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. The county seat is Blackshear. Pierce County is part of the Waycross, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area.
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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.
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.
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.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 84
State Route 15
State Route 32
State Route 38
State Route 121
State Route 203
Adjacent counties
Appling County - north
Wayne County - northeast
Brantley County - southeast
Ware County - west
Bacon County - northwest
Communities
Cities
Blackshear
Offerman
Patterson
Census-designated places
Bristol
Mershon
Unincorporated communities
Otter Creek
Walkerville
Demographics
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.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Pierce County is part of District 178.
Education
The Pierce County School District has five schools, including the Pierce County High School.