Laurens County, Georgia

Laurens County, Georgia
Laurens County Courthouse in Dublin
Location in the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 10, 1807
Named for	John Laurens
Seat	Dublin
Largest city	Dublin
Area
• Total	818 sq mi (2,119 km2)
• Land	807 sq mi (2,090 km2)
• Water	11 sq mi (28 km2), 1.4%
Population
• (2010)	48,434
• Density	60/sq mi (23/km²)
Congressional district	12th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.laurenscoga.org

Laurens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,434.^[1] The county seat is Dublin.^[2] The county was founded on December 10, 1807, and named after Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens,^[3] an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War.

Laurens County is part of the Dublin, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Laurens County was formed on December 10, 1807, from portions of Wilkinson and Washington counties.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 818 square miles (2,120 km²), of which 807 square miles (2,090 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (1.4%) is water.^[4] It is the third-largest county in Georgia by land area and fourth-largest by total area.

The majority of Laurens County is located in the Lower Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The southwestern corner of the county, defined by a line that runs west from Chester through Rentz to U.S. Route 441, and then southeast toward Glenwood, is located in the Little Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin. A small and narrow sliver of the eastern edge of the county, from east of Lovett to northeast of Rockledge, is located in the Ohoopee River sub-basin of the larger Altamaha River basin.^[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census^[11] of 2000, there were 44,874 people, 17,083 households, and 12,180 families residing in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile (21 per km²). There were 19,687 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9 per km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.44% White, 34.53% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 1.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,083 households out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.30% were married couples living together, 17.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,010, and the median income for a family was $38,586. Males had a median income of $29,412 versus $21,711 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,763. About 14.70% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.30% of those under age 18 and 18.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 48,434 people, 18,641 households, and 13,060 families residing in the county.^[12] The population density was 60.0 inhabitants per square mile (23.2/km²). There were 21,368 housing units at an average density of 26.5 per square mile (10.2/km²).^[13] The racial makeup of the county was 60.6% white, 35.8% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.4% of the population.^[12] In terms of ancestry, 14.9% were American, 7.0% were English, and 6.0% were Irish.^[14]

Of the 18,641 households, 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.9% were non-families, and 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 38.0 years.^[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,280 and the median income for a family was $46,466. Males had a median income of $37,236 versus $27,406 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,387. About 16.8% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 19.9% of those age 65 or over.^[15]

Notable people

• Kyle Dinkheller, a deputy with the Laurens County Sheriff's Office who was shot to death on January 12, 1998, during a traffic stop in Dudley
• Karl Slover, one of the oldest living Munchkins from Wizard of Oz (1939 film).
• Demaryius Thomas, wide receiver for the Denver Broncos

Communities

Cities

• Dublin
• Dudley
• East Dublin

Towns

• Allentown
• Cadwell
• Dexter
• Montrose
• Rentz

Unincorporated communities

• Cedar Grove
• Garretta
• Lovett
• Nameless

Politics

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Laurens County, Georgia

References

Coordinates: 32°28′N 82°56′W / 32.46°N 82.93°W / 32.46; -82.93