Evans County, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Evans County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state
of Georgia
in an area known as the Magnolia Midlands within the Historic South
region. A bill creating the county was passed in the Georgia General Assembly
on August 11, 1914, and later, on November 3, 1914, an amendment was ratified by a vote of the people which formally created the county. The current Evans County Courthouse
was created in 1923 and, in 1940, the people of Evans County elected their first female sheriff. Later, in the 1950s and 1960s, new growth came to the county with the building of Evans Memorial Hospital and the Claxton-Evans County Airport. In 2000, the population was 10,495; however, the 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 11,505. The county seat
is Claxton
.
Evans County is bordered on the northwest by Candler County; on the northeast by Bulloch County; on the east by Bryan County
; on the southeast by Liberty County
and on the southwest by Tattnall County. The county sits firmly within Georgia's coastal plain
region and has predominantly sedimentary rock
and red and yellow clays. The Canoochee River
is the major body of water flowing through the county.
With a total area of 187 square miles (484.3 km²) Evans County is ranked 145th out of 159 counties in Georgia. There are 57 people per square mile in the county.
. Evans was a state senator from Stewart County, Georgia
, a Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army
, a Methodist minister, an historian
and an author
.
, which flows through Evans County. Other bodies of water are Cypress Pond; Dyess Pond; Beasley Pond; Tippins Lake; Bernard Smith Pond; I.W. DeLoach Ponds; Big Beasley Pond; and DeLoach Pond. Creeks that flow in Evan County are Grice Creek, Billy Fork Creek, Thick Creek, Mill Branch, Barnard Mill, Rocky Branch, Scott Creek, Cedar Creek, and Dry Creek.
, which passes through Georgia from Augusta, Georgia
in the east, then southwestward to Macon, Georgia
, then to Columbus, Georgia
and finally westward to Montgomery, Alabama
.
Yet, sedimentary rocks are not the only geological features in Evans County. The county is mostly covered by thin sand
and red and yellow clay
. As in Tattnall County along the Ohoopee River
, the sand in Evans County that lies along the Canoochee River is white quartz
of a medium to coarse grain. There is exploitable medium-grain sand covering about 50 acre
s of land along the railroad above Bull Creek. The pure white sand along the Canoochee could be made into bottle glass, but is expensive to recover.
Evans County is home to several protected species of flora and fauna. Among the flora in the county are the Georgia plume, Sarracenia flava
, Sarracenia minor
, beardtongue, Stewartia, loblolly-bay
and sweetbay
. Others include the purple honeycomb head, large-stem morning-glory, few-flower gay-feather, pond spice, boykin lobelia, hummingbird flower, and other plants. Protected animals in the area include the red-cockaded woodpecker
, the indigo snake
, Bachman's Sparrow
, the spotted turtle
, Say's spiketail and the southern bald eagle
, among other animals.
activity. From 1950 to 2004, only 2 injuries have been caused by tornadoes in the county; this occurred on March 29, 1974 when a category 1 tornado hit the county, causing between $5,000 and $50,000 in damages.
proposed a constitutional amendment to create Evans County from Bulloch
and Tattnall
counties. Georgia voters ratified the proposed amendment by a vote of 36,689 to 9,789 on November 3, 1914, which marks the official date of Evans County's creation.
The push to create Evans County came about for various reasons, most notably the desire to not have to travel so far to the court house; more office jobs; increase in businesses coming to the area, especially in regard to hotels and eating establishments and a belief that there was a minority in Reidsville, Georgia
- the county seat in Tattnall County - which controlled the county. However, not everyone was for the creation of a new county. Some of the arguments against the creation of a new county included: the idea that the difficulties with distance to the courthouse were being overcome; also, the tax burden would override any benefits from new jobs. Evans County was approved through the constitutional amendment process because of an earlier amendment from 1904 which limited the number of counties to 145. In order to get around this amendment, a new amendment was passed which allowed for the creation of Evans County.
The current Evans County courthouse was completed in 1923. The courthouse is in Claxton and was designed in the neoclassical revival tradition by architect J.J. Baldwin. Prior to the building of the current courthouse, all of the county's business was held in the White Building, a three-story edifice built by Mr. R. King White and later bought by Mrs. Ben Daniel. Mrs. Daniel's husband, Dr. Ben Daniel, used the building as his office.
