Banks County, Georgia

Banks County, Georgia
Banks County courthouse in Homer

Seal
Map of Georgia highlighting Banks County
Location in the state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1859
Named for Richard Banks
Seat Homer
Largest city Baldwin
Area
 • Total 234 sq mi (606 km2)
 • Land 232 sq mi (601 km2)
 • Water 1.8 sq mi (5 km2), 0.8%
Population
 • (2010) 18,395
 • Density 79/sq mi (31/km²)
Congressional district 9th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.bankscountyga.org

Banks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,395.[1] The county seat is Homer.[2] The Old Banks County Courthouse is located in Homer, Georgia and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A newer county courthouse was constructed in 1983

History

Banks County was established in 1858. It was named for Dr. Richard E. Banks.[3] The Georgia General Assembly passed legislation to create Banks County on February 1, 1859, from Franklin and Habersham Counties.

Ty Cobb, a Baseball Hall of Famer, was born in Banks County in 1886 in an area of the county knows as The Narrows - a small farming community consisting of fewer than 100 people. The area and birthplace are on State Highway 105 in the northern part of the county near the Broad River. The legal organ for the county is The Banks County News, a member of Mainstreet News, Inc. One of the county's oldest church sites is the Hebron Presbyterian Church, established in 1796. Banks County is the home of the Atlanta Dragway, located near Banks Crossing. Banks County is also known for being the home of the former world's largest Easter Egg Hunt. (The 50th annual egg hunt in 2009 was the finale.)

Law and government

The County's commission is made up of a five-member group, with one being the Chairman of the Commission and four districts.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 234 square miles (610 km2), of which 232 square miles (600 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.8%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18604,707—
18704,9735.7%
18807,33747.5%
18908,56216.7%
190010,54523.2%
191011,2446.6%
192011,8145.1%
19309,703−17.9%
19408,733−10.0%
19506,935−20.6%
19606,497−6.3%
19706,8335.2%
19808,70227.4%
199010,30818.5%
200014,42239.9%
201018,39527.5%
Est. 201318,4150.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 14,422 people, 5,364 households, and 4,162 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile (24/km²). There were 5,808 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.16% White, 3.22% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.96% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 3.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,364 households out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.40% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.40% were non-families. 19.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.70% 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 3.06.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,523, and the median income for a family was $43,136. Males had a median income of $29,986 versus $21,698 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,424. About 9.80% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Communities

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). "Historical Gazetteer of the United States". Routledge. p. 233. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

External links

 Habersham County Stephens County
Hall County Franklin County
   Banks County, Georgia  
Jackson County Madison County

Coordinates: 34°21′N 83°30′W / 34.35°N 83.50°W