethorpe Fresh Produce
In 2016, the Oglethorpe County Recreation Department was named both the District 7 and State Agency of the Year for populations under 20,000 through the Georgia Recreation and Park Association.
Transportation
Major highways
Pedestrians and cycling
The county has limited walkability options available.
Politics
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Notable people
- Nathan Crawford Barnett, member of the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Secretary of State for more than 30 years. Raised in Lexington, and educated at the Lexington Academy
- William H. Crawford (1772–1834) - U.S. Minister to France, U.S. Secretary of War, and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
- George R. Gilmer (1790–1859) - Twice Governor
- Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809) - leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
- Wilson Lumpkin (1783–1870) - Governor
- Joseph H. Lumpkin (1799–1867) First Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court and co-founder of the Lumpkin Law School
- George Mathews (1739–1812) - Revolutionary hero and twice Governor
- Kenny Rogers - Country music performer
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Oglethorpe County, Georgia
- List of counties in Georgia
Bibliography
External links
- Oglethorpe County official website
- Watson Mill Covered Bridge State Park
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