Laurens County, Georgia
Laurens County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 49,570, up from 48,434 in 2010. The county seat is Dublin. The county was founded on December 10, 1807, and named after Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War.
Laurens County is part of the Dublin micropolitan statistical area.
History
Laurens County was formed on December 10, 1807, from portions of Wilkinson and Washington Counties. During the Red Summer of 1919, racial tensions increased in the area, leading to the Georgia race riot of 1919.Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the third-largest county in Georgia by land area and fourth-largest by total area.The majority of Laurens County is located in the Lower Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The southwestern corner of the county, defined by a line that runs west from Chester through Rentz to U.S. Route 441, and then southeast toward Glenwood, is located in the Little Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin. A small and narrow sliver of the eastern edge of the county, from east of Lovett to northeast of Rockledge, is located in the Ohoopee River sub-basin of the larger Altamaha River basin. The county has several swamps along with Oconee river including Cow Hell Swamp.
Major highways
*Adjacent counties
- Johnson County – northeast
- Treutlen County – east
- Wheeler County – south
- Dodge County – southwest
- Bleckley County – west
- Wilkinson County – northwest
- Twiggs County – northwest
Communities
Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
- Alcorns
- Alligood
- Baston
- Brewton
- Catlin
- Cedar Grove
- Chappells Mill
- Condor
- Five Points
- Garretta
- Harlow
- Haskins Crossing
- Holly Hills
- Kewanee
- Laurens Hill
- Lollie
- Lovett
- Lowery
- Midway
- Minter
- Moores
- Nameless
- Old Condor
- Rockledge
- Shewmake
- Spring Hill
- Tuckers Crossroad
- Tweed
- Vincent
- Whipples Crossing
Ghost towns
Demographics
2020 Census
As of the 2020 census, there were 49,570 people living in 19,501 households, including 11,549 families in the county. The median age was 40.6 years; 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.3 males age 18 and over. 42.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 58.0% lived in rural areas.The racial makeup of the county was 56.8% White, 37.0% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.6% from some other race, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.9% of the population.
Of the 19,501 households, 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 33.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 21,924 housing units, of which 11.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.4% were owner-occupied and 36.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.
Education
Laurens County School District operates the county's public schools.Notable people
- Karl Slover, one of the oldest living Munchkins from Wizard of Oz (1939 film).
- Demaryius Thomas, wide receiver for the Denver Broncos
- Anthony Johnson, mixed martial artist for the Ultimate Fighting Championship