Bryan County, Georgia
Bryan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,738.[1] The county seat is Pembroke.[2]
Bryan County is part of the Savannah, Georgia metropolitan statistical area.
The Bryan County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
History
[edit | edit source]Bryan County was created on December 19, 1793, named after Jonathan Bryan (1708–1788), an American Revolutionary War partisan.[3]
South Bryan County is home to the earthen Civil War installation Fort McAllister (now Fort McAllister Historic Park) which Gen. William Sherman captured on his March to the Sea.
The colonial town of Hardwick, laid out in 1755, served as the initial county seat. In 1797, the Georgia General Assembly moved the county seat to Cross Roads near modern Richmond Hil. On November 18, 1814, the county seat was moved to Mansford on the Canoochee River.[4] In 1860, the seat was known as Eden. By the 1880s the county seat was known as Bryan. By 1895 it was in Clyde, which may have been the same location formerly known as Eden and Mansford. Clyde served as the seat to 1935; in 1937 Pembroke took on that role. The only remaining sign of Clyde is a cemetery on the Fort Stewart U.S. Army installation.
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 454 square miles (1,180 km2), of which 436 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (4.1%) is water.[5]
A triangular area in the northeast of Bryan County, from northwest of Pembroke to north of Richmond Hill, is located in the Lower Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin, as is the northern half of the remaining area in the county south of Richmond Hill. The northwestern portion of the county, from east of Daisy to Richmond Hill, is located in the Canoochee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin. The rest of Bryan County is located in the Ogeechee Coastal sub-basin of the same Ogeechee River basin.[6] The Ogeechee River forms the northeastern border of the country, while the Jerico River forms the southeast border.
Bryan County is unique in that it is totally divided by the military installation at Ft. Stewart. Pembroke is in more rural north Bryan, while Richmond Hill in south Bryan County is a suburb of Savannah. To travel between the two on public roads, it is necessary to leave the county.
Major highways
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Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Effingham County, Georgia - north
- Chatham County, Georgia - northeast
- Liberty County, Georgia - south/southwest
- Evans County, Georgia - west
- Bulloch County, Georgia - northwest
Communities
[edit | edit source]Cities
[edit | edit source]- Pembroke (County Seat)
- Richmond Hill (Biggest City)
Census-designated place
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Demographics
[edit | edit source]Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[7] | Pop 1990[8] | Pop 2000[9] | Pop 2010[10] | Pop 2020[11] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 7,902 | 12,932 | 19,138 | 23,446 | 31,321 | 77.66% | 83.77% | 81.73% | 77.55% | 70.01% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,159 | 2,289 | 3,272 | 4,210 | 6,330 | 21.22% | 14.83% | 13.97% | 13.93% | 14.15% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 19 | 22 | 69 | 81 | 102 | 0.19% | 0.14% | 0.29% | 0.27% | 0.23% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 10 | 58 | 174 | 473 | 1,032 | 0.10% | 0.38% | 0.74% | 1.56% | 2.31% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [12] | x [13] | 16 | 22 | 53 | x | x | 0.07% | 0.07% | 0.12% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 22 | 62 | 184 | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.09% | 0.21% | 0.41% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [14] | x [15] | 261 | 603 | 2,447 | x | x | 1.11% | 1.99% | 5.47% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 85 | 136 | 465 | 1,336 | 3,269 | 0.84% | 0.88% | 1.99% | 4.42% | 7.31% |
| Total | 10,175 | 15,438 | 23,417 | 30,233 | 44,738 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 44,738, 15,445 households, and 10,140 families residing in the county. Of the residents, 28.9% were under the age of 18 and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 35.5 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.3 males. 53.2% of residents lived in urban areas and 46.8% lived in rural areas.[16][17][18]
The racial makeup of the county was 72.0% White, 14.5% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.2% from some other race, and 8.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.3% of the population.[18]
Of the 15,445 households in the county, 44.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[17]
There were 16,703 housing units, of which 7.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.9% were owner-occupied and 27.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%.[17]
Economy
[edit | edit source]Bryan County is the location of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), a large production site for electric vehicles (EV), which became operational in 2024. It is by far the largest employer of the county.[19]
