Jefferson is a city in Jackson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 9,432 at the 2010 census, up from 3,825 at the 2000 census. As of 2019 the estimated population was 12,032. The city is the county seat of Jackson County. History Jefferson was founded in 1800. That same year, the seat of Jackson County was transferred to Jefferson from Clarkesboro. Jefferson was incorporated as a town in 1806 and as a city in 1896. The city was named after Thomas Jefferson. Geography Jefferson is located in central Jackson County at (34.126736, -83.590297). It is bordered to the northwest by Pendergrass and to the southeast by Arcade. U.S. Route 129 passes through the southwest side of the city, leading northwest to Gainesville and southeast to Athens. Interstate 85 runs through the northern end of Jefferson, northwest of the center of town, with access from Exits 137 and 140. I-85 leads southwest to Atlanta and northeast to Greenville, South Carolina. According to the United States Census Bureau, Jefferson has a total area of , of which are land and , or 1.53%, are water. Curry Creek, a tributary of the North Oconee River, flows just to the east of downtown, and the Middle Oconee River runs along the western edge of the city. Demographics 2020 census As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,233 people, 3,933 households, and 2,885 families residing in the city. 2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 9,432 people, 3,328 households, and 2,531 families residing in the city. There were 3,666 housing units, of which 338, or 9.2%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the city was 83.1% white, 10.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 3.2% some other race, and 1.8% from two or more races. 7.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 3,328 households, 46.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were headed by married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83, and the average family size was 3.28. In the city, 30.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9%