Editing Atkinson County, Georgia

{{short description|County in Georgia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Atkinson County
 | state                = Georgia
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = {{start date and age|1917}}
 | founded date         = August 15
 | seat wl              = Pearson
 | largest city wl      = Pearson
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 345
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 339
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 5.2
 | area percentage      = 1.5%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 8286
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 8293 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | district             = 8th
 | web                  = https://atkinsoncounty.org/
 | ex image             = Atkinson County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Atkinson County Courthouse]] in Pearson
 | named for            = [[William Yates Atkinson]]
}}

'''Atkinson County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[Southeast Georgia|southeastern region]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county's population was 8,286.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Atkinson County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Atkinson_County,_Georgia?g=0500000US13003|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Pearson, Georgia|Pearson]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county was formed in 1917 from parts of [[Coffee County, Georgia|Coffee]] and [[Clinch County, Georgia|Clinch]] counties. It is named for [[William Yates Atkinson]], [[U.S. Democratic Party|Democratic]] governor of Georgia from 1894 to 1898.<ref>{{cite book | url=http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/a.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040414132504/http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/a.pdf |archive-date=April 14, 2004 |url-status=live | title=Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins | publisher=Winship Press | author=Krakow, Kenneth K. | year=1975 | location=Macon, GA | pages=8 | isbn=0-915430-00-2}}</ref> In 2003, it had the highest illiteracy rate of any U.S. county at 36%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/naal/estimates/StateEstimates.aspx|title=State and County Literacy Estimates - State Estimates|website=nces.ed.gov|access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|345|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|339|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.2|sqmi}} (1.5%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> Atkinson County forms a part of [[Southeast Georgia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southeast Georgia - Region 11 |url=https://www.georgia.org/regions/southeast-georgia |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=Georgia Department of Economic Development}}</ref>

The vast majority of Atkinson County is located in the [[Satilla River]] sub-basin of the [[St. Marys River (Florida–Georgia)|St. Marys]]-Satilla River basin. The entire narrow western border area, in a line parallel to the western border and running through [[Willacoochee, Georgia|Willacoochee]], is located in the [[Alapaha River]] sub-basin of the [[Suwannee River]] basin. A small southeastern corner of the county is located in the Upper Suwannee River sub-basin of the same Suwannee River basin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |title=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience |publisher=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission |access-date=November 27, 2015 |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003004639/http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Image:US 82.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 82 in Georgia|U.S. Route 82]]
* [[Image:US 221.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 221 in Georgia|U.S. Route 221]]
* [[Image:US 441.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 441 in Georgia|U.S. Route 441]]
* [[Image:Georgia 31.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 31|State Route 31]]
* [[Image:Georgia 64.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 64|State Route 64]]
* [[Image:Georgia 89.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 89|State Route 89]]
* [[Image:Georgia 90.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 90|State Route 90]]
* [[Image:Georgia 135.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 135|State Route 135]]
* [[Image:Georgia 520.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 520|State Route 520]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Coffee County, Georgia|Coffee County]] - north
* [[Ware County, Georgia|Ware County]] - east
* [[Clinch County, Georgia|Clinch County]] - south
* [[Lanier County, Georgia|Lanier County]] - southwest
* [[Berrien County, Georgia|Berrien County]] - west

===Communities===

==== Cities ====
* [[Pearson, Georgia|Pearson]]
* [[Willacoochee, Georgia|Willacoochee]]

==== Census-designated place ====

* [[Axson, Georgia|Axson]]

==== Unincorporated communities ====
* Fales (portion)
* Henderson Still
* [[Kirkland, Georgia|Kirkland]]
* Leliaton
* Little Utah
* Mora (portion)
* Oberry
* Sandy Bottom
* Stokesville (portion)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 7656
|1930= 6894
|1940= 7093
|1950= 7362
|1960= 6188
|1970= 5879
|1980= 6141
|1990= 6213
|2000= 7609
|2010= 8375
|2020= 8286
|estyear=2023
|estimate=8293
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br>1790-1880<ref name=1880CensusGACty>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800 |website=[[US Census Bureau]]|date= 1880|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1880/vol-01-population/1880_v1-08.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1890-1910<ref name=1910CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1910 Census of Population - Georgia  |website=[[US Census Bureau]]|date= 1910|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ga.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref><br> 1920-1930<ref name=1930CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1930 Census of Population - Georgia  |website=[[US Census Bureau]]|date= 1930|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1930-1940<ref name=1940CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1940 Census of Population - Georgia  |website=[[US Census Bureau]]|date= 1940|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1940-1950<ref name=1950CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1950 Census of Population - Georgia - |website=[[US Census Bureau]]|date= 1950|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-2/37779083v2p11ch2.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1960-1980<ref name=1980CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia  |website=[[US Census Bureau]]|date= 1980|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_gaABC-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1980-2000<ref name=2000CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia  |website=[[US Census Bureau]]|date= 2000|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-12.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 2010-2019<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/13003.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607121415/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/13003.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Atkinson County racial composition as of 2020<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=2020 Race and Population Totals |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US13003&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=December 14, 2021 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic whites|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|4,801
|57.94%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|1,208
|14.58%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|30
|0.36%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|12
|0.14%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|4
|0.05%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|183
|2.21%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|2,048
|24.72%
|}
Since the county's 1920 population of 7,656 residents, its population has fluctuated between more than 7,000 to a low of 6,213 in 1990; the lowest population for the county was 5,879 in 1970. By the [[2020 United States census]], its population increased to 8,286,<ref name=":0" /> although in 2010 its population reached a historic high of 8,375.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US13003
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024922/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US13003
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> In 2010, there were 3,522 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10.4|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US13003
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183853/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US13003
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

