Laurens County, Georgia

Last updated

Laurens County, Georgia
County
Laurens County Courthouse, Dublin.jpg
Laurens County Courthouse in Dublin
Map of Georgia highlighting Laurens County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°28′N82°56′W / 32.46°N 82.93°W / 32.46; -82.93
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia
FoundedDecember 10, 1807;218 years ago (1807-12-10)
Named after John Laurens
Seat Dublin
Largest cityDublin
Area
 • Total
818 sq mi (2,120 km2)
 • Land807 sq mi (2,090 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (28 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
49,570
 • Density60/sq mi (23/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 12th
Website www.laurenscoga.org

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, [1] up from 48,434 in 2010. [2] The county seat is Dublin. [3] The county was founded on December 10, 1807, and named after Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, [4] an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War.

Contents

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. [5] During the Red Summer of 1919, racial tensions increased in the area, leading to the Laurens County, Georgia race riot of 1919.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 818 square miles (2,120 km2), of which 807 square miles (2,090 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.4%) is water. [6] 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. [7] The county has several swamps along with Oconee river including Cow Hell Swamp.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1810 2,210—
1820 5,436146.0%
1830 5,5892.8%
1840 5,585−0.1%
1850 6,44215.3%
1860 6,9988.6%
1870 7,83411.9%
1880 10,05328.3%
1890 13,74736.7%
1900 25,90888.5%
1910 35,50137.0%
1920 39,60511.6%
1930 32,693−17.5%
1940 33,6062.8%
1950 33,123−1.4%
1960 32,313−2.4%
1970 32,7381.3%
1980 36,99013.0%
1990 39,9888.1%
2000 44,87412.2%
2010 48,4347.9%
2020 49,5702.3%
2024 (est.)50,287 [8] 1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790-1880 [10] 1890-1910 [11]
1920-1930 [12] 1930-1940 [13]
1940-1950 [14] 1960-1980 [15]
1980-2000 [16] 2010 [17] 2020 [18]

2020 Census

Laurens County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000 [19] Pop 2010 [17] Pop 2020 [18] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)28,19928,92027,88162.84%59.71%56.25%
Black or African American alone (NH)15,41717,26818,21934.36%35.65%36.75%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)8087800.18%0.18%0.16%
Asian alone (NH)3614785070.80%0.99%1.02%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)124140.03%0.01%0.03%
Other race alone (NH)44411410.10%0.08%0.28%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)2324931,3040.52%1.02%2.63%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)5291,1431,4241.18%2.36%2.87%
Total44,87448,43449,570100.00%100.00%100.00%

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. [20] [21]

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. [22]

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. [21]

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%. [21]

Education

Laurens County School District operates the county's public schools.

Notable people

Politics

As of the 2020s, Laurens County is a Republican stronghold, voting 66% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Laurens County is part of Georgia's 12th congressional district, currently represented by Rick Allen. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Laurens County is part of District 20. [23] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Laurens County is part of District 155. [24]

United States presidential election results for Laurens County, Georgia [25]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
1912 927.52%1,10790.52%241.96%
1916 1439.69%1,26985.98%644.34%
1920 35023.07%1,16776.93%00.00%
1924 1219.31%1,12786.76%513.93%
1928 47019.13%1,98780.87%00.00%
1932 381.71%2,18898.25%10.04%
1936 30410.37%2,62089.39%70.24%
1940 43515.79%2,31684.07%40.15%
1944 49816.37%2,54483.63%00.00%
1948 2687.05%2,32561.12%1,21131.83%
1952 1,04617.30%5,00182.70%00.00%
1956 1,18918.95%5,08581.05%00.00%
1960 1,88428.84%4,64871.16%00.00%
1964 5,45758.76%3,82841.22%20.02%
1968 2,73821.33%3,45126.88%6,64951.79%
1972 7,35077.53%2,13022.47%00.00%
1976 3,28127.58%8,61772.42%00.00%
1980 4,39235.07%7,86062.76%2712.16%
1984 7,18156.76%5,47143.24%00.00%
1988 6,92957.89%4,87940.76%1621.35%
1992 6,14643.72%6,18443.99%1,72912.30%
1996 6,11847.79%5,79245.24%8936.97%
2000 8,13357.94%5,72440.78%1791.28%
2004 10,88363.05%6,28136.39%970.56%
2008 12,05260.37%7,76938.92%1420.71%
2012 11,95060.85%7,51338.26%1760.90%
2016 12,41163.33%6,75234.46%4332.21%
2020 14,49363.76%8,07435.52%1640.72%
2024 15,46066.20%7,82033.49%720.31%

See also

References

  1. ↑ US 2020 Census Bureau report, Laurens County, Georgia
  2. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p.  182.
  5. ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 130. ISBN   0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 14, 2004.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  8. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ↑ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  11. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024.
  12. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  13. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  14. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  15. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  16. ↑ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  17. 1 2 "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Laurens County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  18. 1 2 "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Laurens County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ↑ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Laurens County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  21. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  22. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  23. ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  25. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.

32°28′N82°56′W / 32.46°N 82.93°W / 32.46; -82.93

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