Pierce County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pierce County
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Pierce County Courthouse in Blackshear
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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 | December 18, 1857 |
| Named for | Franklin Pierce |
| Seat | Blackshear |
| Largest city | Blackshear |
| Area | |
| • Total | 343 sq mi (890 km2) |
| • Land | 316 sq mi (820 km2) |
| • Water | 27 sq mi (70 km2) 7.8%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19,716 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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20,425  |
| • Density | 57.48/sq mi (22.19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Pierce County is a county in the southeastern part of Georgia. In 2020, about 19,716 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Blackshear. Pierce County is also part of the larger Waycross area.
Contents
History of Pierce County
Pierce County was named after Franklin Pierce. He was the fourteenth president of the United States. The county was officially created on December 18, 1857. It was formed from parts of two other counties: Appling County and Ware County.
Geography of Pierce County
Pierce County covers a total area of about 343 square miles. Most of this area, about 316 square miles, is land. The remaining 27 square miles, or 7.8%, is water.
Rivers and Basins
The northern part of Pierce County is in the Little Satilla River area. This river flows into the St. Marys River. The southern part of the county is in the main Satilla River area. Both of these rivers are part of the larger St. Marys-Satilla River basin.
Main Roads in Pierce County
Several important highways pass through Pierce County. These roads help people travel around the county and to other parts of Georgia.
U.S. Highway 84
State Route 15
State Route 32
State Route 38
State Route 121
State Route 203
Neighboring Counties
Pierce County shares its borders with several other counties in Georgia.
- Appling County - to the north
- Wayne County - to the northeast
- Brantley County - to the southeast
- Ware County - to the west
- Bacon County - to the northwest
Towns and Communities
Pierce County has a few official cities and several smaller communities.
Cities in Pierce County
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller places that are not officially cities.
- Bristol
- Mershon
- Otter Creek
- Walkerville
Population and People
The population of Pierce County has changed over the years. Here is how the population has grown since 1860:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,973 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,778 | 40.8% | |
| 1880 | 4,538 | 63.4% | |
| 1890 | 6,379 | 40.6% | |
| 1900 | 8,100 | 27.0% | |
| 1910 | 10,749 | 32.7% | |
| 1920 | 11,934 | 11.0% | |
| 1930 | 12,522 | 4.9% | |
| 1940 | 11,800 | −5.8% | |
| 1950 | 11,112 | −5.8% | |
| 1960 | 9,678 | −12.9% | |
| 1970 | 9,281 | −4.1% | |
| 1980 | 11,897 | 28.2% | |
| 1990 | 13,328 | 12.0% | |
| 2000 | 15,636 | 17.3% | |
| 2010 | 18,758 | 20.0% | |
| 2020 | 19,716 | 5.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 20,425 | 8.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 |
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Diversity in Pierce County
In 2020, the people living in Pierce County came from different backgrounds. Here is a look at the racial makeup of the county:
| Race | Number of People | Percentage |
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| White (not Hispanic) | 16,403 | 83.2% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 1,597 | 8.1% |
| Native American | 41 | 0.21% |
| Asian | 82 | 0.42% |
| Other/Mixed | 595 | 3.02% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 998 | 5.06% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 19,716 people living in the county. These people lived in about 7,048 households, and 5,319 of these were families.
Local Media
Pierce County has several local news and radio stations that keep residents informed.
- The Blackshear Times (a newspaper published every week)
- The Pierce County Press (another weekly newspaper)
- Waycross Journal-Herald (a daily newspaper)
- WKUB 105.1FM (a Country music radio station)
- WWUF 97.7FM (an Oldies music radio station)
- WSFN AM 1350 (a Sports radio station)
- WAYX AM 1230 (a News Talk radio station)
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Pierce (Georgia) para niños
