Banks County, Georgia

Infobox U.S. County
county = Banks County
state = Georgia|

seallink =


map size = 225
founded = 1859
seat = Homer
largest city = Baldwin
area_total_sq_mi = 234
area_total_km2 = 606
area_land_sq_mi = 234
area_land_km2 = 605
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_km2 = 1
area percentage = 0.09%
census estimate yr = 2006
pop = 16445
density_sq_mi = 62
density_km2 = 24
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset = -4
web = www.bankscountyga.org

Banks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population is 14,422. The 2007 Census Estimate placed the population at 16,556 [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-13.xls] . The county seat is Homer, GeorgiaGR|6.

History

The Georgia General Assembly passed legislation to create Banks County on February 1, 1859, from Franklin and Habersham Counties.

The County is named for Richard Banks, a prominent 19th century physician in Gainesville, Georgia.

Ty Cobb, Baseball Hall of Famer, was born in Banks County in 1886 in an area of the county knows as "The Narrows" - a small farming community consisting of fewer than 100 people. The area and birthplace are on State Highway 105 in the northern part of the county near the Broad River.

The legal organ for the county is The Banks County News, a member of Mainstreet News, Inc.

One of the county's oldest churches is the Hebron Presbyterian Church, established in 1796.

Law and government

As of July 19 2004 the county's government consisted of a three-member county commission, with one being the Chairman of the Commission.

* Gene Hart is the Commission Chairman, Rickey Cain and Joe Barefoot are the other two members
* The Sheriff is Charles Chapman
* The Coroner is Henry Galloway
* The Probate Judge is Betty Thomas
* The Clerk of Court is Timothy Harper
* The Magistrate Judge is Ivan Mote.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 234 square miles (606 km²), of which, 234 square miles (605 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.09%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Habersham County, Georgia - North
*Stephens County, Georgia - Northeast
*Madison County, Georgia - Southeast
*Jackson County, Georgia - South
*Hall County, Georgia - West
*Franklin County, Georgia - East

National protected area

* Chattahoochee National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 14,422 people, 5,364 households, and 4,162 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile (24/km²). There were 5,808 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.16% White, 3.22% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.96% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 3.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,364 households out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.40% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.40% were non-families. 19.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.70% 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 3.06.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,523, and the median income for a family was $43,136. Males had a median income of $29,986 versus $21,698 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,424. About 9.80% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Alto
*Baldwin
*Gillsville
*Homer
*Lula
*Maysville

References

* [http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/histcountymaps/bankshistmaps.htm GeorgiaInfo.com Banks County History]
* [http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/tdgh-oct/oct23.htm "This Day in Georgia History:October 23", Ed Jackson and Charly Pou, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia]
* [http://www.bankscountyga.org/history.htm History information from Official Banks County website]
* [http://www.visitnortheastgeorgia.com/tyruscobb.htm Ty Cobb Bio on visitnortheastgeorgia.com]
* [http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/cobb_ty.htm National Baseball Hall of Fame Ty Cobb Bio]
* [http://www.mainstreetnews.com Mainstreet Newspapers]