Lanier County, Georgia

Lanier County, Georgia
Location in the state of Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1920
Named for	Sidney Lanier
Seat	Lakeland
Largest city	Lakeland
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	199.83 sq mi (518 km²) 186.82 sq mi (484 km²) 13.01 sq mi (34 km²), 0.74%
PopulationEst.  - (2005)  - Density	7,553 39/sq mi (15/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Lanier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2009, the population was 8,423. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 7,847.^[1] The county seat is Lakeland.^[2] Lakeland is Lanier County's only incorporated municipality. Lanier shares Moody Air Force Base with Lowndes County on its western boundary.

History

The county is named after the Georgia poet Sidney Lanier.

Lanier County was created by passage of a state constitutional amendment by the voters of Georgia on November 2, 1920. The county was created from parts of Berrien, Clinch, and Lowndes counties. Its 187 square miles (480 km²) were formerly held by Creek Indians. The county is home to several lakes, including Banks Lake, Grand Bay Lake, and Lake Irma. Lanier County is home to Georgia Democratic Governor Eurith D. Rivers (December 5, 1895 – June 11, 1967) who served as Governor of Georgia from 1937 to 1941. Lanier County is also home to Jay Shaw who is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 199.83 square miles (517.6 km²), of which 186.82 square miles (483.9 km²) (or 93.49%) is land and 13.01 square miles (33.7 km²) (or 6.51%) is water.^[3]

Major Highways

• U.S. Highway 84
• U.S. Highway 129
• U.S. Highway 221
• Georgia State Route 37
• Georgia State Route 64
• Georgia State Route 122
• Georgia State Route 135

Adjacent Counties

• Berrien County, Georgia - Northwest
• Atkinson County, Georgia - North
• Clinch County, Georgia - East
• Echols County, Georgia - South
• Lowndes County, Georgia - Southwest

National Protected Area

• Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge

The Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1985, hosts approximately 20,000 visitors annually. It provides hiking, fishing, and boating opportunities on more than 4,000 acres (16 km²) of water, Banks Lake marsh, and swamp. The Robert Simpson III Nature Trail, dedicated in August 2001, is located within the Lakeland, Georgia city limits on 75 acres (300,000 m²) of pine and hardwood forests. The county is famous for its excellent fishing in the Alapaha River, Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge as well as in its many small lakes.

Historic Sites

Historic sites include Governor Eurith D. Rivers' home, which was moved from its original spot on Banks Lake to West Main Street in Lakeland in the early 1980s; Union Baptist Church, located near Georgia Highway 135; and Fender Cemetery, located east of Lakeland at the junction of U.S. 221 and Georgia Highway 37 on land that once belonged to David Fender. The site of the cemetery, in which many of the area's first settlers are buried, was chosen so that mourners would not have to ferry their dead across the river for burial. Also, the "Murals of Milltown," which depict community life in the 1920s, grace the exteriors of buildings in downtown Lakeland.

Demographics

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 7,847 people, 2,893 households, and 1,931 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 3,011 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.61% White, 20.63% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 1.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,593 households out of which 37.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.50% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.40% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,171, and the median income for a family was $54,512. Males had a median income of $46,023 versus $39,021 for females. The per capita income for the county was $43,690. About 5.30% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.90% of those under age 18 and 14.20% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The county's economy has remained rural in nature, but the educational, health, and social service sector was the largest employment category in 2006. Factors contributing to this economy include the presence of Moody Air Force Base (shared by adjoining Lowndes counties), the several lakes and nature reserve, the hospital, and a large state correctional facility.

The top ten employers in Lanier County are:

• Moody Air Force Base
• Lanier County School System
• Farmers & Merchants Bank
• Louis Smith Hospital
• Patten Probation Detention Center
• Georgia Department of Corrections
• Patten Seed Company
• City of Lakeland, Georgia
• Wausau Homes, Inc
• J.H. Harvey Co, LLC (parent company of Harvey Supermarkets)

Cities and towns

Incorporated

• Lakeland

Unincorporated

• Greenwood
• Stockton
• Teeterville

References

• GeorgiaInfo.com Lanier County Courthouse History
• Lanier County School System
• Lanier County History

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
3. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

See also

State of Georgia portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lanier County, Georgia

Coordinates: 31°02′N 83°04′W / 31.04°N 83.06°W / 31.04; -83.06