Laurens County, Georgia

Coordinates: 32°28′N 82°56′W / 32.46°N 82.93°W / 32.46; -82.93
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Laurens County
Laurens County Courthouse in Dublin
Laurens County Courthouse in Dublin
Map of Georgia highlighting Laurens County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°28′N 82°56′W / 32.46°N 82.93°W / 32.46; -82.93
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 10, 1807; 216 years ago (1807-12-10)
Named forJohn Laurens
SeatDublin
Largest cityDublin
Area
 • Total818 sq mi (2,120 km2)
 • Land807 sq mi (2,090 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total49,570
 • Density60/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitewww.laurenscoga.org

Laurens County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 49,570,[1] up from 48,434 in 2010.[2] The county seat is Dublin.[3] The county was founded on December 10, 1807, and named after Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens,[4] an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War.

Laurens County is part of the Dublin micropolitan statistical area.

History[edit]

Laurens County was formed on December 10, 1807, from portions of Wilkinson and Washington Counties.[5] During the Red Summer of 1919 there was increased racial tension in the area and in August there was the Laurens County, Georgia race riot of 1919.

Geography[edit]

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.[6] 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.[7] The county has several swamps along with Oconee river including Cow Hell Swamp.

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Towns[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Ghost Towns[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18102,210
18205,436146.0%
18305,5892.8%
18405,585−0.1%
18506,44215.3%
18606,9988.6%
18707,83411.9%
188010,05328.3%
189013,74736.7%
190025,90888.5%
191035,50137.0%
192039,60511.6%
193032,693−17.5%
194033,6062.8%
195033,123−1.4%
196032,313−2.4%
197032,7381.3%
198036,99013.0%
199039,9888.1%
200044,87412.2%
201048,4347.9%
202049,5702.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1880[9] 1890-1910[10]
1920-1930[11] 1930-1940[12]
1940-1950[13] 1960-1980[14]
1980-2000[15] 2010[16] 2020[17]

2020 Census[edit]

Laurens County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000[18] Pop 2010[16] Pop 2020[17] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 28,199 28,920 27,881 62.84% 59.71% 56.25%
Black or African American alone (NH) 15,417 17,268 18,219 34.36% 35.65% 36.75%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 80 87 80 0.18% 0.18% 0.16%
Asian alone (NH) 361 478 507 0.80% 0.99% 1.02%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 12 4 14 0.03% 0.01% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 44 41 141 0.10% 0.08% 0.28%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 232 493 1,304 0.52% 1.02% 2.63%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 529 1,143 1,424 1.18% 2.36% 2.87%
Total 44,874 48,434 49,570 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 49,570 people, 17,142 households, and 11,549 families residing in the county.

Education[edit]

Laurens County School District operates the county's public schools.

Notable people[edit]

Politics[edit]

United States presidential election results for Laurens County, Georgia[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 14,493 63.76% 8,074 35.52% 164 0.72%
2016 12,411 63.33% 6,752 34.46% 433 2.21%
2012 11,950 60.85% 7,513 38.26% 176 0.90%
2008 12,052 60.37% 7,769 38.92% 142 0.71%
2004 10,883 63.05% 6,281 36.39% 97 0.56%
2000 8,133 57.94% 5,724 40.78% 179 1.28%
1996 6,118 47.79% 5,792 45.24% 893 6.97%
1992 6,146 43.72% 6,184 43.99% 1,729 12.30%
1988 6,929 57.89% 4,879 40.76% 162 1.35%
1984 7,181 56.76% 5,471 43.24% 0 0.00%
1980 4,392 35.07% 7,860 62.76% 271 2.16%
1976 3,281 27.58% 8,617 72.42% 0 0.00%
1972 7,350 77.53% 2,130 22.47% 0 0.00%
1968 2,738 21.33% 3,451 26.88% 6,649 51.79%
1964 5,457 58.76% 3,828 41.22% 2 0.02%
1960 1,884 28.84% 4,648 71.16% 0 0.00%
1956 1,189 18.95% 5,085 81.05% 0 0.00%
1952 1,046 17.30% 5,001 82.70% 0 0.00%
1948 268 7.05% 2,325 61.12% 1,211 31.83%
1944 498 16.37% 2,544 83.63% 0 0.00%
1940 435 15.79% 2,316 84.07% 4 0.15%
1936 304 10.37% 2,620 89.39% 7 0.24%
1932 38 1.71% 2,188 98.25% 1 0.04%
1928 470 19.13% 1,987 80.87% 0 0.00%
1924 121 9.31% 1,127 86.76% 51 3.93%
1920 350 23.07% 1,167 76.93% 0 0.00%
1916 143 9.69% 1,269 85.98% 64 4.34%
1912 92 7.52% 1,107 90.52% 24 1.96%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ US 2020 Census Bureau report, Laurens County, Georgia
  2. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 182.
  5. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 130. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 14, 2004.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  10. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  11. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  12. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  13. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  14. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  15. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  16. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Laurens County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Laurens County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Laurens County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.

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