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 | |
|---|---|
 Ben Hill County Courthouse, Fitzgerald | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Georgia | |
 Georgia's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 31°46′N 83°13′W / 31.76°N 83.22°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Named for | Benjamin Harvey Hill |
| Seat | Fitzgerald |
| Largest city | Fitzgerald |
| Area | |
• Total | 254 sq mi (660 km2) |
| • Land | 250 sq mi (600 km2) |
| • Water | 3.8 sq mi (10 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 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
editBen Hill County was organized in 1906.[4] It was created from Irwin and Wilcox counties.[5]
Geography
editAccording 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
Adjacent counties
edit- Wilcox County - north
- Telfair County - northeast
- Coffee County - east
- Irwin County - south
- Turner County - west
Communities
editCity
edit- Fitzgerald (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
editDemographics
edit| 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% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 17,128 | [8] | −0.4% |
| 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] | |||
| 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% |
In 2000, there were 17,484 people, 6,673 households, and 4,631 families living in the county.[19] 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). In 2010, there were 17,634 people, 6,794 households, and 4,730 families living in the county.[20] By the 2020 United States census, there were 17,194 people, 6,443 households, and 4,019 families residing in the county.
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. 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.[21] 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.[22]
Religiously, the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020 denoted Christianity as the predominant religion, being part of the Bible Belt.[23] 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
editThe 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| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 4,281 | 65.85% | 2,199 | 33.83% | 21 | 0.32% |
| 2020 | 4,111 | 62.63% | 2,393 | 36.46% | 60 | 0.91% |
| 2016 | 3,739 | 62.99% | 2,101 | 35.39% | 96 | 1.62% |
| 2012 | 3,396 | 56.88% | 2,512 | 42.08% | 62 | 1.04% |
| 2008 | 3,417 | 56.46% | 2,590 | 42.80% | 45 | 0.74% |
| 2004 | 3,331 | 60.07% | 2,180 | 39.31% | 34 | 0.61% |
| 2000 | 2,381 | 51.08% | 2,234 | 47.93% | 46 | 0.99% |
| 1996 | 1,516 | 37.08% | 2,198 | 53.77% | 374 | 9.15% |
| 1992 | 1,476 | 33.06% | 2,348 | 52.60% | 640 | 14.34% |
| 1988 | 2,005 | 51.17% | 1,867 | 47.65% | 46 | 1.17% |
| 1984 | 2,313 | 55.44% | 1,859 | 44.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 1,459 | 35.87% | 2,544 | 62.55% | 64 | 1.57% |
| 1976 | 814 | 24.95% | 2,449 | 75.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1972 | 2,104 | 74.96% | 703 | 25.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 661 | 19.61% | 877 | 26.02% | 1,833 | 54.38% |
| 1964 | 2,089 | 57.82% | 1,523 | 42.15% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1960 | 558 | 22.88% | 1,881 | 77.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 554 | 20.49% | 2,150 | 79.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 697 | 25.39% | 2,048 | 74.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 223 | 11.76% | 1,438 | 75.84% | 235 | 12.39% |
| 1944 | 190 | 15.36% | 1,046 | 84.56% | 1 | 0.08% |
| 1940 | 181 | 13.00% | 1,206 | 86.64% | 5 | 0.36% |
| 1936 | 146 | 11.28% | 1,147 | 88.64% | 1 | 0.08% |
| 1932 | 85 | 7.62% | 1,026 | 91.94% | 5 | 0.45% |
| 1928 | 460 | 31.38% | 1,006 | 68.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 150 | 17.71% | 507 | 59.86% | 190 | 22.43% |
| 1920 | 232 | 29.94% | 543 | 70.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 134 | 17.43% | 627 | 81.53% | 8 | 1.04% |
| 1912 | 263 | 31.61% | 535 | 64.30% | 34 | 4.09% |
Transportation
edit- Fitzgerald Municipal Airport is a public use airport located 2 miles southwest of Fitzgerald.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Ben Hill County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 16. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
- ^ "Ben Hill County - Georgia Historical Society". Georgia Historical Society. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
- ^ "Ben Hill County". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
- ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1880.
- ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1910.
- ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930.
- ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1940.
- ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1950.
- ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
- ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 2000.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- ^ "Census profile: Ben Hill County, GA". Census Reporter. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
- ^ "Congregational Membership Reports | US Religion". www.thearda.com. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
External links
edit- Ben Hill County historical marker