Floyd County, Georgia

Floyd County
Floyd County
County
	Floyd County Administration Building
	Flag Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
	Georgia's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 34°16′N 85°13′W / 34.26°N 85.22°W
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Founded	December 3, 1832; 193 years ago
Named for	John Floyd
Seat	Rome
Largest city	Rome
Area
• Total	518 sq mi (1,340 km2)
• Land	510 sq mi (1,300 km2)
• Water	8.6 sq mi (22 km2) 1.7%
Population (2020)
• Total	98,584
• Estimate (2023)	100,113
• Density	190/sq mi (73/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	14th
Website	floydcountyga.gov

Floyd County is a county in the Northwest region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 98,584.^[1]^[2] The county seat is Rome.^[3] Floyd County comprises the Rome, Georgia metropolitan statistical area.

History

The county was established on December 3, 1832, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly, and was created from land that was part of Cherokee County at the time.^[4] The county is named after United States Congressman John Floyd.^[5]^[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 518 square miles (1,340 km²), of which 510 sq mi (1,300 km²) are land and 8.6 sq mi (22 km²) (1.7%) are covered by water.^[7]

The northern third of Floyd County is located in the Oostanaula River sub-basin of the ACT River Basin (Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin). The eastern third of the county is located in the Etowah River sub-basin of the larger ACT River Basin, while the western third of Floyd County is located in the Upper Coosa River sub-basin of the same ACT River Basin.^[8]

Lakes and reservoirs

Adjacent counties

Walker County – north
Gordon County – northeast
Bartow County – east
Polk County – south
Cherokee County, Alabama – west (CST)
Chattooga County – northwest

National protected area

Chattahoochee National Forest (part)

Transportation

Major highways

Pedestrians and cycling

Heritage Trail System
Kingfisher Trail
Silver Creek Trail
Simms Mountain Trail
Snow Loop
The Goat
Thornwood Trail
Viking Trail

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	4,441		—
1850	8,205		84.8%
1860	15,195		85.2%
1870	17,230		13.4%
1880	24,418		41.7%
1890	28,391		16.3%
1900	33,113		16.6%
1910	36,736		10.9%
1920	39,841		8.5%
1930	48,667		22.2%
1940	56,141		15.4%
1950	62,899		12.0%
1960	69,130		9.9%
1970	73,742		6.7%
1980	79,800		8.2%
1990	81,251		1.8%
2000	90,565		11.5%
2010	96,317		6.4%
2020	98,584		2.4%
2023 (est.)	100,113	^[9]	1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census^[10] 1790-1880^[11] 1890-1910^[12] 1920-1930^[13] 1930-1940^[14] 1940-1950^[15] 1960-1980^[16] 1980-2000^[17] 2010^[1] 2020^[2]

2020 census

Floyd County racial composition^[18]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	67,747	68.72%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	13,940	14.14%
Native American	191	0.19%
Asian	1,287	1.31%
Pacific Islander	24	0.02%
Other/Mixed	3,929	3.99%
Hispanic or Latino	11,466	11.63%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 98,584 people, 35,443 households, and 23,561 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, 96,317 people, 35,930 households, and 24,916 families were living in the county.^[19] The population density was 188.9 inhabitants per square mile (72.9/km²). The 40,551 housing units had an average density of 79.5 units per square mile (30.7 units/km²).^[20] The racial makeup of the county was 76.9% White, 14.2% African American, 1.3% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 9.3% of the population.^[19] In terms of ancestry, 16.2% were English, 13.3% were American, 12.4% were Irish, and 6.8% were German.^[21]

Of the 35,930 households, 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.7% were not families; 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.58, and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 37.6 years.^[19]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,066, and for a family was $49,310. Males had a median income of $40,269 versus $29,587 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,640. About 13.3% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.^[22]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, 90,565 people, 34,028 households, and 24,227 were families living in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile (68 people/km²). The 36,615 housing units averaged 71 units per square mile (27 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.34% White, 13.31% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 2.88% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. About 5.50% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 34,028 households, 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% were married couples living together, 13.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55, and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was distributed as 24.60% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,615, and for a family was $42,302. Males had a median income of $31,659 versus $23,244 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,808. About 10.80% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The county government is housed in the Floyd County Administration Building in Rome, Georgia, the county seat. This was the former US Post Office and Courthouse.

The county has a council-manager form of government, with five county council members elected at-large. Two members are elected as representatives of the city of Rome and must reside there; the other three are elected from the county as residents outside the city limits. The at-large voting tends to reward candidates who can muster majority votes from across the whole county, which requires more money and organization for campaigns. The council hires a professional county manager to manage daily operations.

United States presidential election results for Floyd County, Georgia^[23]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	31,631	70.70%	12,862	28.75%	245	0.55%
2020	28,906	69.88%	11,917	28.81%	542	1.31%
2016	24,114	69.17%	9,159	26.27%	1,587	4.55%
2012	22,733	69.04%	9,640	29.28%	554	1.68%
2008	23,132	67.40%	10,691	31.15%	499	1.45%
2004	21,400	67.56%	10,038	31.69%	238	0.75%
2000	16,194	60.37%	10,282	38.33%	349	1.30%
1996	12,426	48.96%	10,464	41.23%	2,488	9.80%
1992	12,378	44.43%	11,614	41.69%	3,868	13.88%
1988	14,697	62.85%	8,548	36.55%	141	0.60%
1984	15,437	63.50%	8,873	36.50%	0	0.00%
1980	9,220	39.07%	13,710	58.10%	666	2.82%
1976	7,713	33.73%	15,151	66.27%	0	0.00%
1972	15,485	82.12%	3,372	17.88%	0	0.00%
1968	7,470	34.72%	4,041	18.78%	10,001	46.49%
1964	9,849	52.85%	8,750	46.95%	37	0.20%
1960	6,108	45.39%	7,350	54.61%	0	0.00%
1956	5,955	47.31%	6,633	52.69%	0	0.00%
1952	4,532	34.84%	8,477	65.16%	0	0.00%
1948	1,689	22.19%	5,247	68.94%	675	8.87%
1944	1,123	19.08%	4,764	80.92%	0	0.00%
1940	912	14.12%	5,528	85.56%	21	0.33%
1936	612	10.00%	5,499	89.87%	8	0.13%
1932	300	6.42%	4,342	92.94%	30	0.64%
1928	1,730	53.66%	1,494	46.34%	0	0.00%
1924	470	18.05%	1,922	73.81%	212	8.14%
1920	667	25.75%	1,923	74.25%	0	0.00%
1916	50	1.94%	2,137	83.05%	386	15.00%
1912	63	2.77%	1,838	80.79%	374	16.44%

Education

Colleges and universities

Primary and secondary schools

Floyd County School District operates schools in most of the county.^[24] Its high schools are Armuchee High School, Coosa High School, Model High School, and Pepperell High School.

Rome City School District serves areas in the Rome city limits.^[24] Rome High School is its high school.

Private schools

Unity Christian School
Darlington School
St. Mary's Catholic School (of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta)
Berry College Elementary & Middle School
Montessori School of Rome

Law enforcement

The Bob Richards Regional Youth Detention Center, part of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, is in Rome.^[25]

As of 2022^[update] the Floyd County Sheriff's Office employs 162 people.^[26] The current Floyd County Jail was built in 1982 and renovated in 1996. It is the largest building owned by the county government, being 256 thousand square feet in area. In 2020, the jail's average daily population was 507 inmates.^[27]