Schley County ( 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.
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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
U.S. Route 19 / State Route 3
State Route 26
State Route 153
State Route 228
State Route 240
State Route 271
Adjacent counties
Taylor County (north)
Macon County (east)
Sumter County (south)
Marion County (west)
Communities
City
Ellaville (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
La Crosse
Murrays Crossroads
Demographics
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.
Education
Public education is provided by the Schley County School District. Schools include the Schley County Elementary School and Schley Middle High School.