Ware County, Georgia

Infobox U.S. County
county = Ware County
state = Georgia


map size = 225
founded = December 15 1824
seat = Waycross | area_total_sq_mi =906
area_land_sq_mi =903
area_water_sq_mi =4
area percentage = 0.44%
census yr = 2000
pop = 35483
density_km2 =15
web = www.warecounty.com
|

Ware County is a county located in the southeast of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 35,483. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 35,831 [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-13.xls] . The county seat is Waycross, GeorgiaGR|6.

By geographic area, Ware County is the largest Georgia county. The county is part of the Waycross Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Ware County, Georgia's 60th county, was created on December 15^th,1824 by an act of the Georgia General Assembly from land that was originally part of Appling county.

The county is named for Nicholas Ware, the mayor of Augusta, Georgia from (1819-1821) and United States Senator who represented Georgia from 1821 until his death in 1824.

Several counties were later created from parts of the original Ware County borders:
* Bacon County (from portions of Appling, Pierce, and Ware Counties in 1917)
* Clinch County (from portions of Lowndes and Ware Counties in 1850)
* Coffee County (from portions of Clinch, Irwin, Telfair, and Ware Counties in 1854)
* Pierce County (from portions of Appling and Ware Counties in 1857)

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 907 square miles (2,347 km²) and is the largest geographically in Georgia. 903 square miles (2,337 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (10 km²) of it (0.44%) is water. A large portion of the county lies within the Okefenokee Swamp and its federally protected areas.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Bacon County, Georgia - north
*Pierce County, Georgia - east
*Brantley County, Georgia - east
*Charlton County, Georgia - southeast
*Baker County, Florida - south
*Atkinson County, Georgia - west
*Clinch County, Georgia - west
*Coffee County, Georgia - northwest

National protected area

* Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 35,483 people, 13,475 households, and 9,297 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 15,831 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.65% White, 28.01% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,475 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.30% were married couples living together, 14.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,360, and the median income for a family was $34,372. Males had a median income of $26,910 versus $20,424 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,384. About 15.90% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.10% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.

Sports teams

*The Ware County Gators high school football squad made it to the state AAAA championship game for the 2007 season. This was their first appearance in the state championship game since 1961, The Gators lost 14-20 Northside Warner Robins Eagles.

Cities and communities

*Deenwood
*Manor
*Sunnyside
*Waycross
*Ruskin
*Dixie Union
*Millwood
*Waresboro

External links

* [http://www.warecounty.com/ Official Ware County website]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaware/ Georgia GenWeb Ware County site]
* [http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee/ Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service