Education
[edit | edit source]Bryan County School District is the designated school district for grades K-12 for the county, except parts in Fort Stewart. Fort Stewart has the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) as its local school district,[20] for the elementary level.[21] Students at the secondary level on Fort Stewart attend public schools operated by county school districts.[22]
Politics
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020s, Bryan County is a Republican stronghold, voting 68% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Bryan County is part of Georgia's 1st congressional district, currently represented by Buddy Carter. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Bryan County is part of district 1.[23] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Bryan County is divided between districts 160 and 164.[24]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 114 | 17.98% | 400 | 63.09% | 120 | 18.93% |
| 1916 | 17 | 5.30% | 295 | 91.90% | 9 | 2.80% |
| 1920 | 21 | 10.71% | 175 | 89.29% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 9 | 4.33% | 196 | 94.23% | 3 | 1.44% |
| 1928 | 151 | 40.81% | 219 | 59.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 17 | 4.56% | 353 | 94.64% | 3 | 0.80% |
| 1936 | 63 | 9.01% | 632 | 90.41% | 4 | 0.57% |
| 1940 | 49 | 5.30% | 874 | 94.49% | 2 | 0.22% |
| 1944 | 90 | 11.57% | 688 | 88.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 135 | 7.67% | 1,147 | 65.21% | 477 | 27.12% |
| 1952 | 331 | 25.42% | 971 | 74.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 331 | 21.04% | 1,242 | 78.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 428 | 24.44% | 1,323 | 75.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,433 | 62.58% | 857 | 37.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| "text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/American Independent |1968 | 381 | 16.08% | 560 | 23.64% | 1,428 | 60.28% |
| 1972 | 1,409 | 84.27% | 263 | 15.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 761 | 27.12% | 2,045 | 72.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 1,212 | 37.47% | 1,966 | 60.77% | 57 | 1.76% |
| 1984 | 2,265 | 61.83% | 1,398 | 38.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 2,802 | 66.16% | 1,423 | 33.60% | 10 | 0.24% |
| 1992 | 2,789 | 47.05% | 2,031 | 34.26% | 1,108 | 18.69% |
| 1996 | 3,577 | 57.06% | 2,152 | 34.33% | 540 | 8.61% |
| 2000 | 4,835 | 68.49% | 2,172 | 30.77% | 52 | 0.74% |
| 2004 | 7,363 | 73.67% | 2,590 | 25.92% | 41 | 0.41% |
| 2008 | 9,112 | 70.82% | 3,636 | 28.26% | 119 | 0.92% |
| 2012 | 9,560 | 70.94% | 3,707 | 27.51% | 209 | 1.55% |
| 2016 | 10,529 | 68.95% | 4,014 | 26.29% | 728 | 4.77% |
| 2020 | 14,240 | 66.70% | 6,738 | 31.56% | 371 | 1.74% |
| 2024 | 16,738 | 67.87% | 7,779 | 31.54% | 146 | 0.59% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
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Notable people
[edit | edit source]- Gregg Allman, musician, Allman Brothers Band
- Mattie Belle Davis, first woman judge of Metropolitan Court of Dade County, Florida
- Justin Smiley, pro football player, All-American at University of Alabama
- John Smoltz, MLB pitcher, owned a summer home here while playing for the Atlanta Braves
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Bryan County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 27. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2003.
- ↑ Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia; Passed in October and November, 1814. 1. pp. 46–47.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ↑ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
- ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Georgia - Table 58 - Race by Sex: 1980 and Table 59 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 12-52. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 15-65. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 1, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bryan County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bryan County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bryan County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ Bynum, Russ (October 7, 2024). "Hyundai has begun producing electric SUVs at its $7.6 billion plant in Georgia". Associated Press News. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Bryan County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022. - text list - "Fort Stewart School District" refers to the DoDEA schools.
- ↑ "Fort Stewart Schools". Department of Defense Education Activity. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ↑ "Fort Stewart Education". Military One Source. Retrieved July 5, 2022. - This is from a .mil website.
- ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
External links
[edit | edit source]- Coastal Georgia as seen from the water
- Early Bryan County History
- Official Bryan County Website
- Bryan County Board of Education
- Ft. McAllister State Park
- Bryan County historical marker
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