Banks County, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Banks County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Georgia
. As of 2010, the population is 18,395. The county seat
is Homer
.
of 2000, there were 14,422 people, 5,364 households, and 4,162 families residing in the county. The population density
was 62 people per square mile (24/km²). There were 5,808 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.16% White
, 3.22% Black
or African American
, 0.30% Native American
, 0.60% Asian
, 0.06% Pacific Islander
, 1.96% from other races
, and 0.71% from two or more races. 3.42% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 5,364 households out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.40% were married couples
living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.40% were non-families. 19.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,523, and the median income for a family was $43,136. Males had a median income of $29,986 versus $21,698 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $17,424. About 9.80% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. As of 2010, the population is 18,395. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Homer
Homer, Georgia
Homer is a town in Banks County, Georgia, United States. The population was 950 at the 2000 census. The city of Homer has a mayor, Doug Cheek, and five City Councilpersons, Sandra Garrison, Jerry Payne, Chris Tucker, Keven Cape. and Betty Boarders...
.
History
- The Georgia General AssemblyGeorgia General AssemblyThe Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
passed legislation to create Banks County on February 1, 1859, from FranklinFranklin County, GeorgiaFranklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It became Georgia's ninth county, incorporating on February 25, 1784, and was named in honor of patriot Benjamin Franklin...
and HabershamHabersham County, GeorgiaHabersham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818, and named for Colonel Joseph Habersham. As of 2000, the population was 35,902. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 42,272. Clarkesville is the county seat.Chartered in 1823, the...
Counties. - The county is named for Richard BanksRichard E. BanksRichard E. Banks was an American physician and surgeon.Banks was born in Elbert County, Georgia, Georgia. One of thirteen children, Banks was the only one to attend college. After attending both the University of Georgia and the University of Pennsylvania, Banks received his medical M.D...
, a prominent 19th century physicianPhysicianA physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
in GainesvilleGainesville, Georgia-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. - Ty CobbTy CobbTyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
, a BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
Hall of Famer, was born in Banks County in 1886 in an area of the county knows as The Narrows - a small farming community consisting of fewer than 100 people. The area and birthplace are on State Highway 105 in the northern part of the county near the Broad River. - The legal organ for the county is The Banks County News, a member of Mainstreet News, Inc.
- One of the county's oldest church sites is the Hebron Presbyterian ChurchHebron Church, Cemetery, and AcademyHebron Church, Cemetery, and Academy was founded in 1796 in what is now Banks County, Georgia. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Hebron Church, Cemetery and Academy. Hebron was formed by Scotch-Irish settlers and Revolutionary veterans who received land grants from the...
, established in 1796. - Banks County is the home of the Atlanta Dragway, located near Banks Crossing.
- Also known for being the home of the former World's largest Easter Egg Hunt. (The 50th annual egg hunt in 2009 was the finale.)
Law and government
As of January 1, 2010, the county's government will consist of a five-member county commission, with one being the Chairman of the Commission.- Milton Dalton is the Commission Chairman.
- Rickey Cain, Ernest Rogers, Charles Turk, and Joe Barefoot are the other commissioners representing Districts 1-4.
- The Sheriff is Charles Chapman
- The Coroner is Bobby Eubanks
- The Probate Judge is Betty Thomas
- The Clerk of Court is Timothy Harper
- The Magistrate Judge is Ivan Mote.
- The Fire Chief is Jeff Taylor
Geography
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 233.87 square miles (605.7 km²), of which 233.67 square miles (605.2 km²) (or 99.91%) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) (or 0.09%) is water.Major highways
-
Interstate 85Interstate 85Interstate 85 is a major interstate highway in the Southeastern United States. Its current southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with Interstate 95 in Petersburg, Virginia, near Richmond... -
U.S. Route 441U.S. Route 441U.S. Route 441 is a spur route of U.S. Route 41. It currently runs for 939 miles from U.S. Route 41 in Miami, Florida to U.S. Route 25W in Lake City, Tennessee. Between its termini, US 441 passes through the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee... -
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
Adjacent counties
- Habersham CountyHabersham County, GeorgiaHabersham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818, and named for Colonel Joseph Habersham. As of 2000, the population was 35,902. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 42,272. Clarkesville is the county seat.Chartered in 1823, the...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
- North - Stephens CountyStephens County, GeorgiaStephens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 26,175. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 25,268. The county seat is Toccoa.-History:...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
- Northeast - Madison CountyMadison County, GeorgiaMadison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 5, 1811. As of 2000, the population was 25,730. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 28,012. The county seat is Danielsville....
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
- Southeast - Jackson CountyJackson County, GeorgiaJackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population in 2000 was 41,589. Explosive growth is evident with a population of 63,544 in the 2009 Census estimates. The county seat is Jefferson.-History:...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
- South - Hall CountyHall County, GeorgiaHall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. In 2000, the population was 139,277. It is included in the Gainesville, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
- West - Franklin CountyFranklin County, GeorgiaFranklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It became Georgia's ninth county, incorporating on February 25, 1784, and was named in honor of patriot Benjamin Franklin...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
- East
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 14,422 people, 5,364 households, and 4,162 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 62 people per square mile (24/km²). There were 5,808 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.16% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.22% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.30% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.60% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.06% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.96% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.71% from two or more races. 3.42% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 5,364 households out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.40% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.40% were non-families. 19.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,523, and the median income for a family was $43,136. Males had a median income of $29,986 versus $21,698 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $17,424. About 9.80% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- AltoAlto, GeorgiaAlto is a town in Banks and Habersham Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 876 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Alto is located at ....
- BaldwinBaldwin, GeorgiaBaldwin is a city in Banks and Habersham Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 2,425 at the 2000 census.Baldwin is located on U.S. Route 441 just south of Georgia State Route 365...
- GillsvilleGillsville, GeorgiaGillsville is a city in Banks and Hall Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 195 at the 2000 census.The Hall County portion of Gillsville is part of the Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- HomerHomer, GeorgiaHomer is a town in Banks County, Georgia, United States. The population was 950 at the 2000 census. The city of Homer has a mayor, Doug Cheek, and five City Councilpersons, Sandra Garrison, Jerry Payne, Chris Tucker, Keven Cape. and Betty Boarders...
- LulaLula, GeorgiaLula is a city in Banks and Hall Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 1,438 at the 2000 census. The Hall County portion of Lula is part of the Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Lula is home of RailRoad Days, a yearly festival usually every May. Major roads near...
- MaysvilleMaysville, GeorgiaMaysville is a town in Banks and Jackson Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 1,663 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Maysville is located at ....