Pierce County, Georgia

Pierce County, Georgia
County
Pierce County Courthouse in Blackshear
Pierce County Courthouse in Blackshear
Map of Georgia highlighting Pierce County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°22′N 82°13′W / 31.36°N 82.22°W / 31.36; -82.22
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 18, 1857 (1857)
Named afterFranklin Pierce
SeatBlackshear
Largest cityBlackshear
Area
 • Total
343 sq mi (890 km2)
 • Land316 sq mi (820 km2)
 • Water27 sq mi (70 km2)  7.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
19,716
 • Estimate 
(2025)
20,764 Increase
 • Density62.4/sq mi (24.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitepiercecountyga.gov

Pierce County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,716.[1] The county seat is Blackshear.[2] Pierce County is part of the Waycross, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Pierce County is named for Franklin Pierce, fourteenth president of the United States. It was created December 18, 1857, from Appling and Ware counties.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 343 square miles (890 km2), of which 316 square miles (820 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (7.8%) is water.[4]

The northeastern third of Pierce County, bordered by a line from just west of Mershon to just south of Bristol, then south to just north of Blackshear, and then heading due east, is located in the Little Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys River-Satilla River basin. The southern two-thirds of the county is located in the Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys-Satilla River basin.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

  • Bristol
  • Mershon

Unincorporated communities

  • Otter Creek
  • Walkerville

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,973—
18702,77840.8%
18804,53863.4%
18906,37940.6%
19008,10027.0%
191010,74932.7%
192011,93411.0%
193012,5224.9%
194011,800−5.8%
195011,112−5.8%
19609,678−12.9%
19709,281−4.1%
198011,89728.2%
199013,32812.0%
200015,63617.3%
201018,75820.0%
202019,7165.1%
2025 (est.)20,764[6] Increase5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1880[8] 1890-1910[9]
1920-1930[10] 1930-1940[11]
1940-1950[12] 1960-1980[13]
1980-2000[14] 2010[15]

Racial and ethnic composition

Pierce County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[16] Pop 1990[17] Pop 2000[18] Pop 2010[19] Pop 2020[20] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 10,133 11,628 13,425 15,860 16,403 85.17% 87.24% 85.86% 84.55% 83.20%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,618 1,566 1,691 1,646 1,597 13.60% 11.75% 10.81% 8.77% 8.10%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 8 20 34 70 41 0.07% 0.15% 0.22% 0.37% 0.21%
Asian alone (NH) 9 10 25 58 82 0.08% 0.08% 0.16% 0.31% 0.42%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [21] x [22] 8 12 0 x x 0.05% 0.06% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 1 0 5 10 45 0.01% 0.00% 0.03% 0.05% 0.23%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [23] x [24] 91 215 550 x x 0.58% 1.15% 2.79%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 128 104 357 887 998 1.08% 0.78% 2.28% 4.73% 5.06%
Total 11,897 13,328 15,636 18,758 19,716 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 19,716, 7,506 households, and 5,319 families residing in the county.[25][26]

The median age was 40.5 years, 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 18.0% were 65 years of age or older; for every 100 females there were 96.3 males and 93.5 males age 18 and over. 1.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 98.7% lived in rural areas.[27]

The racial makeup of the county was 84.5% White, 8.1% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.8% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.1% of the population.[25]

Of those households, 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present; about 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[26]

There were 8,360 housing units, of which 10.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.6% were owner-occupied and 24.4% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%.[26]

Media

  • The Blackshear Times (weekly newspaper)
  • The Pierce County Press (weekly newspaper)
  • Waycross Journal-Herald (daily newspaper)
  • WKUB 105.1FM (Country radio)
  • WWUF 97.7FM (Oldies radio)
  • WSFN AM 1350 (Sports radio)
  • WAYX AM 1230 (News Talk radio)

Politics

As of the 2020s, Pierce County is a Republican stronghold, voting 88.41% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Pierce County is part of Georgia's 1st congressional district, currently represented by Buddy Carter. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Pierce County is part of District 8.[28] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Pierce County is part of District 178.[29]

United States presidential election results for Pierce County, Georgia[30]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 63 10.96% 408 70.96% 104 18.09%
1916 85 14.19% 489 81.64% 25 4.17%
1920 122 23.06% 407 76.94% 0 0.00%
1924 83 16.57% 397 79.24% 21 4.19%
1928 285 35.27% 523 64.73% 0 0.00%
1932 29 2.57% 1,094 96.90% 6 0.53%
1936 45 2.91% 1,494 96.45% 10 0.65%
1940 84 8.16% 943 91.55% 3 0.29%
1944 165 13.37% 1,069 86.63% 0 0.00%
1948 108 7.13% 908 59.97% 498 32.89%
1952 592 23.73% 1,903 76.27% 0 0.00%
1956 298 14.44% 1,766 85.56% 0 0.00%
1960 544 27.30% 1,449 72.70% 0 0.00%
1964 1,981 66.86% 982 33.14% 0 0.00%
1968 579 17.93% 507 15.70% 2,144 66.38%
1972 1,982 88.05% 269 11.95% 0 0.00%
1976 544 17.15% 2,628 82.85% 0 0.00%
1980 1,027 34.41% 1,918 64.25% 40 1.34%
1984 1,978 56.86% 1,501 43.14% 0 0.00%
1988 1,947 55.49% 1,558 44.40% 4 0.11%
1992 1,899 42.46% 1,852 41.41% 721 16.12%
1996 2,319 56.73% 1,420 34.74% 349 8.54%
2000 3,348 71.52% 1,300 27.77% 33 0.70%
2004 4,680 78.99% 1,234 20.83% 11 0.19%
2008 5,500 80.92% 1,253 18.43% 44 0.65%
2012 5,667 82.67% 1,124 16.40% 64 0.93%
2016 6,302 86.20% 903 12.35% 106 1.45%
2020 7,898 87.29% 1,100 12.16% 50 0.55%
2024 8,655 88.41% 1,089 11.12% 46 0.47%
United States Senate election results for Pierce County, Georgia2
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 7,810 87.35% 1,002 11.21% 129 1.44%
2020 6,972 87.94% 956 12.06% 0 0.00%
[31]
United States Senate election results for Pierce County, Georgia3
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,034 45.91% 478 5.44% 4,274 48.65%
2020 6,980 88.05% 947 11.95% 0 0.00%
2022 6,325 88.25% 779 10.87% 63 0.88%
2022 5,929 88.49% 771 11.51% 0 0.00%
Georgia Gubernatorial election results for Pierce County
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2022 6,462 90.04% 674 9.39% 41 0.57%

Education

The Pierce County School District has five schools, including the Pierce County High School.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Pierce County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 176. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  6. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  7. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
  8. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  9. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024.
  10. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  11. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  12. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  13. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  14. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  15. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  16. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Georgia - Table 58 - Race by Sex: 1980 and Table 59 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 12-52. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
  17. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 15-65. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 1, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  18. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Pierce County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pierce County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pierce County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  22. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  23. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  24. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  25. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  26. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  27. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  28. ^ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  29. ^ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  30. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  31. ^ "2022 Senate Election (Official Returns) l". Commonwealth of Georgia by county. November 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

31°22′N 82°13′W / 31.36°N 82.22°W / 31.36; -82.22

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