Schley County, Georgia

Schley County, Georgia
County
Schley County Courthouse in Ellaville
Schley County Courthouse in Ellaville
Map of Georgia highlighting Schley County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°16′00″N 84°17′59″W / 32.266666666667°N 84.299722222222°W / 32.266666666667; -84.299722222222
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 22, 1857; 168 years ago (December 22, 1857)
Named forWilliam Schley
SeatEllaville
Largest cityEllaville
Area
 • Total
168 sq mi (440 km2)
 • Land167 sq mi (430 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
4,547
 • Estimate 
(2025)
4,593 Increase
 • Density27/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websiteschleycountyga.us

Schley County (/slaɪ/ SLY) is a county located in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 U.S. census, its population was 4,547. The county seat is Ellaville.

Schley County is part of the Americus, GA micropolitan statistical area. It is named in honor of Governor William Schley.

History

The county was created by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on December 22, 1857, and is named for William Schley, United States Representative and thirty-sixth governor of Georgia.

The first county courthouse was built in 1858. The present Schley County Courthouse dates from 1899.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 168 square miles (440 km2), of which 167 square miles (430 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (0.5%) is water.

The central portion of Schley County, roughly north of Ellaville, is located in the Middle Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The very northern border area of the county is located in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the same ACF River Basin. The southwestern portion of Schley County, southwest of Ellaville, is located in the Kinchafoonee-Muckalee sub-basin of the same larger ACF River Basin.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18604,633—
18705,12910.7%
18805,3023.4%
18905,4432.7%
19005,4991.0%
19105,213−5.2%
19205,2430.6%
19305,3472.0%
19405,033−5.9%
19504,036−19.8%
19603,256−19.3%
19703,097−4.9%
19803,43310.8%
19903,5884.5%
20003,7665.0%
20105,01033.0%
20204,547−9.2%
2025 (est.)4,593 Increase1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1880 1890-1910
1920-1930 1930-1940
1940-1950 1960-1980
1980-2000 2010

Racial and ethnic composition

Schley County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980 Pop 1990 Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 2,135 2,308 2,462 3,612 3,357 62.19% 64.33% 65.37% 72.10% 73.83%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,208 1,221 1,169 1,167 863 35.19% 34.03% 31.04% 23.29% 18.98%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 0 2 8 2 4 0.00% 0.06% 0.21% 0.04% 0.09%
Asian alone (NH) 0 0 3 36 20 0.00% 0.00% 0.08% 0.72% 0.44%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x x 0 0 2 x x 0.00% 0.00% 0.04%
Other race alone (NH) 0 2 0 0 7 0.00% 0.06% 0.00% 0.00% 0.15%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x x 35 32 119 x x 0.93% 0.64% 2.62%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 90 55 89 161 175 2.62% 1.53% 2.36% 3.21% 3.85%
Total 3,433 3,588 3,766 5,010 4,547 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 4,547 people, 1,753 households, and 1,452 families residing in the county. The median age was 39.1 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.3 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 75.3% White, 19.3% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.8% of the population.

Of the 1,753 households in the county, 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,961 housing units, of which 10.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.0% were owner-occupied and 27.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.

Politics

As of the 2020s, Schley County is a Republican stronghold, voting 81% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Schley County is part of Georgia's 2nd congressional district, currently represented by Sanford Bishop. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Schley County is part of District 15. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Schley County is part of District 151.

United States presidential election results for Schley County, Georgia
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1912 19 8.09% 213 90.64% 3 1.28%
1916 35 13.51% 222 85.71% 2 0.77%
1920 53 18.40% 235 81.60% 0 0.00%
1924 12 4.27% 266 94.66% 3 1.07%
1928 77 19.01% 328 80.99% 0 0.00%
1932 8 1.96% 398 97.55% 2 0.49%
1936 43 9.31% 419 90.69% 0 0.00%
1940 69 12.73% 471 86.90% 2 0.37%
1944 37 10.11% 329 89.89% 0 0.00%
1948 43 11.47% 257 68.53% 75 20.00%
1952 148 25.34% 436 74.66% 0 0.00%
1956 117 20.97% 441 79.03% 0 0.00%
1960 138 22.81% 467 77.19% 0 0.00%
1964 577 60.48% 377 39.52% 0 0.00%
1968 164 15.02% 309 28.30% 619 56.68%
1972 694 81.07% 162 18.93% 0 0.00%
1976 268 25.50% 783 74.50% 0 0.00%
1980 453 41.75% 613 56.50% 19 1.75%
1984 614 60.37% 403 39.63% 0 0.00%
1988 635 58.91% 439 40.72% 4 0.37%
1992 511 39.43% 601 46.37% 184 14.20%
1996 470 40.17% 576 49.23% 124 10.60%
2000 706 60.03% 460 39.12% 10 0.85%
2004 1,063 69.39% 464 30.29% 5 0.33%
2008 1,252 72.00% 479 27.54% 8 0.46%
2012 1,286 73.40% 448 25.57% 18 1.03%
2016 1,472 76.55% 401 20.85% 50 2.60%
2020 1,800 79.12% 462 20.31% 13 0.57%
2024 1,970 81.14% 453 18.66% 5 0.21%
United States Senate election results for Schley County, Georgia2
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,783 79.03% 439 19.46% 34 1.51%
2020 1,623 78.86% 435 21.14% 0 0.00%

United States Senate election results for Schley County, Georgia3
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2020 863 38.80% 315 14.16% 1,046 47.03%
2020 1,800 79.58% 462 20.42% 0 0.00%
2022 1,467 78.45% 384 20.53% 19 1.02%
2022 1,380 79.95% 346 20.05% 0 0.00%
Georgia Gubernatorial election results for Schley County
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2022 1,526 81.34% 339 18.07% 11 0.59%

Education

Public education is provided by the Schley County School District. Schools include the Schley County Elementary School and Schley Middle High School.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Gurr, Steve (July 9, 2022). "Schley County". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Schley County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 201. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 26, 2003.
  5. ↑ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 229. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ "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 22, 2015.
  8. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ↑ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  11. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024.
  12. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  13. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  14. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  15. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  16. ↑ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  17. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ "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.
  20. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Schley County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Schley County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Schley County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  24. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  25. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  26. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  27. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  28. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  29. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  30. ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  32. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  33. ↑ "2022 Senate Election (Official Returns) l". Commonwealth of Georgia by county. November 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

32°16′0″N 84°17′59″W / 32.26667°N 84.29972°W / 32.26667; -84.29972