Get to know: Twiggs County

Twiggs County was created in 1809, taking its territory from Wilkinson County. Georgia’s 37th county was named for Gen. John Twiggs, a prominent leader in the Revolutionary War and the Indian wars.

The county has two municipalities, Jeffersonville and Danville. Jeffersonville, the larger, is also the county seat. It was established in 1828 as Rains’ Store, but its name was changed to honor the Jefferson family, leaders in the county’s early development.

Industrial development in the county centers on the mining and production of kaolin. There are 36 mines and 3,797 acres used for kaolin and sand.

The geographic center of the state is located in the county, near Marion.Twiggs County Commission, 101 Magnolia St., Courthouse Annex, Jeffersonville, 478-945-3629City Hall, 200 Church St., Jeffersonville, 478-945-3191

Voter registration

Twiggs County Registrar’s Office, 105 Ash St., Jeffersonville, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 478-945-3639

Auto tags

Twiggs County Tax Commissioner’s Office, Millard Hendricks Building, 101 Magnolia St., Jeffersonville, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 478-945-3359

Emergency numbers

Police Department, 911 or 478-945-6972

Sheriff’s Office, 911 or 478-945-3357

Fire and Emergency Management, 478-945-6968

Ambulance Service, 911 or 478-945-6968

Library

Twiggs County Public Library: 101 Ash St., Jeffersonville, 478-945-3814

POPULATION

2013 estimate: 8,320

Change, 2010 to 2014: -7.8 percent

White: 56.5 percent

Black: 41.6 percent

Hispanic: 1.8 percent

EDUCATION

High school or better: 70.3 percent

Bachelor’s or better: 10.8 percent

Public high school graduates, 2014: 27

Graduation rate, 2014: 54 percent

Public school enrollment, October 2014: 920

Eligible for HOPE scholarship: 40 percent

Enrolled, white: 33.6 percent

Enrolled, black: 62.9 percent

ECONOMICS

Median household income, 2012: $31,234

People below poverty level: 28.7 percent

Unemployment rate, May 2015: 9.7

Civilian labor force, May 2015: 2,999

HEALTH

Births per 1,000 people, 2012: 12

Deaths per 1,000 people, 2012: 10.54

Births to unwed mothers, 2012: 61.4 percent

Teen pregnancies per 1,000 girls aged 10 to 19: 21.6

People per physician, 2010: 9,023

Uninsured, less than age 65, 2012: 20.9 percent

TANF recipients, Fiscal 2013: 0.6 percent

PHYSICAL

Land: 362.6 square miles

Land in farms: 16.9 percent

Road mileage, unpaved, 2013: 24.6 percent

Sources: Telegraph analysis, Georgia Statistics System, U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Department of Education

This story was originally published October 14, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Get to know: Twiggs County ."