The first woman sheriff
in Evans County was Mrs. Josie Mae Durrence Rogers, who was appointed after the death of the late sheriff, her father Jesse C. Durrence. Later, on June 24, 1940, she was elected sheriff by the people of the county. Not long after, in July 1940, Camp Stewart - which would eventually become Fort Stewart
- was created after the United States government bought up several tracts of land in various counties, including Evans County. In all, it is estimated that approximately 1,500 people were displaced by the creation of the camp.
The late 1950s and the 1960s were a time of growth in Evans County, especially in regards to health care and transportation. Beginning in 1958, Dr. Curtis Gordon Hames began research on the Evans County Heart Study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health
; this study would continue until 1995 and resulted in 560 published papers on heart disease
, genetics
, cancer
and other areas. In 1964, the FAA
approved a site for the construction of an airport in the county, just three miles (5 km) northeast of Claxton. On December 7, 1967, after two decades of effort, Evans Memorial Hospital was opened.
of 2000, there were 10,495 people, 3,778 households, and 2,678 families residing in the county. The population density
was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 4,381 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 61.69% White
, 32.98% Black
or African American
, 0.18% Native American
, 0.31% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 4.23% from other races
, and 0.58% from two or more races. 5.96% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 3,778 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.00% were married couples
living together, 16.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 10.20% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,447, and the median income for a family was $31,074. Males had a median income of $26,959 versus $17,587 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $12,758. About 23.10% of families and 27.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.20% of those under age 18 and 23.60% of those age 65 or over. It was known to have a bug infestation in the late 1960's.
Other: 7%
Catholic
: 6%
Evans County shares its Protestant heritage with the rest of Georgia and the Southern United States
.
The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2002 were the Southern Baptist Convention with 2,043; the United Methodist Church with 1,620; and the Catholic Church with 286.
; educational, health and social services; retail trade; and construction
providing the greatest employment in manufacturing. The Claxton-Evans County Industrial Park provides the strongest source of manufacturing, with the creation of concrete poles and galvanization
of metal
s. Outside of the cities, agriculture
is important with corn
and cotton
being major crops. Other crops planted and harvested in Evans County include soybeans; wheat
and vegetable
s; and land set aside for orchard
s. The food industry is the most common industry for Evans Countians to work in.
is also available in large quantities. Evans Countians consumes 269,420 gallons of water a day out of a plant capacity of 3,720,000 gallons a day. There is an elevated storage capacity of 700,000 gallons. The energy produced and consumed is available through the Claxton-Evans County Industrial Park.
; Blacks
or African Americans
; Native Americans
; Asians
; Pacific Islanders
; and Hispanics
or Latinos
. Foreign born Evans Countians are predominantly Mexican
, followed by Filipinos
; Guatemala
ns; Japan
ese; India
ns; Germans
; and Indonesia
ns. The most common ancestries in Evans County include American
; English
; Irish
; German; Scots-Irish; French
; and Italian
. The combination of these ancestries and ethnicities has forged Evans County's character.
was born in Claxton and went on to become the senator for the area and president pro tempore of the Georgia State Senate. Albert Parker
and Ira S. Womble, Sr. both made Claxton and Evans County famous through their respective companies, The Claxton Bakery and The Georgia Fruitcake Company
. Cartha Deke Deloach, a native Evans Countian, joined the FBI
and worked alongside J. Edgar Hoover
while Dr. Curtis Gordon Hames did a groundbreaking study on heart disease
. Two Evans County natives, Charles Gordon Edwards
of Daisy, and William Washington Larsen
of Hagan, went on to become United States Representatives.
parade, held every January; Christmas in Claxton, an event which occurs on the first Saturday in December and includes arts and crafts, food, and the Parade of Lights; barrel racing
at the Richey Arena; and a tractor pull held on the first Saturday of each month at the Longneedle Farm Truck and Tractor Pull.
, corn on the cob
and chicken and dumplings to Brunswick stew
, fried chicken
and cornbread
. Other well known and loved foods in the county include pecan
s, peach
es and peanut
s. However, these are not the only foods enjoyed by Evans Countians. Because of the diversity within the county, the people of Evans County also frequent Mexican and Chinese restaurants.
. In Claxton, there is the Dr. James W. Daniel House; the Evans County Courthouse; and the Mitchell J. Green Plantation. In Hagan, there is the George W. DeLoach House. And at Camp Oliver there is the Glissom, Remer, Store (DOE). Other places of interest include the Daisy Post Office and the train depot in Bellville.
