Dodge County
County
Dodge County Courthouse in Eastman
Dodge County Courthouse in Eastman
Map of Georgia highlighting Dodge County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°10′N 83°10′W / 32.17°N 83.17°W / 32.17; -83.17
Country United States
State Georgia
Founded1870 (1870)
Named forWilliam E. Dodge
SeatEastman
Largest cityEastman
Area
 • Total503 sq mi (1,300 km2)
 • Land496 sq mi (1,280 km2)
 • Water7.2 sq mi (19 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total19,925
 • Density40/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.dodgecountyga.com

Dodge County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2020, the population was 19,925.[1] The county seat is Eastman.[2] Dodge County lies in the Historic South and Black Belt region of Georgia, an area that was devoted to cotton production in the antebellum years. It has significant historic buildings and plantations, has a substantial African-American population, and shows cultural aspects of the South.

History

Prior to 1802, this section of Georgia was owned by the Creek Indians. Treaties were made in 1802-1805 by which all lands east of the Ocmulgee River were taken from the Creek Indians. This land was distributed by lottery to the citizens of Georgia. In 1803 Wilkinson County was organized under that treaty. Telfair and Laurens counties were formed from Wilkinson County. In 1808 Pulaski County was formed from Laurens. In 1869, the Macon and Brunswick Railroad was built. Towns began to spring up all up and down the line, and, as this section was so far removed from the county seat, Hawkinsville, it was deemed expedient to create a new county and place the county seat at this point.[3] A large portion of the county was taken from Laurens County, and also smaller portions from Pulaski, Montgomery, and Telfair counties. Dodge County was organized on October 26, 1870, during the Reconstruction era. The county was named by the Republican-dominated legislature for William E. Dodge.[4] The county courthouse was built by Dodge and used until 1908, on the same area the courthouse stands now.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 503 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 496 square miles (1,280 km2) is land and 7.2 square miles (19 km2) (1.4%) is water.[5]

The western half of Dodge County, roughly west of Eastman, is located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The eastern half of the county is located in the Little Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin, with a small northern corner of Dodge County, north and west of Chester, located in the Lower Oconee River sub-basin of the larger Alamaha River basin.[6] The rivers were important for trade, carrying cotton and timber downriver to markets.

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18805,358—
189011,452113.7%
190013,97522.0%
191020,12744.0%
192022,54012.0%
193021,599−4.2%
194021,022−2.7%
195017,865−15.0%
196016,483−7.7%
197015,658−5.0%
198016,9558.3%
199017,6073.8%
200019,1718.9%
201021,79613.7%
202019,925−8.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1880[8]1890-1910[9]
1920-1930[10] 1930-1940[11]
1940-1950[12] 1960-1980[13]
1980-2000[14] 2010[15]
Dodge County racial composition as of 2020[16]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 12,865 64.57%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 5,847 29.35%
Native American 21 0.11%
Asian 95 0.48%
Pacific Islander 8 0.04%
Other/Mixed 469 2.35%
Hispanic or Latino 620 3.11%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,925 people, 7,628 households, and 5,167 families residing in the county.

Transportation

Major highways

Airport

The Heart of Georgia Regional Airport[17] is located three miles east of Eastman off of State Route 46. Elevation 304'. Runway 02/20 is 6,506'x100'and has a precision instrument landing system. The airport is owned by the Heart of Georgia Regional Airport Authority and is home to the Middle Georgia State College Georgia Aviation campus. Middle Georgia State College operates the Federal Aviation Administration's #1 ranked student control tower in the United States.[18] Other businesses at the airport include aircraft manufacturing, aircraft metal finishing, and general metal fabrication. The airport's fixed-base operator is located in the terminal building midfield. The terminal building is named after W. S. Stuckey Sr., founder of Stuckey's Candy Company[19] (now Standard Candy) an aviation pioneer who is from Eastman.

Education

Politics

Vote-buying controversy

Dodge County has been at the center of several voter fraud and vote buying controversies over the past several decades.

1990s

The most notable incident of voter fraud in Dodge County in the 1990s is the case of United States vs. McCranie. In this case, there were two defendants being tried together for several different methods of voter fraud.[20] These methods included vote buying, vote selling, multiple voting, and votes cast by felons and deceased voters.[21] The case involved the winners of the July 9, 1996, races for Dodge County Sheriff and Dodge County Commissioner. The races were decided by 9 votes and 31 votes, respectively. The original results of the election had been contested, and a secondary election took place in an attempt to resolve the issue. In the secondary election, the Dodge County Sheriff's race was overturned, but the results of the Dodge County Commissioner's race remained the same.