According to the [[2010 United States census|2010 U.S. census]], the racial makeup of the county was 62.2% [[White Americans|white]], 17.3% black or [[African Americans|African American]], 0.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]], 0.3% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 0.3% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 17.7% from other races, and 1.6% from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. Altogether, those of [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] origin made up 24.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 16.1% were [[English Americans|English]], 16.0% were [[Irish Americans|Irish]], and 7.5% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US13003
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014343/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US13003
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> Although its racial and ethnic makeup has been predominantly [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]] up to the 2010 census, in 2020 its [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]] population declined to 57.94%,<ref name=":0" /> and its African American population also declined to 14.58%. The Hispanic or Latino American population grew to 24.72% of the county-area population, reflecting nationwide trends of greater diversification.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2021 |title=America is becoming more urban, more diverse and less white, 2020 Census reveals |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/america-is-becoming-more-urban-more-diverse-and-less-white-2020-census-reveals |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Janie Boschma, Daniel Wolfe, Priya Krishnakumar, Christopher Hickey, Meghna Maharishi, Renée Rigdon, John Keefe, David |date=August 12, 2021 |title=Census release shows America is more diverse and more multiracial than ever {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/12/politics/us-census-2020-data/index.html |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $26,470, and the median income for a family was $32,688. Males had a median income of $24,763 versus $18,434 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $12,178. By 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $33,834 and the median income for a family was $34,859. Males had a median income of $29,286 versus $25,705 for females.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13003
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011544/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13003
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> In 2020, the county's median household income was an estimated $35,703 per the [[American Community Survey]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Income Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1901?g=050XX00US13003 |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Families had a median income of $46,086; married-couple families $50,475; and nonfamily households $23,306. Among its 2022 population estimates, 27.5% of the county lived at or below the poverty line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Poverty Statistics |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2022.S1701?g=050XX00US13003 |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

As of 2022's American Community Survey, Atkinson County's 3,063 households had an average of 2.7 people per household. Approximately 66% were married couples, 6% male households and 17% female households. These households were spread throughout 3,494 housing units, and 67% were owner-occupied. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $77,100 with 62% of its properties valued at under $100,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census profile: Atkinson County, GA |url=http://censusreporter.org/profiles/05000US13003-atkinson-county-ga/ |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=Census Reporter |language=en}}</ref>

As part of the [[Bible Belt]], the majority of the county's religious or spiritual population professed [[Christianity in the United States|Christianity]]. Among the Christian population in 2020, the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] determined the largest single Christian denomination for Atkinson County was the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], followed by the [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], and the [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]] and [[United Methodist Church]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Congregational Membership Reports {{!}} US Religion |url=https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/census/congregational-membership?y=2020&y2=0&t=0&c=13003 |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=Association of Religion Data Archives}}</ref> As a whole tradition, [[Pentecostalism]] encompassed the following, with [[Catholicism]] remaining a minority.

==Education==
{{Main|Pearson, Georgia#Education}}

Atkinson County is serviced along with [[Coffee County, Georgia|Coffee County]] by the [[Satilla Regional Library System]].

==Politics==
Historically, Atkinson County has primarily voted for [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] candidates in U.S. presidential elections up to 1960. Since then, the county has remained reliably [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].{{PresHead|place=Atkinson County, Georgia|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,350|700|7|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,300|825|30|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,878|697|35|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,938|930|39|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,941|938|28|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,666|799|8|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,228|821|22|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|784|823|219|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|779|1,056|350|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,126|887|12|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|944|901|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|747|1,449|26|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|347|1,560|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|924|309|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|288|686|1,554|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,157|811|1|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|239|1,298|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|122|1,719|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|194|1,560|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|66|938|116|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|90|766|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|66|703|1|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|29|958|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|41|747|5|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|121|350|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|25|394|17|Georgia}}
{{PresFoot|1920|Democratic|119|453|0|Georgia}}

==See also==
{{Portal|State of Georgia}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Atkinson County, Georgia]]
*[[List of counties in Georgia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927001022/http://www.placenames.com/us/13003/ppl/ list of places]
* [http://atkinsonsheriff.org/ Atkinson County Sheriff's Office]
* [http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/atkinson/atkinson-county Atkinson County] historical marker

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Atkinson County, Georgia
|North     = [[Coffee County, Georgia|Coffee County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Ware County, Georgia|Ware County]]
|Southeast = [[Clinch County, Georgia|Clinch County]]
|South     = [[Lanier County, Georgia|Lanier County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Berrien County, Georgia|Berrien County]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Atkinson County, Georgia}}
{{Georgia (U.S. state)}}

{{Coord|31.29|-82.87|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-GA_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Atkinson County, Georgia| ]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1917]]
[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) counties]]