. The current superintendent is Dr. Joy S. Collins.
All schools have been fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
as well as the Georgia Accrediting Commission
. There are currently 1,888 students and 122 teachers, a ratio of 15:1. There are three public schools in Evans County: Claxton Elementary School; Claxton Middle School; and Claxton High School
.
is a co-educational private school in Bellville. Founded in 1970, the school has approximately 685 students and has a calendar year of 180 days with each school day lasting 7 hours.
, a part of the executive branch of the state government
. The major U.S. highways that run through Evans County are U.S. Route 25
; U.S. Route 280
; and U.S. Route 301
. State highways running through Evans County are State Route 30; State Route 73; State Route 129; State Route 169; and State Route 292. Georgia Central Railway
provides transportation for industrial customers in the county.
, hangar
s, pilot control lighting, and a Precision Approach Path Indicator
. The Claxton-Evans County Airport has an elevation of 112 ft (34.1 m).
, tax commissioner and clerk of court. The original top positions were held by:
Individuals currently holding Constitutional Offices are:
Board of Commissioners: The board of commissioners in Evans County is made up of six members elected by the people and led by a chairman elected by the board. The board of commissioners acts as both the legislative and executive branches of government for the county and is charged with financing county programs and paying the salaries of constitutional officers.
The current members of the Board of Commissioners are:
Tax Commissioner: The tax commissioner receives tax returns, maintains tax records for the county, and collects and pays tax funds to the state and local government.
Clerk of Court: The responsibility of the clerk of the court is to maintain court records and supervise registration of property transactions.
Fire department and EMS: The Evans County fire department is located in Claxton and has a fire chief, four dispatchers, and 21 volunteers. Ambulance services are provided by Evans County EMS. EMS has seven full time employees and four part time employees.
Evans County is represented in the Georgia General Assembly
by State Senator Jack Hill in Georgia Senatorial District 4 and State Representative Delvis Dutton. The county is represented in Congress
by John Barrow
of Georgia's 12th congressional district
.
is a weekly newspaper located in Claxton, Georgia, USA. It primarily serves Evans County, Georgia. The Enterprise was established in 1912 with its first issue being published on December 4, 1912. The current publisher is Mitchell Peace.
(1470 AM
) is an AM station which plays Gospel music
and Oldies
, as well as providing local news and weather. WMCD
(107.3 FM
) is an FM station which plays adult contemporary music
.
; baseball
; basketball
; track and field
; softball
; and tennis
. Claxton High School also has a golf
program. Claxton's boy's track and field were Georgia High School Association
champions in 1983 and the boy's basketball team were champions in 1988.
The county is home to a handful of public areas which are set aside for recreation. The Evans County Public Fishing Area, located in Claxton, is one such area and contains three lakes of 8, 30 and 84 acres and primitive campsites. Families can also picnic at the lake and an outdoor classroom is available for use. Parks include Bacon Ford Park and the Senior Citizens Park in Claxton. Two parks in Hagan are the Maggie Mae Lewis Children's Park and the Bradley Memorial Park.
Another outdoor recreational area is the Evans Heights Golf Club. The course was designed by Don Cottle, Jr. in 1970 and has Bermuda Grass. In total, the course is 6,514 yards.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in an area known as the Magnolia Midlands within the Historic South
Historic South
Historic South is an area in central and east-central Georgia, United States. The region carries a strong cultural and architectural heritage. It contains three chief areas: Historic Heartland, Classic South, and Magnolia Midlands.-Geography:...
region. A bill creating the county was passed in the Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
on August 11, 1914, and later, on November 3, 1914, an amendment was ratified by a vote of the people which formally created the county. The current Evans County Courthouse
Evans County Courthouse
The Evans County Courthouse is a historic government building and clock tower located in the city of Claxton, Georgia, United States, the seat of Evans County. The courthouse was built in 1923 and is the home of Evans County's Superior Court and the base of the county's government...
was created in 1923 and, in 1940, the people of Evans County elected their first female sheriff. Later, in the 1950s and 1960s, new growth came to the county with the building of Evans Memorial Hospital and the Claxton-Evans County Airport. In 2000, the population was 10,495; however, the 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 11,505. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Claxton
Claxton, Georgia
Claxton is a city in Evans County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,276 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Evans County.-History:...
