Muscogee County, Georgia

U.S. County|

 county  = Muscogee County |
 state = Georgia |
 seal =  |
 map = Map of Georgia highlighting Muscogee County.svg |
 map size = 225 |

founded = June 9 1826 | seat = Columbus | area = 572 km² (221 mi²) |

 area land = 560 km² (216 mi²) |
 area water = 12 km² (5 mi²) |
 area percentage = 2.14% |
 census yr = 2000 |
 pop = 186,291 |
 density = 333 |
 web = www.columbusga.org |}}

Muscogee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population was 186,291. Its county seat and only city is Columbus, Georgia⁶, with which it has been a consolidated city-county since the beginning of 1971. The only other city was Bibb City, which disincorporated in December 2000. Fort Benning takes up the remainder of the county. The Chattahoochee River forms its western border with Alabama.

History

The land for Lee, Muscogee, Troup, Coweta, and Carroll counties was ceded by the Creek people in the 1825 Treaty of Indian Springs. The counties' boundaries were created by the Georgia General Assembly on June 9, but they were not named until December 14 of 1826.

It was named for the native Muscogee or Creek people. Parts of the then-large county (which went all the way east to the Flint River) were later taken to create every other neighboring Georgia county, including Harris County to the north in 1827. [1]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 572 km² (221 mi²). 560 km² (216 mi²) of it is land and 12 km² (5 mi²) of it (2.14%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 186,291 people, 69,819 households, and 47,686 families residing in the county. The population density was 333/km² (861/mi²). There were 76,182 housing units at an average density of 136/km² (352/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 50.42% White, 43.74% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.54% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. 4.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 69,819 households out of which 34.60% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.70% were married couples living together, 19.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 11.90% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,798, and the median income for a family was $41,244. Males had a median income of $30,238 versus $24,336 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,262. 15.70% of the population and 12.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 22.00% of those under the age of 18 and 12.10% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Cities and towns

*Bibb City (disincorporated in December 2000)
*Columbus City (unincorporated)
*Columbus (incorporated)
*Custer Terrace (unincorporated)
*Fort Benning (military base)
*Fortson (unincorporated)
*Midland (unincorporated)
*Upatoi (unincorporated)