Toombs County, Georgia

Toombs County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,030. The county seat is Lyons and the largest city is Vidalia. The county was created on August 18, 1905.

Toombs County is part of the Vidalia micropolitan statistical area.

History
Toombs County was founded as the 144th county in Georgia by the State Legislature on August 18, 1905, and organized on October 9 of that year. The county was originally formed from portions of Tattnall and Montgomery Counties; a small piece of Emanuel County was added in 1907 to give Toombs County its present-day boundaries.

The county is named for Robert Toombs, United States representative and senator. During the Civil War, Toombs also served in the Confederate Provisional Congress, as Secretary of State of the Confederate States, and a brigadier general in the Confederate Army.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 371 sqmi, of which 364 sqmi is land and 7.0 sqmi (1.9%) is water.

The southern half of Toombs County, from south of Vidalia southeast to State Route 147, is located in the Altamaha River sub-basin of the larger river basin by the same name. The northern half of the county, centered on Lyons, is located in the Ohoopee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.

Major highways

 * US 1.svg U.S. Route 1
 * US 280.svg U.S. Route 280
 * Georgia 4.svg State Route 4
 * Georgia 15.svg State Route 15
 * Georgia 29.svg State Route 29
 * Georgia 30.svg State Route 30
 * Georgia 56.svg State Route 56
 * Georgia 86.svg State Route 86
 * Georgia 130.svg State Route 130
 * Georgia 147.svg State Route 147
 * Georgia 152.svg State Route 152
 * Georgia 178.svg State Route 178
 * Georgia 292.svg State Route 292
 * Georgia 297.svg State Route 297
 * Georgia 298.svg State Route 298

Adjacent counties

 * Emanuel County (north)
 * Tattnall County (east)
 * Appling County (south)
 * Jeff Davis County (southwest)
 * Montgomery County (west)
 * Treutlen County (northwest)
 * Candler County (northeast)

Cities

 * Lyons
 * Santa Claus
 * Vidalia

Census-designated place

 * Ohoopee

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 27,030 people, 10,030 households, and 6,537 families residing in the county.

Government
Toombs County is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, headed by David Sikes, the chairman. It is also governed by Alvie Kight Jr., who has been Sheriff since 1997.

Notable people

 * Mel Blount (football hall of famer and founder of Mel Blount Youth Home)
 * Nick Eason (former NFL player and current NFL assistant defensive line coach)
 * Craig Campbell (country music singer)
 * Fred Stokes (former pro football player)
 * Travares Tillman (professional football player)
 * Don Collins (former professional baseball player)
 * Paul Claxton (PGA tour professional golfer)
 * Wally Moses (former professional baseball player)
 * Algur H. Meadows (oilman, businessman)
 * Iris Blitch (politician)
 * Carl Simpson (former professional baseball player)
 * Don Harris (journalist killed during Jonestown Massacre)
 * Ben Utt (professional football player)
 * Paul Anderson (strongest man)