Ware County, Georgia

Ware County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,251. The county seat and only incorporated place is Waycross. Ware County is part of the Waycross, Georgia micropolitan statistical area.

History
Ware County, Georgia's 60th county, was created on December 15, 1824, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly from land that was originally part of Appling County.

The county is named for Nicholas Ware, the mayor of Augusta, Georgia from (1819–1821) and United States Senator who represented Georgia from 1821 until his death in 1824.

Several counties were later created from parts of the original Ware County borders:
 * Bacon County (from portions of Appling, Pierce, and Ware counties in 1917)
 * Charlton County (from portions of Camden and Ware county in 1854)
 * Clinch County (from portions of Lowndes and Ware counties in 1850)
 * Coffee County (from portions of Clinch, Irwin, Telfair, and Ware counties in 1854)
 * Pierce County (from portions of Appling and Ware counties in 1857)

Ware County was home to Laura S. Walker (1861-1955) a noted author and conservationist. Walker promoted a comprehensive program of forestry activity, including the establishment of forest parks. She erected markers and monuments along old trails and at historic sites, in Waycross and Ware County so that local history would not be forgotten. Walker wrote three books about the land and history of her home. They are: History of Ware County, Georgia About "Old Okefenåok" and Doctors of Primitive Times and Horse and Buggy Days of Ware County.

An effort to recognize her work culminated in President Franklin D. Roosevelt issuing a proclamation to establish the Laura S. Walker National Park, located in Ware County, in her honor. She was the only living person for whom a state or national park was named. In 1937, the federal government purchased distressed farmland for the park. Work on the park was undertaken by the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1941, the national park was deeded over to Georgia, becoming the State's 13th state park.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 908 sqmi, of which 892 sqmi is land and 16 sqmi (1.7%) is water. It is the largest county in Georgia by area. A large portion of the county lies within the Okefenokee Swamp and its federally protected areas.

More than half of Ware County, made up by the western half of the southern portion of the county, the land bridge to the northern portion of the county, and the southern and western portion of the northern section of the county, is located in the Upper Suwannee River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. The eastern half of the southern portion of Ware County is located in the St. Marys River sub-basin of the St. Marys-Satilla River basin. The rest of the county, from just southeast to north and west of Waycross, is located in the Satilla River sub-basin of the same St. Marys-Satilla River basin.

Major highways
U.S. Route 1 Business U.S. Route 23 Business
 * US 1.svg U.S. Route 1
 * Business plate.svg
 * US 23.svg U.S. Route 23
 * Business plate.svg
 * US 82.svg U.S. Route 82
 * US 84.svg U.S. Route 84
 * Georgia 4.svg State Route 4
 * Georgia 4 Business.svg State Route 4 Business
 * Georgia 38.svg State Route 38
 * Georgia 122.svg State Route 122
 * Georgia 158.svg State Route 158
 * Georgia 177.svg State Route 177
 * Georgia 520.svg State Route 520

Adjacent counties

 * Bacon County - north
 * Pierce County - east
 * Brantley County - east
 * Charlton County - southeast
 * Baker County, Florida - south
 * Clinch County - west
 * Atkinson County - west
 * Coffee County - northwest

National protected area

 * Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (part)

City

 * Waycross

Census-designated places

 * Deenwood
 * Sunnyside
 * Waresboro
 * Millwood
 * Manor
 * Dixie Union

Unincorporated communities

 * Bickley
 * Ruskin
 * Jamestown
 * Telmore

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 36,251 people, 13,823 households, and 8,909 families residing in the county.

High schools

 * Ware County High School, Waycross

Middle schools

 * Ware County Middle School, Waycross
 * Waycross Middle School, Waycross

Elementary schools

 * Wacona Elementary School, Waycross
 * Center Elementary School, Waycross
 * Williams Heights Elementary School, Waycross
 * Memorial Drive Elementary School, Waycross
 * Ruskin Elementary School, Waycross
 * Waresboro Elementary School, Waycross

Preschools

 * DAFFODIL Preschool, Waycross

Private schools

 * Southside Christian School

Higher education

 * South Georgia State College, Waycross
 * Coastal Pines Technical College, Waycross