Ware County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ware County
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Ware County Courthouse in Waycross
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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 | December 15, 1824 | |
| Named for | Nicholas Ware | |
| Seat | Waycross | |
| Largest city | Waycross | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 908 sq mi (2,350 km2) | |
| • Land | 892 sq mi (2,310 km2) | |
| • Water | 16 sq mi (40 km2) 1.7%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 36,251 | |
| • Density | 41/sq mi (16/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 1st | |
Ware County is a special area called a county in the southeastern part of Georgia. In 2020, about 36,251 people lived here. The main town and only city in Ware County is Waycross. Ware County is also part of the larger Waycross area.
Contents
History of Ware County
Ware County became Georgia's 60th county on December 15, 1824. It was created from land that used to be part of Appling County. This happened because the Georgia General Assembly, which is like Georgia's law-making group, passed a special law.
The county is named after Nicholas Ware. He was the mayor of Augusta, Georgia, from 1819 to 1821. He also served as a United States Senator for Georgia from 1821 until he passed away in 1824.
Over time, parts of Ware County were used to create other counties:
- Bacon County was formed in 1917.
- Charlton County was formed in 1854.
- Clinch County was formed in 1850.
- Coffee County was formed in 1854.
- Pierce County was formed in 1857.
Laura S. Walker's Legacy
Ware County was home to Laura S. Walker (1861-1955). She was a well-known writer and a conservationist. This means she worked to protect nature and natural resources. Laura Walker strongly supported planting trees and creating forest parks. She also put up markers and monuments in Waycross and Ware County to remember old trails and important historical places. She wanted to make sure local history was not forgotten.
Laura Walker wrote three books about her home's land and history:
- History of Ware County, Georgia
- About "Old Okefenåok"
- Doctors of Primitive Times and Horse and Buggy Days of Ware County
People wanted to honor her work. So, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that the Laura S. Walker National Park would be created in her honor. This park is located in Ware County. Laura S. Walker was the only living person at that time to have a state or national park named after her!
In 1937, the government bought farmland for the park. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build the park. These were government programs that created jobs during the Great Depression. In 1941, the national park was given to Georgia. It then became Georgia's 13th state park.
Geography and Nature
Ware County covers a total area of about 908 square miles. Most of this area, about 892 square miles, is land. The remaining 16 square miles (1.7%) is water. Ware County is the largest county in Georgia by its total area. A big part of the county is inside the famous Okefenokee Swamp and its protected areas.
Rivers and Waterways
More than half of Ware County is part of the Upper Suwannee River area. The eastern part of the county is in the St. Marys River area. The rest of the county, including the area around Waycross, is in the Satilla River area. These rivers are important for the local environment.
Main Roads in Ware County
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 Business
U.S. Route 23
U.S. Route 23 Business
U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 84
State Route 4
State Route 4 Business
State Route 38
State Route 122
State Route 158
State Route 177
State Route 520
Neighboring Counties
Ware County shares borders with these other counties:
- Bacon County - to the north
- Pierce County - to the east
- Brantley County - to the east
- Charlton County - to the southeast
- Baker County, Florida - to the south
- Clinch County - to the west
- Atkinson County - to the west
- Coffee County - to the northwest
Protected Natural Areas
Part of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is located in Ware County. This refuge helps protect the unique wildlife and environment of the Okefenokee Swamp.
Communities in Ware County
Ware County has one city and several smaller communities.
City
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities:
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller places that are not officially part of a city or census-designated place:
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 1,205 | — | |
| 1840 | 2,323 | 92.8% | |
| 1850 | 3,888 | 67.4% | |
| 1860 | 2,200 | −43.4% | |
| 1870 | 2,286 | 3.9% | |
| 1880 | 4,159 | 81.9% | |
| 1890 | 8,811 | 111.9% | |
| 1900 | 13,761 | 56.2% | |
| 1910 | 22,957 | 66.8% | |
| 1920 | 28,361 | 23.5% | |
| 1930 | 26,558 | −6.4% | |
| 1940 | 27,929 | 5.2% | |
| 1950 | 30,289 | 8.4% | |
| 1960 | 34,219 | 13.0% | |
| 1970 | 33,525 | −2.0% | |
| 1980 | 37,180 | 10.9% | |
| 1990 | 35,471 | −4.6% | |
| 2000 | 35,483 | 0.0% | |
| 2010 | 36,312 | 2.3% | |
| 2020 | 36,251 | −0.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 36,243 | −0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 |
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In 2020, the U.S. census counted 36,251 people living in Ware County. There were 13,823 households and 8,909 families.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 22,275 | 61.45% |
| Black or African American | 10,703 | 29.52% |
| Native American | 77 | 0.21% |
| Asian | 333 | 0.92% |
| Pacific Islander | 18 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,233 | 3.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,612 | 4.45% |
Education in Ware County
Ware County has many schools for students of all ages.
High Schools
- Ware County High School, in Waycross
Middle Schools
- Ware County Middle School, in Waycross
- Waycross Middle School, in Waycross
Elementary Schools
- Wacona Elementary School, in Waycross
- Center Elementary School, in Waycross
- Williams Heights Elementary School, in Waycross
- Memorial Drive Elementary School, in Waycross
- Ruskin Elementary School, in Waycross
- Waresboro Elementary School, in Waycross
Preschools
- DAFFODIL Preschool, in Waycross
Private Schools
- Southside Christian School
Colleges and Higher Education
- South Georgia State College, in Waycross
- Coastal Pines Technical College, in Waycross
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Ware para niños
