Adjacent counties

• Butts County (north)
• Jasper County (northeast)
• Jones County (east)
• Bibb County (southeast)
• Crawford County (south)
• Upson County (west-southwest)
• Lamar County (west)

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,757 people, 7,719 households, and 6,005 families residing in the county.  The population density was 55 per square mile. There were 8,425 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile.  The racial makeup of the county was 70.36% White, 27.93% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races.  1.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,719 households out of which 35.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 13.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.20% were non-families.  18.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.30% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 36 years.  For every 100 females there were 99.40 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,195, and the median income for a family was $51,093.  Males had a median income of $34,433 versus $22,146 for females.  The per capita income for the county was $19,580.  About 7.30% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.00% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.