Ben Hill County, Georgia

Ben Hill County

General Information
Name	Ben Hill County, Georgia
Native Name
Other Names
Settlement Type	County
Transliteration
Language 1
Type 1
Info 1
Location
Coordinates
Map
Population
Total	17,194
Density	per km²
Area
Total	km²
Land	km²
Water	km²
Government
Type
Leader
Time Zone
Standard	UTC-5
DST	UTC-4

Ben Hill County is a county located in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,194. The county seat is Fitzgerald.

History

Ben Hill County was created on November 6, 1906, from portions of Irwin and Wilcox counties. It was named after Benjamin Harvey Hill, a former Confederate and United States Senator. The county was established during a period of rapid growth and development in Georgia, as new counties were being formed to accommodate the increasing population and economic activity.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 254 square miles (660 km²), of which 250 square miles (650 km²) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km²) (1.6%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Irwin County (south)
• Coffee County (west)
• Jeff Davis County (northwest)
• Telfair County (north)
• Wilcox County (northeast)

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,194 people, 6,500 households, and 4,300 families residing in the county. The population density was 68.8 inhabitants per square mile (26.6/km²).

Economy

The economy of Ben Hill County is primarily based on agriculture, manufacturing, and retail trade. The county's agricultural sector includes the production of peanuts, cotton, and corn. Manufacturing in the county includes textiles and food processing.

Education

Ben Hill County is served by the Ben Hill County School District, which includes several elementary schools, a middle school, and Fitzgerald High School. The county is also home to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, which offers a variety of technical and vocational programs.

Transportation

Major highways in Ben Hill County include:

• U.S. Route 129
• U.S. Route 319
• Georgia State Route 11
• Georgia State Route 90

Communities

• Fitzgerald (county seat)
• Queensland
• Bowens Mill

Notable People

• Benjamin Harvey Hill - The county's namesake, a prominent politician and lawyer who served as a Confederate and United States Senator.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Ben Hill County, Georgia

External links

• Ben Hill County official website