.
Evans County is bordered on the northwest by Candler County; on the northeast by Bulloch County; on the east by Bryan County
Bryan County, Georgia
Bryan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 23,417. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 30,132...
; on the southeast by Liberty County
Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 61,610. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 60,503...
and on the southwest by Tattnall County. The county sits firmly within Georgia's coastal plain
Coastal plain
A coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. One of the world's longest coastal plains is located in eastern South America. The southwestern coastal plain of North America is notable for its species diversity...
region and has predominantly sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock are types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution....
and red and yellow clays. The Canoochee River
Canoochee River
The Canoochee River is a river in southeastern Georgia in the United States. It is a tributary of the Ogeechee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.-Course:...
is the major body of water flowing through the county.
With a total area of 187 square miles (484.3 km²) Evans County is ranked 145th out of 159 counties in Georgia. There are 57 people per square mile in the county.
Etymology
The county was named in honor of Clement A. EvansClement A. Evans
Clement Anselm Evans was a Confederate infantry general in the American Civil War. He was also a noted politician, preacher, historian and prolific author....
. Evans was a state senator from Stewart County, Georgia
Stewart County, Georgia
Stewart County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 23, 1830. The 2010 Census reflected a population of 6,058. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 4,558. The county seat is Lumpkin.-History:...
, a Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
, a Methodist minister, an historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Geography
The county seat of Evans County is Claxton. According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 186.88 square miles (484 km²), of which 184.92 square miles (478.9 km²) (or 98.95%) is land and 1.96 square miles (5.1 km²) (or 1.05%) is water. The major body of water is the Canoochee RiverCanoochee River
The Canoochee River is a river in southeastern Georgia in the United States. It is a tributary of the Ogeechee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.-Course:...
, which flows through Evans County. Other bodies of water are Cypress Pond; Dyess Pond; Beasley Pond; Tippins Lake; Bernard Smith Pond; I.W. DeLoach Ponds; Big Beasley Pond; and DeLoach Pond. Creeks that flow in Evan County are Grice Creek, Billy Fork Creek, Thick Creek, Mill Branch, Barnard Mill, Rocky Branch, Scott Creek, Cedar Creek, and Dry Creek.
Geology and terrain
Geologically, Evans County lies in the coastal plain region of Georgia, an area consisting mostly of sedimentary rocks. The coastal plain is divided from the Piedmont by the Fall LineFall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
, which passes through Georgia from Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
in the east, then southwestward to Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, then to Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
and finally westward to Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
.
Yet, sedimentary rocks are not the only geological features in Evans County. The county is mostly covered by thin sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
and red and yellow clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
. As in Tattnall County along the Ohoopee River
Ohoopee River
The Ohoopee River is a river in east-central Georgia in the United States. It is a tributary of the Altamaha River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.-Course:...
, the sand in Evans County that lies along the Canoochee River is white quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
of a medium to coarse grain. There is exploitable medium-grain sand covering about 50 acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s of land along the railroad above Bull Creek. The pure white sand along the Canoochee could be made into bottle glass, but is expensive to recover.
Flora and fauna
Sarracenia flava
Sarracenia flava, the Yellow pitcher plant, is a carnivorous plant in the family Sarraceniaceae. Like all the Sarraceniaceae, it is native to the New World. Its range extends from southern Alabama, through Florida and Georgia, to the coastal plains of southern Virginia, North Carolina and South...
, Sarracenia minor
Sarracenia minor
Sarracenia minor, also known as the Hooded pitcher plant, is a perennial, terrestrial, rhizomatous, herbaceous, carnivorous plant in the genus Sarracenia. Like all the Sarracenia, it is native to the New World.-Etymology:...
, beardtongue, Stewartia, loblolly-bay
Loblolly-bay
Loblolly-bay or Gordonia lasianthus is a member of the Tea or Theaceae family.Loblolly-bay , also called holly-bay, gordonia, and bay, is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree or shrub found in acid, swampy soils of pinelands and bays on the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains...
and sweetbay
Sweetbay Magnolia
Magnolia virginiana, most commonly known as sweetbay magnolia, or merely sweetbay , is a member of the magnolia family, Magnoliaceae...
