Georgia

Wilkes

9,565
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Wilkes

Wilkes, Georgia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 31,500. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 9,565.

Its recorded population peaked at 31,500 in 1790, and has since declined by roughly 70 percent.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Kettle Creek (GA), Battle of Kettle Creek, Battle of Kettle Creek Feb 14 1779, and 29 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20209,565
201010,593
200010,687
199010,597
198010,951
197010,184
196010,961
195012,388
194015,084
193015,944
192024,210
191023,441
190020,866
189018,081
188015,985
187011,796
186011,420
185012,107
184010,148
183014,237
182017,607
181014,887
180013,103
179031,500
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Wilkes

Military engagements that took place in Wilkes, Georgia.

Battle of Kettle Creek (GA)
1779
Battle of Kettle Creek
1779
Battle of Kettle Creek Feb 14 1779
1779
Skirmish at Wilkes County Courthouse (Washington GA 1865)
1865

Historic places in Wilkes

National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilkes, Georgia.

Holly Court
Washington
Mary Willis Library
Washington
Arnold-Callaway Plantation
Washington
Campbell-Jordan House
Washington
Old Jail
Washington
Kettle Creek Battlefield
Washington
Anderson House
Danburg
Washington Presbyterian Church
Washington
Willis-Sale-Stennett House
Danburg
Wilkes County Courthouse
Washington
Toombs, Robert, House
Washington
Fitzpatrick Hotel
Washington
Cherry Grove Baptist Church Schoolhouse
Washington
Tupper-Barnett House
Washington
Browse all Georgiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Georgia

Explore census history and historic records for more Georgia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Wilkes County, Georgia

This page charts the census history of Wilkes County, Georgia. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Wilkes

When does Wilkes first appear in the US census?
Wilkes, Georgia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 31,500.
What is the population of Wilkes?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wilkes had a recorded population of 9,565.
When did Wilkes's population peak?
Wilkes's recorded population peaked at 31,500 in 1790.
Were any battles fought in Wilkes?
4 documented military engagements took place in Wilkes, including Battle of Kettle Creek (GA), Battle of Kettle Creek, Battle of Kettle Creek Feb 14 1779.
How many historic places are in Wilkes?
29 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wilkes, Georgia.
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