Atkinson County, Georgia

Atkinson County is a county located in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 8,286. The county seat is Pearson. The county was formed in 1917 from parts of Coffee and Clinch counties. It is named for William Yates Atkinson, Democratic governor of Georgia from 1894 to 1898. In 2003, it had the highest illiteracy rate of any U.S. county at 36%.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 345 sqmi, of which 339 sqmi is land and 5.2 sqmi (1.5%) is water. Atkinson County forms a part of Southeast Georgia.

The vast majority of Atkinson County is located in the Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys-Satilla River basin. The entire narrow western border area, in a line parallel to the western border and running through Willacoochee, is located in the Alapaha River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. A small southeastern corner of the county is located in the Upper Suwannee River sub-basin of the same Suwannee River basin.

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 82.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 82
 * [[Image:US 221.svg|23px]] U.S. Route 221
 * [[Image:US 441.svg|23px]] U.S. Route 441
 * [[Image:Georgia 31.svg|20px]] State Route 31
 * [[Image:Georgia 64.svg|20px]] State Route 64
 * [[Image:Georgia 89.svg|20px]] State Route 89
 * [[Image:Georgia 90.svg|20px]] State Route 90
 * [[Image:Georgia 135.svg|20px]] State Route 135
 * [[Image:Georgia 520.svg|20px]] State Route 520

Adjacent counties

 * Coffee County - north
 * Ware County - east
 * Clinch County - south
 * Lanier County - southwest
 * Berrien County - west

Cities

 * Pearson
 * Willacoochee

Unincorporated communities

 * Kirkland
 * Axson

Demographics
Since the county's 1920 population of 7,656 residents, its population has fluctuated between more than 7,000 to a low of 6,213 in 1990; the lowest population for the county was 5,879 in 1970. By the 2020 United States census, its population increased to 8,286, although in 2010 its population reached a historic high of 8,375. In 2010, there were 3,522 housing units at an average density of 10.4 /sqmi.

According to the 2010 U.S. census, the racial makeup of the county was 62.2% white, 17.3% black or African American, 0.6% American Indian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.3% Asian, 17.7% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Altogether, those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 24.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 16.1% were English, 16.0% were Irish, and 7.5% were American. Although its racial and ethnic makeup has been predominantly non-Hispanic white up to the 2010 census, in 2020 its non-Hispanic white population declined to 57.94%, and its African American population also declined to 14.58%. The Hispanic or Latino American population grew to 24.72% of the county-area population, reflecting nationwide trends of greater diversification.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $26,470, and the median income for a family was $32,688. Males had a median income of $24,763 versus $18,434 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,178. By 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $33,834 and the median income for a family was $34,859. Males had a median income of $29,286 versus $25,705 for females. In 2020, the county's median household income was an estimated $35,703 per the American Community Survey. Families had a median income of $46,086; married-couple families $50,475; and nonfamily households $23,306. Among its 2022 population estimates, 27.5% of the county lived at or below the poverty line.

As of 2022's American Community Survey, Atkinson County's 3,063 households had an average of 2.7 people per household. Approximately 66% were married couples, 6% male households and 17% female households. These households were spread throughout 3,494 housing units, and 67% were owner-occupied. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $77,100 with 62% of its properties valued at under $100,000.

As part of the Bible Belt, the majority of the county's religious or spiritual population professed Christianity. Among the Christian population in 2020, the Association of Religion Data Archives determined the largest single Christian denomination for Atkinson County was the Southern Baptist Convention, followed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church and United Methodist Church. As a whole tradition, Pentecostalism encompassed the following, with Catholicism remaining a minority.

Education
Atkinson County is serviced along with Coffee County by the Satilla Regional Library System.

Politics
Historically, Atkinson County has primarily voted for Democratic Party candidates in U.S. presidential elections up to 1960. Since then, the county has remained reliably Republican.