. Others include the purple honeycomb head, large-stem morning-glory, few-flower gay-feather, pond spice, boykin lobelia, hummingbird flower, and other plants. Protected animals in the area include the red-cockaded woodpecker
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is a woodpecker found in southeastern North America.- Description :About the size of the Northern Cardinal, it is approximately 8.5 in. long, with a wingspan of about 14 in. and a weight of about 1.5 ounces...
, the indigo snake
Indigo snake
The eastern indigo snake is a large nonvenomous snake with an even blue-black coloration, with some specimens having a reddish-orange to tan color on the throat, cheek and chin. This smooth- scaled snake is considered to be the largest native snake species in the United States with the longest...
, Bachman's Sparrow
Bachman's Sparrow
Bachman's Sparrow, Peucaea aestivalis, is a small American sparrow that is endemic to the southeastern United States. This species was named in honor of Reverend John Bachman....
, the spotted turtle
Spotted Turtle
The Spotted turtle , the only current species of Clemmys, is a small, semi-aquatic turtle that reaches a carapace length of upon adulthood. Their broad, smooth, low dark-colored upper shell, or carapace, ranges in its exact colour from black to a bluish black with a number of yellow tiny round spots...
, Say's spiketail and the southern bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
, among other animals.
Climate
Evans County has a mild climate, averaging 49.8 degrees in January and 82.7 degrees in July. The average annual rainfall is 48 inches and the county has a minimum altitude of 65 feet (19.8 m) above sea level and a maximum altitude of 228 feet (69.5 m) above seal level. The county is 1.4 times below the U.S. average in historical area-adjusted tornadoTornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
activity. From 1950 to 2004, only 2 injuries have been caused by tornadoes in the county; this occurred on March 29, 1974 when a category 1 tornado hit the county, causing between $5,000 and $50,000 in damages.
Cities
- BellvilleBellville, GeorgiaBellville is a city in Evans County, Georgia, United States. The population was 130 at the 2000 census, it is also home to Pinewood Christian Academy.-Geography:Bellville is located at ....
- ClaxtonClaxton, GeorgiaClaxton is a city in Evans County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,276 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Evans County.-History:...
- DaisyDaisy, GeorgiaDaisy is a city in Evans County, Georgia, United States. The population was 126 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Daisy is located at . I love daisy...
- HaganHagan, GeorgiaHagan is a city in Evans County, Georgia, United States. The population was 898 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hagan is located at ....
Adjacent counties
- Candler CountyCandler County, GeorgiaCandler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The constitutional amendment to create the county was proposed July 14, 1914, and ratified November 3, 1914. Candler County, was named in 1914 for Allen D...
(northwest) - Bulloch CountyBulloch County, GeorgiaBulloch County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 8, 1796. Bulloch County has undergone rapid growth in recent years. As of 2000, the population was 55,983. The 2009 Census Estimate showed a population of 69,213. The county seat is Statesboro.In...
(northeast) - Bryan CountyBryan County, GeorgiaBryan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 23,417. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 30,132...
(east) - Liberty CountyLiberty County, GeorgiaLiberty County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 61,610. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 60,503...
(southeast) - Tattnall CountyTattnall County, GeorgiaTattnall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 22,305. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 23,179...
(southwest)
History
On August 11, 1914, the Georgia General AssemblyGeorgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
proposed a constitutional amendment to create Evans County from Bulloch
Bulloch County, Georgia
Bulloch County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 8, 1796. Bulloch County has undergone rapid growth in recent years. As of 2000, the population was 55,983. The 2009 Census Estimate showed a population of 69,213. The county seat is Statesboro.In...
and Tattnall
Tattnall County, Georgia
Tattnall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 22,305. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 23,179...
counties. Georgia voters ratified the proposed amendment by a vote of 36,689 to 9,789 on November 3, 1914, which marks the official date of Evans County's creation.
The push to create Evans County came about for various reasons, most notably the desire to not have to travel so far to the court house; more office jobs; increase in businesses coming to the area, especially in regard to hotels and eating establishments and a belief that there was a minority in Reidsville, Georgia
Reidsville, Georgia
Reidsville is a city in Tattnall County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,235 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Tattnall County...
- the county seat in Tattnall County - which controlled the county. However, not everyone was for the creation of a new county. Some of the arguments against the creation of a new county included: the idea that the difficulties with distance to the courthouse were being overcome; also, the tax burden would override any benefits from new jobs. Evans County was approved through the constitutional amendment process because of an earlier amendment from 1904 which limited the number of counties to 145. In order to get around this amendment, a new amendment was passed which allowed for the creation of Evans County.