A joint federal-state investigation into the events of this election found that the defendants likely worked together to buy votes. This was backed up with bank records that showed that the defendants had each obtained $15,000 in cash in $20 bills from the Bank of Eastman.[21] The two defendants were accused of voter fraud and sentenced on March 12, 1999.[21] Many federal officials described the 1996 election trial as the largest election-fraud prosecution in United States history.[22][23]

2000s

The most notable case of voter fraud in the 2000s is the case of the 2004 Dodge County Sheriff's race. Former Dodge County Sheriff Lawton Douglas Jr. was indicted on two counts of conspiracy and four counts of vote buying in July 2009.[24] This indictment came due to an investigation of the 2004 election, and did not include any charges for the potentially fraudulent 2008 election.[22] Former Sheriff Lawton Douglas received a maximum sentence. The sentencing cited Douglas's use of cash, liquor, and drugs to buy votes in the election.[25] Also, Douglas had people accompany voters into the polling booths to ensure that the vote actually went to him.[26] His sentence was 18 months in federal prison.[27]

Election results

United States presidential election results for Dodge County, Georgia[28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 5,843 72.39% 2,172 26.91% 57 0.71%
2016 5,021 71.64% 1,839 26.24% 149 2.13%
2012 5,214 67.24% 2,442 31.49% 98 1.26%
2008 5,543 67.40% 2,595 31.55% 86 1.05%
2004 4,584 65.52% 2,384 34.08% 28 0.40%
2000 3,472 59.08% 2,326 39.58% 79 1.34%
1996 2,478 42.86% 2,696 46.64% 607 10.50%
1992 2,287 36.43% 3,002 47.82% 989 15.75%
1988 2,677 54.95% 2,164 44.42% 31 0.64%
1984 2,765 52.39% 2,513 47.61% 0 0.00%
1980 1,719 26.64% 4,635 71.83% 99 1.53%
1976 848 13.87% 5,267 86.13% 0 0.00%
1972 4,346 83.10% 884 16.90% 0 0.00%
1968 1,055 18.54% 1,230 21.61% 3,406 59.85%
1964 3,285 58.03% 2,376 41.97% 0 0.00%
1960 1,134 23.80% 3,630 76.20% 0 0.00%
1956 738 17.50% 3,479 82.50% 0 0.00%
1952 454 11.64% 3,445 88.36% 0 0.00%
1948 210 8.49% 1,725 69.75% 538 21.75%
1944 237 14.16% 1,437 85.84% 0 0.00%
1940 171 11.74% 1,280 87.91% 5 0.34%
1936 71 5.31% 1,259 94.24% 6 0.45%
1932 33 1.16% 2,809 98.80% 1 0.04%
1928 273 28.74% 677 71.26% 0 0.00%
1924 91 5.19% 1,654 94.30% 9 0.51%
1920 177 22.01% 627 77.99% 0 0.00%
1916 35 3.95% 788 88.84% 64 7.22%
1912 28 3.87% 684 94.48% 12 1.66%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Dodge County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  2. ↑ National Association of Counties. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Cobb, Addie Davis (1979) [1932]. History of Dodge County. Spartanburg, SC: Reprint Co. ISBN 0871522934. OCLC 4774891.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. pp. 107.
  5. ↑ United States Census Bureau (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ↑ Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience (Map). Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  8. ↑ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1880.
  9. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1910.
  10. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930.
  11. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1940.
  12. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1950.
  13. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  14. ↑ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 2000.
  15. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  17. ↑ Heart of Georgia Regional Airport. "Heart of Georgia Regional Airport". Heart of Georgia Regional Airport. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  18. ↑ Pace, Ramey. "Air Traffic Management". Middle Georgia College. Archived from the original on March 13, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  19. ↑ Stuckey's Candy Company. "Stuckey's Candy Company". Stuckey's Candy Company. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  20. ↑ "UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Don McCRANIE, Jackson Jones, Defendants-Appellants". FindLaw's United States Eleventh Circuit case and opinions. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  21. 1 2 3 "FindLaw's United States Eleventh Circuit case and opinions". Findlaw. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  22. 1 2 "Dodge sheriff pleads not guilty; voter fraud probe ongoing". macon. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Former Sheriff Sentenced For Vote Buying". Georgia Public Broadcasting. June 29, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Former Dodge County Sheriff and Deputy Plead Guilty to 2004 Election Fraud". FBI. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Ex-Dodge sheriff gets 18 months for voter-fraud". macon. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  26. ↑ Manley, Rodney (October 2, 2009). "JP Attitude" (PDF). www.jpattitude.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Former Dodge County, Ga. sheriff sentenced". Associated Press. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  28. ↑ Leip, David (2020). "United States Presidential Election Results". David Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. David Leip. Retrieved October 2, 2017.

32°10′N 83°10′W / 32.17°N 83.17°W / 32.17; -83.17

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