Atkinson County is a county located in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 8,286. The county seat is Pearson. The county was formed in 1917 from parts of Coffee and Clinch counties. It is named for William Yates Atkinson, Democratic governor of Georgia from 1894 to 1898. In 2003, it had the highest illiteracy rate of any U.S. county at 36%.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.5%) is water. Atkinson County forms a part of Southeast Georgia.
The vast majority of Atkinson County is located in the Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys-Satilla River basin. The entire narrow western border area, in a line parallel to the western border and running through Willacoochee, is located in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. A small southeastern corner of the county is located in the Upper Suwannee River sub-basin of the same Suwannee River basin.
Adjacent counties
- Coffee County - north
- Ware County - east
- Clinch County - south
- Lanier County - southwest
- Berrien County - west
Communities
Cities
- Pearson
- Willacoochee
Census-designated place
- Axson
Unincorporated communities
- Fales (portion)
- Henderson Still
- Kirkland
- Leliaton
- Little Utah
- Mora (portion)
- Oberry
- Sandy Bottom
- Stokesville (portion)
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Atkinson County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition<br><small></small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(NH = Non-Hispanic)</small>
!Pop 1980
!Pop 1990
!Pop 2000
!Pop 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|White alone (NH)
|4,411
|4,400
|4,760
|4,776
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,801
|71.83%
|70.82%
|62.56%
|57.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |57.94%
|-
|Black or African American alone (NH)
|1,662
|1,654
|1,477
|1,428
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,208
|27.06%
|26.62%
|19.41%
|17.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14.58%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|0
|2
|23
|31
|style='background: #ffffe6; |30
|0.00%
|0.03%
|0.30%
|0.37%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.36%
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|11
|3
|9
|17
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12
|0.18%
|0.05%
|0.12%
|0.20%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14%
|-
|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|x
|x
|0
|14
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4
|x
|x
|0.00%
|0.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|1
|0
|3
|4
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16
|0.02%
|0.00%
|0.04%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.19%
|-
|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|x
|x
|47
|66
|style='background: #ffffe6; |167
|x
|x
|0.62%
|0.79%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.02%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|56
|154
|1,290
|2,039
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,048
|0.91%
|2.48%
|16.95%
|24.35%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |24.72%
|-
|Total
|6,141
|6,213
|7,609
|8,375
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8,286
|100.00%
|100.00%
|100.00%
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
Since the county's 1920 population of 7,656 residents, its population has fluctuated between more than 7,000 to a low of 6,213 in 1990; the lowest population for the county was 5,879 in 1970. By the 2020 census, its population increased to 8,286, although in 2010 its population reached a historic high of 8,375.
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,286. Of the residents, 26.0% were under the age of 18 and 14.0% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 37.5 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.1 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 63.7% White, 14.6% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 12.5% from some other race, and 8.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 24.7% of the population.
There were 3,064 households in the county, of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
In 2010, there were 3,522 housing units at an average density of .
By 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $33,834 and the median income for a family was $34,859. Males had a median income of $29,286 versus $25,705 for females.
2000 census
In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $26,470, and the median income for a family was $32,688. Males had a median income of $24,763 versus $18,434 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,178.
American Community Survey
In 2020, the county's median household income was an estimated $35,703 per the American Community Survey. Families had a median income of $46,086; married-couple families $50,475; and nonfamily households $23,306. Among its 2022 population estimates, 27.5% of the county lived at or below the poverty line.
As of 2022's American Community Survey, Atkinson County's 3,063 households had an average of 2.7 people per household. Approximately 66% were married couples, 6% male households and 17% female households. These households were spread throughout 3,494 housing units, and 67% were owner-occupied. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $77,100 with 62% of its properties valued at under $100,000.
As part of the Bible Belt, the majority of the county's religious or spiritual population professed Christianity. Among the Christian population in 2020, the Association of Religion Data Archives determined the largest single Christian denomination for Atkinson County was the Southern Baptist Convention, followed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church and United Methodist Church. As a whole tradition, Pentecostalism encompassed the following, with Catholicism remaining a minority.
Education
Atkinson County is serviced along with Coffee County by the Satilla Regional Library System.
Politics
<!-- PresRow should be -->
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be -->
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be -->
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be -->
As of the 2020s, Atkinson County is a Republican stronghold, voting 77% for Donald Trump in 2024. Historically, Atkinson County has primarily voted for Democratic Party candidates in U.S. presidential elections up to 1960. Following Barry Goldwater's win in the county in 1964, it transitioned into a swing county until 2000. Since then, the county has remained reliably Republican.
For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Atkinson County is part of Georgia's 8th congressional district, currently represented by Austin Scott. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Atkinson County is part of District 8. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Atkinson County is part of District 176.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Atkinson County, Georgia
- List of counties in Georgia
References
External links
- list of places
- Atkinson County Sheriff's Office
- Atkinson County historical marker