The current Evans County courthouse was completed in 1923. The courthouse is in Claxton and was designed in the neoclassical revival tradition by architect J.J. Baldwin. Prior to the building of the current courthouse, all of the county's business was held in the White Building, a three-story edifice built by Mr. R. King White and later bought by Mrs. Ben Daniel. Mrs. Daniel's husband, Dr. Ben Daniel, used the building as his office.
The first woman sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
in Evans County was Mrs. Josie Mae Durrence Rogers, who was appointed after the death of the late sheriff, her father Jesse C. Durrence. Later, on June 24, 1940, she was elected sheriff by the people of the county. Not long after, in July 1940, Camp Stewart - which would eventually become Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post primarily in Liberty County and Bryan County, but also extending into smaller portions of Evans, Long, and Tattnall Counties in Georgia, USA. The population was 11,205 at the 2000 census...
- was created after the United States government bought up several tracts of land in various counties, including Evans County. In all, it is estimated that approximately 1,500 people were displaced by the creation of the camp.
The late 1950s and the 1960s were a time of growth in Evans County, especially in regards to health care and transportation. Beginning in 1958, Dr. Curtis Gordon Hames began research on the Evans County Heart Study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
; this study would continue until 1995 and resulted in 560 published papers on heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
, genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
, cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and other areas. In 1964, the FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
approved a site for the construction of an airport in the county, just three miles (5 km) northeast of Claxton. On December 7, 1967, after two decades of effort, Evans Memorial Hospital was opened.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 10,495 people, 3,778 households, and 2,678 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 4,381 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 61.69% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 32.98% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.31% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.23% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.58% from two or more races. 5.96% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 3,778 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.00% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 10.20% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,447, and the median income for a family was $31,074. Males had a median income of $26,959 versus $17,587 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $12,758. About 23.10% of families and 27.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.20% of those under age 18 and 23.60% of those age 65 or over. It was known to have a bug infestation in the late 1960's.
Religion
Evans County is largely Protestant. The religious affiliation of the people of Evans County are:- Protestant: 87%
- Southern Baptist ConventionSouthern Baptist ConventionThe Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
: 45% - United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist ChurchThe United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
: 36% - Progressive Primitive BaptistsPrimitive BaptistPrimitive Baptists, also known as Hard Shell Baptists or Anti-Mission Baptists, are conservative, Calvinist Baptists adhering to beliefs that formed out of the controversy among Baptists in the early 1800’s over the appropriateness of mission boards, bible tract societies, and temperance...
: 6%
- Southern Baptist Convention
Other: 7%
Catholic
Roman Catholicism in the United States
The Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church in full communion with the Pope. With more than 68.5 registered million members, it is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 22 percent of the population...
: 6%
Evans County shares its Protestant heritage with the rest of Georgia and the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
.
The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2002 were the Southern Baptist Convention with 2,043; the United Methodist Church with 1,620; and the Catholic Church with 286.
Agriculture and industry
Evans County has a diverse economy, with manufacturingManufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
; educational, health and social services; retail trade; and construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
providing the greatest employment in manufacturing. The Claxton-Evans County Industrial Park provides the strongest source of manufacturing, with the creation of concrete poles and galvanization
Galvanization
Galvanization is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, in order to prevent rusting. The term is derived from the name of Italian scientist Luigi Galvani....
of metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
s. Outside of the cities, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
is important with corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
being major crops. Other crops planted and harvested in Evans County include soybeans; wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and vegetable
Vegetable
The noun vegetable usually means an edible plant or part of a plant other than a sweet fruit or seed. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant....
s; and land set aside for orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s. The food industry is the most common industry for Evans Countians to work in.
Energy use and production
Evans County's electricity generation and consumption are provided through a variety of means. Natural gasNatural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
is also available in large quantities. Evans Countians consumes 269,420 gallons of water a day out of a plant capacity of 3,720,000 gallons a day. There is an elevated storage capacity of 700,000 gallons. The energy produced and consumed is available through the Claxton-Evans County Industrial Park.
