Laurens County, Georgia

Laurens County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 49,570, up from 48,434 in 2010. The county seat is Dublin. The county was founded on December 10, 1807, and named after Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War.

Laurens County is part of the Dublin micropolitan statistical area.

History
Laurens County was formed on December 10, 1807, from portions of Wilkinson and Washington Counties. During the Red Summer of 1919 there was increased racial tension in the area and in August there was the Laurens County, Georgia race riot of 1919.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 818 sqmi, of which 807 sqmi is land and 11 sqmi (1.4%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Georgia by land area and fourth-largest by total area.

The majority of Laurens County is located in the Lower Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The southwestern corner of the county, defined by a line that runs west from Chester through Rentz to U.S. Route 441, and then southeast toward Glenwood, is located in the Little Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin. A small and narrow sliver of the eastern edge of the county, from east of Lovett to northeast of Rockledge, is located in the Ohoopee River sub-basin of the larger Altamaha River basin. The county has several swamps along with Oconee river including Cow Hell Swamp.

Major highways
U.S. Route 441 Bypass (around Dublin)
 * I-16.svg Interstate 16
 * US 80.svg U.S. Route 80
 * US 319.svg U.S. Route 319
 * US 441.svg U.S. Route 441
 * By-pass plate.svg
 * Georgia 19.svg State Route 19
 * Georgia 26.svg State Route 26
 * Georgia 29.svg State Route 29
 * Georgia 31.svg State Route 31
 * Georgia 46.svg State Route 46
 * Georgia 86.svg State Route 86
 * Georgia 117.svg State Route 117
 * Georgia 126.svg State Route 126
 * Georgia 199.svg State Route 199
 * Georgia 257.svg State Route 257
 * Georgia 278.svg State Route 278
 * Georgia 338.svg State Route 338
 * Georgia 404.svg State Route 404 (unsigned designation for I-16)

Adjacent counties

 * Johnson County – northeast
 * Emanuel County – northeast
 * Treutlen County – east
 * Wheeler County – south
 * Dodge County – southwest
 * Bleckley County – west
 * Wilkinson County – northwest
 * Twiggs County – northwest

Cities

 * Allentown
 * Dublin
 * Dudley
 * East Dublin

Towns

 * Cadwell
 * Dexter
 * Montrose
 * Rentz

Unincorporated communities

 * Alcorns
 * Alligood
 * Baston
 * Brewton
 * Catlin
 * Cedar Grove
 * Chappells Mill
 * Condor
 * Five Points
 * Five Points
 * Garretta
 * Harlow
 * Haskins Crossing
 * Holly Hills
 * Kewanee
 * Laurens Hill
 * Lollie
 * Lovett
 * Lowery
 * Midway
 * Minter
 * Moores
 * Nameless
 * Old Condor
 * Rockledge
 * Shewmake
 * Spring Hill
 * Tuckers Crossroad
 * Tweed
 * Vincent
 * Whipples Crossing

Ghost Towns

 * Bender

2020 Census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 49,570 people, 17,142 households, and 11,549 families residing in the county.

Education
Laurens County School District operates the county's public schools.

Notable people

 * Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, founder of the first woman's secret society established at a girls' college was born here.
 * Karl Slover, one of the oldest living Munchkins from Wizard of Oz (1939 film).
 * Demaryius Thomas, wide receiver for the Denver Broncos
 * Anthony Johnson, mixed martial artist for the Ultimate Fighting Championship(UFC)