Ben Hill County, Georgia
Ben Hill County, Georgia | |
|---|---|
| Ben Hill County Courthouse, Fitzgerald Ben Hill County Courthouse, Fitzgerald | |
| Map of Georgia highlighting Ben Hill County Location within the U.S. state of Georgia | |
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| Country | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States |
| State | File:Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Named after | Benjamin Harvey Hill |
| Seat | Fitzgerald |
| Largest city | Fitzgerald |
| Area | |
• Total | 254 sq mi (660 km2) |
| • Land | 250 sq mi (650 km2) |
| • Water | 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2) 1.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 17,194 |
| • Density | 69/sq mi (27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | benhillcounty-ga.gov |
Ben Hill County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,194.[1] The county seat is Fitzgerald.[2] The county was organized in 1906. It is named after Benjamin Harvey Hill, a former Confederate and United States Senator.[3]
Ben Hill County comprises the Fitzgerald micropolitan statistical area. The Ben Hill County Courthouse and Ben Hill County Jail are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
History
[edit | edit source]Ben Hill County was organized in 1906.[4] It was created from Irwin and Wilcox counties.[5]
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 254 square miles (660 km2), of which 250 square miles (650 km2) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) (1.5%) is water.[6]
The majority of Ben Hill County, its northern and eastern portions, are located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The northwestern corner of the county, east of Rebecca, is located in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. The southeastern corner of the county, east of Fitzgerald, is located in the Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys-Satilla River basin.[7] Ben Hill County is part of the Southeast Georgia region.
Major highways
[edit | edit source]- File:US 129.svg U.S. Route 129
- File:US 319.svg U.S. Route 319
- File:Georgia 11.svg State Route 11
- File:Georgia 90.svg State Route 90
- File:Georgia 107.svg State Route 107
- File:Georgia 125.svg State Route 125
- File:Georgia 182.svg State Route 182
- File:Georgia 206.svg State Route 206
- File:Georgia 215.svg State Route 215
- File:Georgia 233.svg State Route 233
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Wilcox County - north
- Telfair County - northeast
- Coffee County - east
- Irwin County - south
- Turner County - west
Communities
[edit | edit source]City
[edit | edit source]- Fitzgerald (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Demographics
[edit | edit source]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 11,863 | — | |
| 1920 | 14,599 | 23.1% | |
| 1930 | 13,047 | −10.6% | |
| 1940 | 14,523 | 11.3% | |
| 1950 | 14,879 | 2.5% | |
| 1960 | 13,633 | −8.4% | |
| 1970 | 13,171 | −3.4% | |
| 1980 | 16,000 | 21.5% | |
| 1990 | 16,245 | 1.5% | |
| 2000 | 17,484 | 7.6% | |
| 2010 | 17,634 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 17,194 | −2.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 16,945 | [8] | −1.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1880[10] 1890-1910[11] 1920-1930[12] 1930-1940[13] 1940-1950[14] 1960-1980[15] 1980-2000[16] 2010[17] | |||
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 17,194; there were 4,019 families residing in the county. Of the residents, 23.4% were under the age of 18 and 18.9% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.2 males. 65.6% of residents lived in urban areas and 34.4% lived in rural areas.[18][19][20]
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 9,219 | 53.62% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 6,222 | 36.19% |
| Native American | 57 | 0.33% |
| Asian | 116 | 0.67% |
| Other/Mixed | 526 | 3.06% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,054 | 6.13% |
The racial makeup of the county was 54.9% White, 36.4% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.2% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.1% of the population.[20]
There were 7,074 households in the county, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 35.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[19]
There were 8,124 housing units, of which 12.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 58.5% were owner-occupied and 41.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%.[19]
2010 census
[edit | edit source]In 2010, there were 17,634 people, 6,794 households, and 4,730 families living in the county.[22]
In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $30,134 and the median income for a family was $35,868. Males had a median income of $32,613 versus $23,320 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,529. About 22.7% of families and 26.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.[23]
2000 census
[edit | edit source]In 2000, there were 17,484 people, 6,673 households, and 4,631 families living in the county. The population density was 69 inhabitants per square mile (27/km2). There were 7,623 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km2).[24]
In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $27,100, and the median income for a family was $33,023. Males had a median income of $26,750 versus $19,547 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,093. 22.30% of the population and 18.70% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 33.30% are under the age of 18 and 17.60% are 65 or older.[24]
2022 American Community Survey
[edit | edit source]According to the 2022 American Community Survey, the county's median household income was $38,255 with a per capita income of $22,625. An estimated 26.5% of the county lived at or below the poverty line.[25]
Religion
[edit | edit source]Religiously, the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020 denoted Christianity as the predominant religion, being part of the Bible Belt.[26] Among its Christian population, the majority formed the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Baptist tradition was the county's dominant Christian affiliation. The National Baptist Convention, USA was the second-largest Baptist denomination in Ben Hill County. One notable non-Christian religion for the county has been the Baha'i Faith.
