Bleckley County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bleckley County
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Bleckley County Courthouse in Cochran
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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 |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Named for | Logan Edwin Bleckley |
| Seat | Cochran |
| Largest city | Cochran |
| Area | |
| • Total | 219 sq mi (570 km2) |
| • Land | 216 sq mi (560 km2) |
| • Water | 3.3 sq mi (9 km2) 1.5%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,583 |
| • Density | 58/sq mi (22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
Bleckley County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. It's a place where about 12,583 people live, according to the 2020 census. The main town and county seat (the place where the county government is) is Cochran.
Contents
History
Bleckley County was named after Logan Edwin Bleckley. He was a soldier and later became a judge on the highest court in Georgia, the Supreme Court of Georgia.
The idea to create Bleckley County was first suggested by the Georgia General Assembly (which is like the state's parliament) on July 30, 1912. The people of Georgia then voted to approve it on November 5, 1912.
For many years, Bleckley County was home to Middle Georgia College. This was the oldest two-year public college in the entire country! In 2013, it joined with Macon State College to become Middle Georgia State University.
Geography
Bleckley County covers a total area of about 219 square miles (567 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 216 square miles, is land. The rest, about 3.3 square miles, is water.
The county is located in a flat, low-lying area of Georgia called the upper Atlantic coastal plain. This area is close to the Atlantic Ocean, even though the county itself is inland.
Different parts of Bleckley County are connected to different river systems. The eastern part of the county drains into the Lower Oconee River. The central and western parts drain into the Little Ocmulgee River and the Lower Ocmulgee River. All of these rivers eventually flow into the much larger Altamaha River.
Major Roads
Many important roads pass through Bleckley County, helping people travel around the state. Here are some of the main ones:
Interstate 16
U.S. Route 23
U.S. Route 23 Business
U.S. Route 129 Alternate
State Route 26
State Route 87
State Route 87 Business
State Route 112
State Route 126
State Route 257
State Route 278
State Route 404 (This is another name for I-16)
Neighboring Counties
Bleckley County shares its borders with several other counties in Georgia. These are:
- Wilkinson County - to the north
- Twiggs County - to the north
- Laurens County - to the east
- Dodge County - to the southeast
- Pulaski County - to the southwest
- Houston County - to the west
Towns and Communities
Bleckley County has a few official cities and many smaller, unincorporated communities. These are places where people live but don't have their own city government.
Cities
Small Towns and Areas
- Cary
- Empire
- Baileys Park
- Brown Hill
- Coley Station
- Five Points
- Fraizer
- Goldsboro
- Paulk
- Porter
- Powell
- Rebie
- Royal
People and Population
The number of people living in Bleckley County has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown and shrunk since 1920:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 10,532 | — | |
| 1930 | 9,133 | −13.3% | |
| 1940 | 9,655 | 5.7% | |
| 1950 | 9,218 | −4.5% | |
| 1960 | 9,642 | 4.6% | |
| 1970 | 10,291 | 6.7% | |
| 1980 | 10,767 | 4.6% | |
| 1990 | 10,430 | −3.1% | |
| 2000 | 11,666 | 11.9% | |
| 2010 | 13,063 | 12.0% | |
| 2020 | 12,583 | −3.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 12,465 | −4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-18801890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-20002010 |
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In 2020, there were 12,583 people living in the county. These people lived in 4,176 households, and 2,727 of those were families. The county is home to people from many different backgrounds.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 8,867 | 70.47% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,788 | 22.16% |
| Native American | 11 | 0.09% |
| Asian | 153 | 1.22% |
| Pacific Islander | 8 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed | 287 | 2.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 469 | 3.73% |
Education
All the public schools in Bleckley County are part of one school system. This is called the Bleckley County School District.
Fun Places to Visit
Bleckley County has several interesting places you can visit. These spots offer a mix of history, nature, and fun activities.
- Cochran-Bleckley Cotton & Peanut Museum
- Cochran Motor Speedway
- Greene Acres Farm
- Gully Branch Tree Farm
- Mae Chapel
- Middle Georgia Equestrian Center
- Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area
- Ocmulgee Water Trail
- Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area
- Terry L. Coleman Museum and Archives
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Bleckley para niños
