Discover

'Bleckley County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population is 11,666. The 2005 Census Estimate shows a population of 12,141 [1]. The county seat is Cochran⁶.

Contents

History

Government

Geography

Major Highways

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

Cities and towns

History

The county was named for Logan Edwin Bleckley, a soldier and judge on the Supreme Court of Georgia. This town is home to Middle Georgia College, the oldest two-year public college in the nation. The state constitutional amendment to create the county was proposed by the Georgia General Assembly on July 30, 1912, and ratified November 5, 1912.

Government

Bleckley County is one of 9 remaining counties in Georgia that operates under a sole commissioner form of government, with a single county commissioner acting as the county executive and legislative branches. The current Commissioner of Bleckley County is Michael A. Polsky, the Sheriff is Harold O. Lancaster, the Clerk of Superior Court is Dianne C. Brown, the Tax Commissioner is J. David Brown, and the Probate Judge is Hon. Kenneth Powell.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 568 km² (219 mi²). 563 km² (217 mi²) of it is land and 5 km² (2 mi²) of it (0.79%) is water.

Major Highways

★ Interstate 16

★ U.S. Route 23

★
U.S. Route 129 Alternate

★ State Route 26

★ State Route 87

★ State Route 112

★ State Route 126

★ State Route 257

★ State Route 278

Adjacent Counties

★ Wilkinson County, Georgia - north

★ Twiggs County, Georgia - north

★ Laurens County, Georgia - east

★ Dodge County, Georgia - southeast

★ Pulaski County, Georgia - southwest

★ Houston County, Georgia - west

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 11,666 people, 4,372 households, and 3,121 families residing in the county. The population density was 21/km² (54/mi²). There were 4,866 housing units at an average density of 9/km² (22/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.24% White, 24.59% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,372 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 15.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 11.30% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,448, and the median income for a family was $41,095. Males had a median income of $30,917 versus $22,912 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,934. About 11.70% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.10% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

★ Cochran