Education
[edit | edit source]The Ben Hill County School District operates schools serving the county.
- Ben Hill Preschool
- Ben Hill County Primary School
- Ben Hill County Elementary School
- Ben Hill County Middle School
- Fitzgerald High School
Politics
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020s, Ben Hill County is a strongly Republican voting county, voting 65.85% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Ben Hill County is part of Georgia's 8th congressional district. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Ben Hill County is part of Georgia's 13th Senate district.[27] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Ben Hill County is part of districts 148 and 156.[28]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 1912 | 263 | 31.61% | 535 | 64.30% | 34 | 4.09% |
| 1916 | 134 | 17.43% | 627 | 81.53% | 8 | 1.04% |
| 1920 | 232 | 29.94% | 543 | 70.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 150 | 17.71% | 507 | 59.86% | 190 | 22.43% |
| 1928 | 460 | 31.38% | 1,006 | 68.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 85 | 7.62% | 1,026 | 91.94% | 5 | 0.45% |
| 1936 | 146 | 11.28% | 1,147 | 88.64% | 1 | 0.08% |
| 1940 | 181 | 13.00% | 1,206 | 86.64% | 5 | 0.36% |
| 1944 | 190 | 15.36% | 1,046 | 84.56% | 1 | 0.08% |
| 1948 | 223 | 11.76% | 1,438 | 75.84% | 235 | 12.39% |
| 1952 | 697 | 25.39% | 2,048 | 74.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 554 | 20.49% | 2,150 | 79.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 558 | 22.88% | 1,881 | 77.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,089 | 57.82% | 1,523 | 42.15% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1968 | 661 | 19.61% | 877 | 26.02% | 1,833 | 54.38% |
| 1972 | 2,104 | 74.96% | 703 | 25.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 814 | 24.95% | 2,449 | 75.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 1,459 | 35.87% | 2,544 | 62.55% | 64 | 1.57% |
| 1984 | 2,313 | 55.44% | 1,859 | 44.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 2,005 | 51.17% | 1,867 | 47.65% | 46 | 1.17% |
| 1992 | 1,476 | 33.06% | 2,348 | 52.60% | 640 | 14.34% |
| 1996 | 1,516 | 37.08% | 2,198 | 53.77% | 374 | 9.15% |
| 2000 | 2,381 | 51.08% | 2,234 | 47.93% | 46 | 0.99% |
| 2004 | 3,331 | 60.07% | 2,180 | 39.31% | 34 | 0.61% |
| 2008 | 3,417 | 56.46% | 2,590 | 42.80% | 45 | 0.74% |
| 2012 | 3,396 | 56.88% | 2,512 | 42.08% | 62 | 1.04% |
| 2016 | 3,739 | 62.99% | 2,101 | 35.39% | 96 | 1.62% |
| 2020 | 4,111 | 62.63% | 2,393 | 36.46% | 60 | 0.91% |
| 2024 | 4,281 | 65.85% | 2,199 | 33.83% | 21 | 0.32% |
Transportation
[edit | edit source]- Fitzgerald Municipal Airport is a public use airport located 2 miles southwest of Fitzgerald.
See also
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- National Register of Historic Places listings in Ben Hill County, Georgia
- List of counties in Georgia
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Ben Hill County historical marker
Places adjacent to Ben Hill County, Georgia | ||||||||||||||||
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