According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state. The northern half of Elbert County, north of a line made by following State Route 17 from Bowman southeast to Elberton, and then following State Route 72 east to just before the South Carolina border, and then heading south along the shores of Lake Richard B. Russell & Clarkes Hill to the county's southeastern tip, is located in the Upper Savannah River sub-basin of the larger Savannah River basin. The portion of the county south of this line is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,511 people, 8,004 households, and 5,770 families living in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile. There were 9,136 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 66.94% White, 30.85% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 2.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 8,004 households out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.90% were married couples living together, 15.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01. In the county, the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males. The median income for a household in the county was $28,724, and the median income for a family was $34,276. Males had a median income of $27,221 versus $19,737 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,535. About 14.60% of families and 17.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 17.20% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,166 people, 8,063 households, and 5,604 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 9,583 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 65.9% white, 29.5% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.7% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 18.1% were American, 6.0% were Irish, 5.7% were English, and 5.5% were German. Of the 8,063 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.5% were non-families, and 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 41.1 years. The median income for a household in the county was $30,543 and the median income for a family was $35,550. Males had a median income of $31,556 versus $25,562 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,100. About 17.0% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
Judiciary and government
Elbert County is part of the Northern Judicial Circuit of Georgia, which also includes the counties of Hart, Franklin, Madison, and Oglethorpe. Elbert County's governing authority, the Elbert County Board of Commissioners, has five Commissioners elected in districts, a Chairperson elected County-wide, and an appointed County Administrator.
Politics
Civic
Elbert County has many active civic organizations including, but not limited to, the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce, Elbert County Historical Society, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Pilot Club, Elbert Theatre Foundation, NAACP, Boys and Girls Club, Elbert Civic League, and Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, many local churches have very active missions programs, and many trade organizations, such as the Elbert Granite Association, are active.
Though a rural county, Elbert County has been home to many notable people. Included in these are Revolutionary War heroine Nancy Hart, who resided in southern Elbert County, and the Rev. Daniel Tucker, a popular minister and ferry operator, who may have been the inspiration for the song "Old Dan Tucker". The county was also home to Corra Harris, author of "A Circuit Rider's Wife," a book that later inspired the popular movie "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain." Stephen Heard, deceased, was Governor of Georgia from 1780-1781. Hon. Joseph Rucker Lamar, deceased, who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1910–1916, was born in Elbert County. Statesman and Judge Young L.G. Harris, deceased, for whom Young Harris College is named, was born in Elbert County. Former U.S. Secretary of War and 1824 U.S. Presidential candidate William Harris Crawford, as well as famed American explorer Meriwether Lewis during his youth; his family owned lands along the Broad River in The Broad River Valley located in Wilkes County which borders Elbert County. Clark Gaines, NFL record holder and former Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, was raised in Elbert County and played football for Elbert County Comprehensive High School. Blues guitarist Baby Tate was born in Elbert County. Recording artists Modern Skirts, popular on the college music circuit, include two members from Elbert County, JoJo Glidewell and Jay Gulley. Leroy Brewer, grandfather of Governor Earl Leroy Brewer of Mississippi was born in Elbert County in 1793. Mecole Hardman, who played college football at The University of Georgia and drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, played football for Elbert County Comprehensive High School.
