Lanier County, Georgia

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Lanier County, Georgia
Lanier County Courthouse in Lakeland, Georgia
Location in the state of Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1920
Named for	Sidney Lanier
Seat	Lakeland
Largest city	Lakeland
Area
• Total	199.83 sq mi (518 km²)
• Land	186.82 sq mi (484 km²)
• Water	13.01 sq mi (34 km²), 0.74%
Population
• (2010)	10,078
• Density	39/sq mi (15/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Lanier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,078.^[1] The county seat is Lakeland.^[2] Lakeland is Lanier County's only incorporated municipality. Lanier shares Moody Air Force Base with Lowndes County on its western boundary.

History

The county is named after the Georgia poet Sidney Lanier.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 199.83 square miles (517.6 km²), of which 186.82 square miles (483.9 km²) (or 93.49%) is land and 13.01 square miles (33.7 km²) (or 6.51%) is water.^[3]

Major highways

U.S. highways

U.S. Route 84
U.S. Route 129
U.S. Route 221

State routes

State Route 11
State Route 11 Bypass
State Route 31
State Route 31 Connector
State Route 37
State Route 38
State Route 64
State Route 122
State Route 122 Connector
State Route 125
State Route 135
State Route 135 Bypass
State Route 168

Adjacent Counties

National Protected Area

Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge sign

The Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1985, hosts approximately 20,000 visitors annually. It provides hiking, fishing, and boating opportunities on more than 4,000 acres (16 km²) of water, Banks Lake marsh, and swamp. The Robert Simpson III Nature Trail, dedicated in August 2001, is located within the Lakeland, Georgia city limits on 75 acres (300,000 m²) of pine and hardwood forests. The county is famous for its excellent fishing in the Alapaha River, Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge as well as in its many small lakes.

Historic Sites

Historic sites include Governor Eurith D. Rivers' home, which was moved from its original spot on Banks Lake to West Main Street in Lakeland in the early 1980s; Union Baptist Church, located near Georgia Highway 135; and Fender Cemetery, located east of Lakeland at the junction of U.S. 221 and Georgia Highway 37 on land that once belonged to David Fender. The site of the cemetery, in which many of the area's first settlers are buried, was chosen so that mourners would not have to ferry their dead across the river for burial. Also, the "Murals of Milltown," which depict community life in the 1920s, grace the exteriors of buildings in downtown Lakeland.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1930	5,190	—
1940	5,632	8.5%
1950	5,151	−8.5%
1960	5,097	−1.0%
1970	5,031	−1.3%
1980	5,654	12.4%
1990	5,531	−2.2%
2000	7,847	41.9%
2010	10,078	28.4%
Est. 2012	10,400	3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census^[4] 2012 Estimate^[5]

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 7,847 people, 2,893 households, and 1,931 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 3,011 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.61% White, 20.63% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 1.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,593 households out of which 37.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.50% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.40% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,171, and the median income for a family was $54,512. Males had a median income of $46,023 versus $39,021 for females. The per capita income for the county was $43,690. About 5.30% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.90% of those under age 18 and 14.20% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The county's economy has remained rural in nature, but the educational, health, and social service sector was the largest employment category in 2006. Factors contributing to this economy include the presence of Moody Air Force Base (shared by adjoining Lowndes County), the several lakes and nature reserve, the hospital, and a large state correctional facility.

The top ten employers in Lanier County are:

Moody Air Force Base
Oscar Meyer Wiener, inc.
Farmers & Merchants Bank
Louis Smith Hospital
Patten Probation Detention Center
Georgia Department of Corrections
Patten Seed Company
City of Lakeland, Georgia
Wausau Homes, Inc
J.H. Harvey Co, LLC (parent company of Harvey Supermarkets)

Media

Lanier County Advocate (newspaper)

Cities and towns

Incorporated

Lakeland

Unincorporated

Greenwood
Stockton
Teeterville

References

↑ United States Census Bureau. "2010 Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
↑ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Census.gov. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

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Coordinates: 31°02′N 83°04′W / 31.04°N 83.06°W / 31.04; -83.06

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