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Ben Hill County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,194.[1] The county seat is Fitzgerald.[2] The county was organized in 1906. It is named after Benjamin Harvey Hill, a former Confederate and United States Senator.[3]
Ben Hill County | |
|---|---|
 Ben Hill County Courthouse, Fitzgerald | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Georgia | |
 Georgia's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 31°46′N 83°13′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Named for | Benjamin Harvey Hill |
| Seat | Fitzgerald |
| Largest city | Fitzgerald |
| Area | |
• Total | 254 sq mi (660 km2) |
| • Land | 250 sq mi (600 km2) |
| • Water | 3.8 sq mi (10 km2) 1.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 17,194 |
| • Density | 69/sq mi (27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | benhillcounty-ga.gov |
Ben Hill County comprises the Fitzgerald micropolitan statistical area. The Ben Hill County Courthouse and Ben Hill County Jail are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Ben Hill County was organized in 1906.[4] It was created from Irwin and Wilcox counties.[5]
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 254 square miles (660 km2), of which 250 square miles (650 km2) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) (1.5%) is water.[6]
The majority of Ben Hill County, its northern and eastern portions, are located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The northwestern corner of the county, east of Rebecca, is located in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. The southeastern corner of the county, east of Fitzgerald, is located in the Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys-Satilla River basin.[7] Ben Hill County is part of the Southeast Georgia region.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Wilcox County - north
- Telfair County - northeast
- Coffee County - east
- Irwin County - south
- Turner County - west
Communities
City
- Fitzgerald (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 11,863 | — | |
| 1920 | 14,599 | 23.1% | |
| 1930 | 13,047 | −10.6% | |
| 1940 | 14,523 | 11.3% | |
| 1950 | 14,879 | 2.5% | |
| 1960 | 13,633 | −8.4% | |
| 1970 | 13,171 | −3.4% | |
| 1980 | 16,000 | 21.5% | |
| 1990 | 16,245 | 1.5% | |
| 2000 | 17,484 | 7.6% | |
| 2010 | 17,634 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 17,194 | −2.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 17,128 | [8] | −0.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1880[10]1890-1910[11] 1920-1930[12] 1930-1940[13] 1940-1950[14] 1960-1980[15] 1980-2000[16] 2010[17] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 9,219 | 53.62% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 6,222 | 36.19% |
| Native American | 57 | 0.33% |
| Asian | 116 | 0.67% |
| Other/Mixed | 526 | 3.06% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,054 | 6.13% |
In 2000, there were 17,484 people, 6,673 households, and 4,631 families living in the county.[19] The population density was 69 inhabitants per square mile (27/km2). There were 7,623 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km2). In 2010, there were 17,634 people, 6,794 households, and 4,730 families living in the county.[20] By the 2020 United States census, there were 17,194 people, 6,443 households, and 4,019 families residing in the county.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $27,100, and the median income for a family was $33,023. Males had a median income of $26,750 versus $19,547 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,093. 22.30% of the population and 18.70% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 33.30% are under the age of 18 and 17.60% are 65 or older. In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $30,134 and the median income for a family was $35,868. Males had a median income of $32,613 versus $23,320 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,529. About 22.7% of families and 26.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.[21] According to the 2022 American Community Survey, the county's median household income was $38,255 with a per capita income of $22,625. An estimated 26.5% of the county lived at or below the poverty line.[22]
Religiously, the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020 denoted Christianity as the predominant religion, being part of the Bible Belt.[23] Among its Christian population, the majority formed the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Baptist tradition was the county's dominant Christian affiliation. The National Baptist Convention, USA was the second-largest Baptist denomination in Ben Hill County. One notable non-Christian religion for the county has been the Baha'i Faith.
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The Ben Hill County School District operates schools serving the county.
- Ben Hill Preschool
- Ben Hill County Primary School
- Ben Hill County Elementary School
- Ben Hill County Middle School
- Fitzgerald High School
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| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 4,281 | 65.85% | 2,199 | 33.83% | 21 | 0.32% |
| 2020 | 4,111 | 62.63% | 2,393 | 36.46% | 60 | 0.91% |
| 2016 | 3,739 | 62.99% | 2,101 | 35.39% | 96 | 1.62% |
| 2012 | 3,396 | 56.88% | 2,512 | 42.08% | 62 | 1.04% |
| 2008 | 3,417 | 56.46% | 2,590 | 42.80% | 45 | 0.74% |
| 2004 | 3,331 | 60.07% | 2,180 | 39.31% | 34 | 0.61% |
| 2000 | 2,381 | 51.08% | 2,234 | 47.93% | 46 | 0.99% |
| 1996 | 1,516 | 37.08% | 2,198 | 53.77% | 374 | 9.15% |
| 1992 | 1,476 | 33.06% | 2,348 | 52.60% | 640 | 14.34% |
| 1988 | 2,005 | 51.17% | 1,867 | 47.65% | 46 | 1.17% |
| 1984 | 2,313 | 55.44% | 1,859 | 44.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 1,459 | 35.87% | 2,544 | 62.55% | 64 | 1.57% |
| 1976 | 814 | 24.95% | 2,449 | 75.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1972 | 2,104 | 74.96% | 703 | 25.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 661 | 19.61% | 877 | 26.02% | 1,833 | 54.38% |
| 1964 | 2,089 | 57.82% | 1,523 | 42.15% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1960 | 558 | 22.88% | 1,881 | 77.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 554 | 20.49% | 2,150 | 79.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 697 | 25.39% | 2,048 | 74.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 223 | 11.76% | 1,438 | 75.84% | 235 | 12.39% |
| 1944 | 190 | 15.36% | 1,046 | 84.56% | 1 | 0.08% |
| 1940 | 181 | 13.00% | 1,206 | 86.64% | 5 | 0.36% |
| 1936 | 146 | 11.28% | 1,147 | 88.64% | 1 | 0.08% |
| 1932 | 85 | 7.62% | 1,026 | 91.94% | 5 | 0.45% |
| 1928 | 460 | 31.38% | 1,006 | 68.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 150 | 17.71% | 507 | 59.86% | 190 | 22.43% |
| 1920 | 232 | 29.94% | 543 | 70.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 134 | 17.43% | 627 | 81.53% | 8 | 1.04% |
| 1912 | 263 | 31.61% | 535 | 64.30% | 34 | 4.09% |
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- Fitzgerald Municipal Airport is a public use airport located 2 miles southwest of Fitzgerald.
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