Berrien County, Georgia

Berrien County, Georgia
Berrien County courthouse in Nashville
Location in the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1856
Named for	John M. Berrien
Seat	Nashville
Largest city	Nashville
Area
• Total	458 sq mi (1,186 km2)
• Land	452 sq mi (1,171 km2)
• Water	6.0 sq mi (16 km2), 1.3%
Population
• (2010)	19,286
• Density	43/sq mi (17/km²)
Congressional district	8th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.berriencountygeorgia.com

Berrien County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 19,286.^[1] The county seat is Nashville.^[2] The county was created February 25, 1856 out of portions of Coffee, Irwin and Lowndes Counties by an act of the Georgia General Assembly. It is named after Georgia senator John M. Berrien.

History

World War I

Berrien County lost a disproportionate number of men in World War I in part because companies at that time were organized by militia districts at home. Eight weeks before the Armistice, 25 Berrien County men were among the 200 recently enlisted soldiers who perished at sea off the coast of Scotland.^[3] Many of the bodies were returned to the soldiers' hometowns for burial, and the names of the dead were engraved on a memorial located on the courthouse grounds in Nashville. The memorial was the first in a series of pressed copper sculptures by artist E. M. Viquesney entitled The Spirit of the American Doughboy.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 458 square miles (1,190 km²), of which 452 square miles (1,170 km²) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km²) (1.3%) is water.^[4]

The western portion of Berrien County, from just north of U.S. Route 82 and roughly west of U.S. Route 129 heading south, is located in the Withlacoochee River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. The eastern portion of the county is located in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the larger Suwannee River basin.^[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

• Irwin County - north
• Coffee County - northeast
• Atkinson County - east
• Lanier County - southeast
• Lowndes County - south
• Cook County - west
• Tift County - northwest

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census^[11] of 2000, there were 16,235 people, 6,261 households, and 4,539 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 7,100 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.48% White, 11.43% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.53% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 2.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,261 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were married couples living together, 11.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.20% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,044, and the median income for a family was $34,643. Males had a median income of $25,559 versus $19,790 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,375. About 14.60% of families and 17.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 13.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 19,286 people, 7,443 households, and 5,254 families residing in the county.^[12] The population density was 42.7 inhabitants per square mile (16.5/km²). There were 8,709 housing units at an average density of 19.3 per square mile (7.5/km²).^[13] The racial makeup of the county was 84.7% white, 10.7% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 2.6% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.6% of the population.^[12] In terms of ancestry, 28.8% were American, 14.4% were Irish, 8.2% were English, and 6.6% were German.^[14]

Of the 7,443 households, 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 38.0 years.^[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $32,202 and the median income for a family was $40,869. Males had a median income of $30,847 versus $22,277 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,049. About 18.2% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.8% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.^[15]

Education

Berrien County is home to the Rebels and Rebelettes. The High School band is known as the Rebel Regiment.

The BHS Football Team has a website as well BHS Rebel Football

Berrien County Historical Marker in front of the county courthouse

The Career, Technical and Agricultural Education Department has a website for you to read about CTAE in Berrien County. www.berrienctae.org

Historical notes

Berrien Historical Foundation maintains Berrien Historical Photos website.

Communities

Cities

• Nashville
• Ray City

Towns

• Alapaha
• Enigma

Unincorporated communities

• Bannockburn
• Glory

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Berrien County, Georgia

References

External links

• Official website
• Berrien County historical marker

	Tift County	Irwin County	Coffee County
	Cook County		Atkinson County
		Berrien County, Georgia
		Lowndes County	Lanier County

Municipalities and communities of Berrien County, Georgia, United States
County seat: Nashville
Cities	Nashville Ray City
Towns	Alapaha Enigma
Unincorporated communities	Bannockburn Glory

State of Georgia
Atlanta (capital)
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Coordinates: 31°16′N 83°14′W / 31.27°N 83.23°W / 31.27; -83.23