Pierce County, Georgia
Pierce County, Georgia | |
|---|---|
Pierce County Courthouse in Blackshear | |
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia | |
| Coordinates: 31°22′N 82°13′W / 31.36°N 82.22°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| Founded | December 18, 1857 |
| Named after | Franklin Pierce |
| Seat | Blackshear |
| Largest city | Blackshear |
| Area | |
• Total | 343 sq mi (890 km2) |
| • Land | 316 sq mi (820 km2) |
| • Water | 27 sq mi (70 km2) 7.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,716 |
• Estimate (2024) | 20,669 |
| • Density | 62.4/sq mi (24.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | piercecountyga |
Pierce County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,716.[1] The county seat is Blackshear.[2] Pierce County is part of the Waycross, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Pierce County is named for Franklin Pierce, fourteenth president of the United States. It was created December 18, 1857, from Appling and Ware counties.[3]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 343 square miles (890 km2), of which 316 square miles (820 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (7.8%) is water.[4]
The northeastern third of Pierce County, bordered by a line from just west of Mershon to just south of Bristol, then south to just north of Blackshear, and then heading due east, is located in the Little Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys River-Satilla River basin. The southern two-thirds of the county is located in the Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys-Satilla River basin.[5]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Appling County - north
- Wayne County - northeast
- Brantley County - southeast
- Ware County - west
- Bacon County - northwest
Communities
Cities
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 1,973 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,778 | 40.8% | |
| 1880 | 4,538 | 63.4% | |
| 1890 | 6,379 | 40.6% | |
| 1900 | 8,100 | 27.0% | |
| 1910 | 10,749 | 32.7% | |
| 1920 | 11,934 | 11.0% | |
| 1930 | 12,522 | 4.9% | |
| 1940 | 11,800 | −5.8% | |
| 1950 | 11,112 | −5.8% | |
| 1960 | 9,678 | −12.9% | |
| 1970 | 9,281 | −4.1% | |
| 1980 | 11,897 | 28.2% | |
| 1990 | 13,328 | 12.0% | |
| 2000 | 15,636 | 17.3% | |
| 2010 | 18,758 | 20.0% | |
| 2020 | 19,716 | 5.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 20,669 | [6] | 4.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1880[8] 1890-1910[9] 1920-1930[10] 1930-1940[11] 1940-1950[12] 1960-1980[13] 1980-2000[14] 2010[15] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 16,403 | 83.2% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,597 | 8.1% |
| Native American | 41 | 0.21% |
| Asian | 82 | 0.42% |
| Other/Mixed | 595 | 3.02% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 998 | 5.06% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 19,716, 7,506 households, and 5,319 families residing in the county.[17][18]
The median age was 40.5 years, 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 18.0% were 65 years of age or older; for every 100 females there were 96.3 males and 93.5 males age 18 and over. 1.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 98.7% lived in rural areas.[19]
The racial makeup of the county was 84.5% White, 8.1% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.8% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.1% of the population.[17]
Of those households, 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present; about 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]
There were 8,360 housing units, of which 10.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.6% were owner-occupied and 24.4% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%.[18]
Media
- The Blackshear Times (weekly newspaper)
- The Pierce County Press (weekly newspaper)
- Waycross Journal-Herald (daily newspaper)
- WKUB 105.1FM (Country radio)
- WWUF 97.7FM (Oldies radio)
- WSFN AM 1350 (Sports radio)
- WAYX AM 1230 (News Talk radio)
Politics
As of the 2020s, Pierce County is a Republican stronghold, voting 88.41% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Pierce County is part of Georgia's 1st congressional district, currently represented by Buddy Carter. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Pierce County is part of District 8.[20] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Pierce County is part of District 178.[21]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 1912 | 63 | 10.96% | 408 | 70.96% | 104 | 18.09% |
| 1916 | 85 | 14.19% | 489 | 81.64% | 25 | 4.17% |
| 1920 | 122 | 23.06% | 407 | 76.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 83 | 16.57% | 397 | 79.24% | 21 | 4.19% |
| 1928 | 285 | 35.27% | 523 | 64.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 29 | 2.57% | 1,094 | 96.90% | 6 | 0.53% |
| 1936 | 45 | 2.91% | 1,494 | 96.45% | 10 | 0.65% |
| 1940 | 84 | 8.16% | 943 | 91.55% | 3 | 0.29% |
| 1944 | 165 | 13.37% | 1,069 | 86.63% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 108 | 7.13% | 908 | 59.97% | 498 | 32.89% |
| 1952 | 592 | 23.73% | 1,903 | 76.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 298 | 14.44% | 1,766 | 85.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 544 | 27.30% | 1,449 | 72.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,981 | 66.86% | 982 | 33.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 579 | 17.93% | 507 | 15.70% | 2,144 | 66.38% |
| 1972 | 1,982 | 88.05% | 269 | 11.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 544 | 17.15% | 2,628 | 82.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 1,027 | 34.41% | 1,918 | 64.25% | 40 | 1.34% |
| 1984 | 1,978 | 56.86% | 1,501 | 43.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 1,947 | 55.49% | 1,558 | 44.40% | 4 | 0.11% |
| 1992 | 1,899 | 42.46% | 1,852 | 41.41% | 721 | 16.12% |
| 1996 | 2,319 | 56.73% | 1,420 | 34.74% | 349 | 8.54% |
| 2000 | 3,348 | 71.52% | 1,300 | 27.77% | 33 | 0.70% |
| 2004 | 4,680 | 78.99% | 1,234 | 20.83% | 11 | 0.19% |
| 2008 | 5,500 | 80.92% | 1,253 | 18.43% | 44 | 0.65% |
| 2012 | 5,667 | 82.67% | 1,124 | 16.40% | 64 | 0.93% |
| 2016 | 6,302 | 86.20% | 903 | 12.35% | 106 | 1.45% |
| 2020 | 7,898 | 87.29% | 1,100 | 12.16% | 50 | 0.55% |
| 2024 | 8,655 | 88.41% | 1,089 | 11.12% | 46 | 0.47% |
See also
References
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Pierce County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 176. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
- ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
- ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
- ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
- ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
- ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
- ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ^ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.