Banks County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Banks County
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Banks County courthouse in Homer
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Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
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 Georgia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Georgia |
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| Founded | February 1, 1859 | |
| Named for | Richard Banks | |
| Seat | Homer | |
| Largest city | Commerce | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 234 sq mi (610 km2) | |
| • Land | 232 sq mi (600 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.8 sq mi (5 km2) 0.8%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,035 | |
| • Density | 79/sq mi (31/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 9th | |
Banks County is a place in the U.S. state of Georgia, located in the Northeast part of the state. In 2020, about 18,035 people lived here. This was a small drop from 18,395 people in 2010.
The main town, or county seat, is Homer. Homer is home to the historic Old Banks County Courthouse, which is a very old and important building. A newer courthouse was built next to it in 1983.
Contents
History of Banks County
Banks County was officially created on February 1, 1859. It was named after Dr. Richard E. Banks. The land for the county came from parts of Franklin and Habersham counties.
Famous People and Places
A very famous baseball player, Ty Cobb, was born in Banks County in 1886. He was born in a small farming area called The Narrows. This area is in the northern part of the county, near the Broad River.
One of the oldest churches in the county is Hebron Presbyterian Church. It was started way back in 1796. Banks County is also home to the Atlanta Dragway, a popular place for car racing.
For many years, Banks County was known for hosting the world's largest Easter egg hunt. The 50th and final egg hunt happened in 2009.
Geography of Banks County
Banks County covers about 234 square miles. Most of this area, about 232 square miles, is land. The rest, about 1.8 square miles, is water.
All the water in Banks County flows into the Broad River. This river is part of the larger Savannah River system.
Main Roads in Banks County
Many important roads run through Banks County. These roads help people travel around the county and to other parts of Georgia.
Interstate 85
U.S. Route 441
State Route 15
State Route 51
State Route 52
State Route 59
State Route 63
State Route 98
State Route 105
State Route 164
State Route 184
State Route 198
State Route 323
State Route 326
State Route 403 (this is a hidden name for I-85)
Neighboring Counties
Banks County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Habersham County to the north
- Stephens County to the northeast
- Madison County to the southeast
- Jackson County to the south
- Hall County to the west
- Franklin County to the east
Protected Areas
A small part of the Chattahoochee National Forest is located in Banks County. This is a large protected area with lots of nature.
People of Banks County (Demographics)
The number of people living in Banks County has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 4,707 | — | |
| 1870 | 4,973 | 5.7% | |
| 1880 | 7,337 | 47.5% | |
| 1890 | 8,562 | 16.7% | |
| 1900 | 10,545 | 23.2% | |
| 1910 | 11,244 | 6.6% | |
| 1920 | 11,814 | 5.1% | |
| 1930 | 9,703 | −17.9% | |
| 1940 | 8,733 | −10.0% | |
| 1950 | 6,935 | −20.6% | |
| 1960 | 6,497 | −6.3% | |
| 1970 | 6,833 | 5.2% | |
| 1980 | 8,702 | 27.4% | |
| 1990 | 10,308 | 18.5% | |
| 2000 | 14,422 | 39.9% | |
| 2010 | 18,395 | 27.5% | |
| 2020 | 18,035 | −2.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 19,789 | 7.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-18801890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 2020 |
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2020 Census Information
In 2020, the census counted 18,035 people living in Banks County. There were 6,740 households and 4,875 families.
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Banks County in 2020:
| Race | Number of People | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 15,578 | 86.38% |
| Black or African American | 394 | 2.18% |
| Native American | 54 | 0.3% |
| Asian | 189 | 1.05% |
| Pacific Islander | 8 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 648 | 3.59% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,164 | 6.45% |
2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 18,395 people in Banks County. The population density was about 79 people per square mile. Most people (91.7%) were white. About 2.3% were black or African American. People of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.7% of the population.
The average age of people in Banks County was about 38.4 years old.
Education in Banks County
The Banks County School District is in charge of public schools in Banks County. It is based in Homer. There are four schools in the district. They teach about 2,788 students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.
Communities in Banks County
Banks County has several towns and cities where people live.
Cities
- Baldwin (partly in Habersham County)
- Commerce (partly in Jackson County)
- Gillsville (partly in Hall County)
- Lula (partly in Hall County)
Towns
- Alto (partly in Habersham County)
- Homer
- Maysville (partly in Jackson County)
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller areas that are not officially cities or towns.
- Hollingsworth
- Narrows
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Banks para niños
