Burke County, Georgia is located in the east central region of the state. It is bordered by Jefferson, Screven, Jenkins, and Richmond counties. The population of Burke County was estimated to be 23,547 in 2019. The county seat is Waynesboro and the largest city is Augusta-Richmond County. The county has a total area of 516 square miles and a population density of 46 people per square mile. See top counties in Georgia.
The main industries in Burke County are manufacturing, retail trade, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, educational services, and professional scientific and technical services. Major employers include E-Z-Go Textron Inc., John Deere Augusta Manufacturing Plant, Savannah River Site (SRS), East Georgia Regional Medical Center and Burke County Public Schools. Agriculture is also an important industry with livestock being the top agricultural product followed by poultry and eggs. Other crops grown in the county include corn, cotton, soybeans and peanuts.
The median household income in Burke County is $45,638 with a poverty rate of 17%. Education attainment levels are higher than many other counties in Georgia with 89% having graduated high school or higher compared to the state average of 84%. The unemployment rate for Burke County was 4.9% as of December 2020 which was slightly lower than the state average of 5%.
History of Burke County, Georgia
Burke County, Georgia was formed in 1777 from a portion of St. George Parish, and was named for Edmund Burke, a prominent statesman from Ireland. The first county seat was Waynesborough which is now known as Waynesboro. During the American Revolution Burke County provided supplies to the Continental Army.
In 1801, Augusta-Richmond County was established as a separate county and took away some of Burke’s territory. It wasn’t until 1854 that Augusta-Richmond County returned to Burke County when it became part of it once again. In 1915, the city of Augusta became a unified government with Richmond County and is now known as Augusta-Richmond County.
The county experienced rapid growth in the late 19th century due to the railroad system that connected it to other parts of Georgia and South Carolina. Additionally, many textile mills were built in the area which helped fuel industrial growth in the region. Agriculture has also been an important aspect of Burke County’s economy since its formation with cotton being one of its main crops throughout history followed by corn, soybeans and peanuts.
Throughout its history, Burke County has been home to many notable figures such as civil rights activist W E B Du Bois who taught at Atlanta University and later founded the NAACP; educator Charles Lincoln Harper; author Lewis Grizzard; and musician Little Richard whose family moved to Macon when he was 10 years old but he spent much of his childhood in Burke County visiting family members there.
Major cities and towns in Burke County, Georgia
Burke County, Georgia is home to a number of small towns and cities. The county seat is Waynesboro, located at the intersection of US Highway 25 and Georgia State Route 24. It is the largest city in the county with a population of 6,938 as of 2020. Waynesboro was originally named Waynesborough after General Anthony Wayne in 1783 but was later changed to its current name in 1883.
Augusta-Richmond County is the second largest city within Burke County with a population of 197,872 as of 2020. It was formed in 1996 when Augusta and Richmond County merged into one unified government. The city is home to many historic sites such as Fort Gordon, Augusta National Golf Club, Riverwalk Augusta and the Morris Museum of Art which features works by some of the most famous artists from around the world.
Other cities and towns in Burke County include Girard, Midville, Sardis and Keysville. Girard is a small town located near US Highway 25 with a population of 602 as of 2020. Midville has a population of 576 and is situated at the junction between US Highway 25 and Georgia State Route 24 while Sardis has a population of 498 people according to 2020 census estimates. Finally, Keysville has a population estimated at 893 people according to 2020 census estimates making it one of the larger towns in Burke County.
Population in Burke County, Georgia
According to Iamaccepted, Burke County, Georgia is located in the east-central part of the state with a population of 23,573 as of the 2020 census. The county has seen a steady population increase over the past decade, growing by approximately 6.6% since 2010. The largest city in Burke County is Waynesboro which has a population of 6,938 as of 2020. This is followed by Augusta-Richmond County which has a population of 197,872 people according to 2020 census estimates making it the second largest city in Burke County.
The racial makeup of Burke County is 79.4% White, 16.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian and 3.6% from two or more races according to 2020 census estimates. Additionally, Hispanics and Latinos make up 4.1% of the county’s total population while non-Hispanic Whites make up 75%. The median age in Burke County is 38 years old with 24.3% of residents under 18 years old and 12% over 65 years old according to 2020 census estimates.
The median household income in Burke County is $41,521 and 15% of households live below the poverty line according to 2020 census estimates. Additionally, there are 990 veterans living in Burke County with 543 male veterans and 447 female veterans according to 2020 census estimates..
Burke County also has an unemployment rate estimated at 7%, which is higher than both the state and national averages but lower than some other nearby counties such as Jefferson (8%) and Warren (10%). Burke County appears to be doing well economically despite its higher unemployment rate when compared to other counties in Georgia.