Lanier County, Georgia


Lanier County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. At the 2020 census, the population was 9,877. The county seat is Lakeland. It is named after Georgia poet Sidney Lanier.
Lanier County is part of the Valdosta metropolitan area and shares Moody Air Force Base with Lowndes County on its western boundary.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of, of which is land and is water.
The vast majority of Lanier County is in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. Just a narrow section of the western border of the county, northeast and southeast of Ray City, is in the Withlacoochee River sub-basin of the same Suwannee River basin, and a very narrow section of the eastern border of Lanier County is in the Upper Suwannee River sub-basin of the same Suwannee River basin.

Major highways

Previous

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 of water, Banks Lake marsh, and swamp. The Robert Simpson III Nature Trail, dedicated in August 2001, is in the Lakeland, Georgia city limits on of pine and hardwood forests. The county is known for its excellent fishing in the Alapaha River, Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge as well as in its many small lakes.

Communities

Cities

  • Lakeland
  • Ray City

    Census-designated place

  • Stockton

    Demographics

RaceNum.Perc.
White 6,59566.77%
Black or African American 2,13821.65%
Native American310.31%
Asian810.82%
Pacific Islander140.14%
Other/Mixed4464.52%
Hispanic or Latino5725.79%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 9,877 people, 3,570 households, and 2,536 families residing in the county. The median age was 35.1 years, 25.8% of residents were under the age of 18, and 13.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older.
For every 100 females there were 100.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.5 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 66.77% White, 21.65% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 4.52% Other/Mixed, and 5.79% Hispanic or Latino residents of any race.
There were 3,570 households in the county, of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 4,069 housing units, of which 12.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.9% were owner-occupied and 35.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%.

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, 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
  • 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

    Media

  • Lanier County News - Legal organ and hometown newspaper since 1913. The paper was originally named The Milltown Advocate, but changed its name after Lanier County was formed in 1920.
  • Lanier County Advocate - Legal organ newspaper as of January 1, 2015.

    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.

Education

The Lanier County School District, the only school district in the county, operates four schools: Lanier County Primary School, Lanier County Elementary School, Lanier County Middle School, and Lanier County High School.

Politics

As of the 2020s, Lanier County is a Republican stronghold, voting 77% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Lanier County is part of Georgia's 8th congressional district, currently represented by Austin Scott. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Lanier County is part of District 8. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Lanier County is part of District 176.