Bacon County, Georgia

History

The constitutional amendment to create the county was proposed July 7, 1914, and ratified November 3, 1914. It is named after Augustus Bacon, a former United States senator from Georgia.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 sqmi, of which 259 sqmi are land and 27 sqmi (9.5%) are covered by water.

The majority and western portion of Bacon County is located in the Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys River-Satilla River basin. The entire eastern and half of the southeastern edge of the county is located in the Little Satilla River sub-basin of the same St. Marys-Satilla River basin. The county forms part of Southeast Georgia.

Major highways

• [[Image:US 1.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 1
• [[Image:US 23.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 23
• [[Image:Georgia 4.svg|20px]] Georgia State Route 4
• [[Image:Georgia 4 Alternate.svg|20px]] State Route 4 Alternate
• [[Image:Georgia 19.svg|20px]] State Route 19
• [[Image:Georgia 32.svg|20px]] State Route 32
• [[Image:Georgia 203.svg|20px]] State Route 203

Adjacent counties

• Appling County (northeast)
• Pierce County (southeast)
• Ware County (south)
• Coffee County (west)
• Jeff Davis County (northwest)

Communities

City

• Alma (county seat)

Census-designated place

• Rockingham

Unincorporated communities

• Coffee
• Sessoms

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010

According to the 1920 United States census, the county had a population of 6,460 which has increased since every decennial census except from 1960 and 1970; in 1960, its population declined from 8,940 to 8,359; and in 1970, its population declined to 8,233.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 11,140. Of the residents, 25.4% were under the age of 18 and 17.3% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 74.1% White, 15.8% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.1% from some other race, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.9% of the population.

There were 4,251 households in the county, of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 30.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,807 housing units, of which 11.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.3% were owner-occupied and 31.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.

The 2022 American Community Survey estimated its racial and ethnic composition was 73% White, 15% African American, 1% Asian, 3% multiracial, and 9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2022, the median household income for the county was $43,938 with a per capita income of $24,654. An estimated 21.6% of the county population lived at or below the poverty line. With an estimated 4,807 housing units in the county, 72% were owner-occupied and the median value of an owner-occupied housing unit was $95,600. Approximately 53% of housing units were valued under $100,000.

Religiously, as of 2020, the Association of Religion Data Archives determined the Southern Baptist Convention was the county's largest religious group, being within the Bible Belt. The Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) was the second-largest Christian denomination in the county, followed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and National Association of Free Will Baptists. Among the county's predominantly Christian population, Methodists, Holiness, and Pentecostal Christians formed the remainder of its religious landscape.

Politics

As of the 2020s, Bacon County is a Republican stronghold, voting 86.51% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Bacon County is part of Georgia's 1st congressional district, currently represented by Buddy Carter. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Bacon County is part of District 19. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Bacon County is part of District 178.

Education

Main article: Alma, Georgia#Education

References

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Bacon County, Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "Bacon County Board of Tax Assessors".
4. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
5. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
6. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". [[US Census Bureau]].
8. (1880). "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800".
9. (1910). "1910 Census of Population - Georgia".
10. (1930). "1930 Census of Population - Georgia".
11. (1940). "1940 Census of Population - Georgia".
12. (1950). "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -".
13. (1980). "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia".
14. (2000). "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia".
15. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
16. "Explore Census Data".
17. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
18. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
19. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
20. "Census profile: Bacon County, GA".
21. "Congregational Membership Reports {{!}} US Religion".
22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
23. "Georgia General Assembly".
24. "Georgia General Assembly".