Grady County, Georgia

Grady County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,236. The county seat is Cairo.

History
Grady County was created by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on August 17, 1905, from portions of Decatur and Thomas counties. The county is named for Henry W. Grady, editor of the Atlanta Constitution and noted orator.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 460 sqmi, of which 455 sqmi is land and 5.7 sqmi (1.2%) is water.

The bulk of Grady County, centered on Cairo, is located on the Upper Ochlockonee River sub-basin of the larger Ochlockonee River basin. The county's northwestern corner is located in the Lower Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). Grady County's western border, from Whigham south, and all of its southern border, is located in the Lower Ochlockonee River sub-basin of the same Ochlockonee River basin. Finally, a very small chunk of the county's southeastern portion, bisected by U.S. Route 319, is located in the Apalachee Bay-St. Marks sub-basin of the Ochlockonee River basin.

Grady County includes part of the Red Hills Region.

Major highways

 * US 84.svg U.S. Route 84
 * US 319.svg U.S. Route 319
 * Georgia 35.svg State Route 35
 * Georgia 38.svg State Route 38
 * Georgia 38 Spur.svg State Route 38 Spur
 * Georgia 93.svg State Route 93
 * Georgia 111.svg State Route 111
 * Georgia 112.svg State Route 112
 * Georgia 188.svg State Route 188
 * Georgia 262.svg State Route 262

Adjacent counties

 * Mitchell County - north
 * Thomas County - east
 * Leon County, Florida - south
 * Gadsden County, Florida - southwest
 * Decatur County - west

Cities

 * Cairo
 * Whigham

Census-designated place

 * Calvary

Unincorporated communities

 * Beachton
 * Spence

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 26,236 people, 9,136 households, and 6,320 families residing in the county.

Education
Grady County Schools operates public schools.