Local taxes
Evans County has a 7% total sales tax, including 4% state, 1% local option, 1% special purpose, and 1% educational. Evans County is ranked 64 out of 71 Tier 1 counties in the state of Georgia. Claxton and Evans County exempt 100% on all classes of certain business inventory from property taxes.People
Evans County is populated by many different ethnic groups. Among these groups are WhitesRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
; Blacks
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African Americans
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
; Native Americans
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
; Asians
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
; Pacific Islanders
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
; and Hispanics
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latinos
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
. Foreign born Evans Countians are predominantly Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, followed by Filipinos
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
; Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
ns; Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese; India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
ns; Germans
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
ns. The most common ancestries in Evans County include American
American ethnicity
American ethnicity differs from United States nationality. An individual's nationality is American if he or she is a national of the United States of America. The circumstances under which a person is ethnically American are less clear....
; English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
; Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
; German; Scots-Irish; French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
; and Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
. The combination of these ancestries and ethnicities has forged Evans County's character.
Notable Evans Countians
Evans County has had a number of notable citizens. Joseph KennedyJoe Kennedy (Georgia State Senator)
Joseph Everett "Joe" Kennedy was a Georgia State Senator born in Claxton, Georgia, United States.-Personal life:...
was born in Claxton and went on to become the senator for the area and president pro tempore of the Georgia State Senate. Albert Parker
Albert Parker
Albert Parker was the owner of The Claxton Bakery and creator of the Old Fashion Claxton Fruitcake. Parker got his start working with Savino Tos, the founder and previous owner of The Claxton Bakery, in 1927 when he was eleven years old. In 1945, Tos sold the bakery to Albert Parker and retired...
and Ira S. Womble, Sr. both made Claxton and Evans County famous through their respective companies, The Claxton Bakery and The Georgia Fruitcake Company
The Georgia Fruitcake Company
-History:The Georgia Fruitcake Company was founded by Ira S. Womble, Sr. of Claxton. Womble began his career in the bakery business as an apprentice to Savino Gillio-Tos, the founder and owner of The Claxton Bakery, where he worked alongside Albert Parker, the future owner of the bakery and the...
. Cartha Deke Deloach, a native Evans Countian, joined the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
and worked alongside J. Edgar Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover
John Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States. Appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI—in 1924, he was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972...
while Dr. Curtis Gordon Hames did a groundbreaking study on heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
. Two Evans County natives, Charles Gordon Edwards
Charles Gordon Edwards
Charles Gordon Edwards was a U.S. political figure from the state of Georgia.Edwards was born in Daisy, Georgia in 1878 and attended the Gordon Institute in Barnesville, Georgia and Florida State College in Lake City...
of Daisy, and William Washington Larsen
William Washington Larsen
William Washington Larsen was a United States Representative from Georgia.-Personal life:Larsen was born in Hagan, Georgia. He attended the Bryan Institute in Lanier, Georgia, the South Georgia Military Academy in Thomasville, Georgia, and the University of Georgia in Athens; however, he did not...
of Hagan, went on to become United States Representatives.
Customs
Evans County has held an annual rattlesnake roundup the second weekend of March since 1968, with the roundup festival growing every year since then and moving from within Claxton to just outside of the city in 2001. Another, more recent, annual event is the Cruisin' in the Country Bike Ride, began in 1995 as the Yuletide Ride. The event was changed from December to November the next year and expanded to include a 65 miles (104.6 km) route. Soon, the route became a complete century race. Other events include the Martin Luther King DayMartin Luther King Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 15. The floating holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform...
parade, held every January; Christmas in Claxton, an event which occurs on the first Saturday in December and includes arts and crafts, food, and the Parade of Lights; barrel racing
Barrel racing
Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a clover-leaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. Though both boys and girls compete at the youth level and men compete in some amateur venues, in collegiate and professional ranks, it is primarily a rodeo...
at the Richey Arena; and a tractor pull held on the first Saturday of each month at the Longneedle Farm Truck and Tractor Pull.
Cuisine
Evans County's cuisine includes a variety of different foods ranging from seafoodSeafood
Seafood is any form of marine life regarded as food by humans. Seafoods include fish, molluscs , crustaceans , echinoderms . Edible sea plants, such as some seaweeds and microalgae, are also seafood, and are widely eaten around the world, especially in Asia...
, corn on the cob
Corn on the cob
Corn on the cob is a culinary term used for a cooked ear of freshly picked maize from a cultivar of sweet corn. The ear is picked while the endosperm is in the "milk stage" so that the kernels are still tender...
and chicken and dumplings to Brunswick stew
Brunswick stew
Brunswick stew is a traditional dish, popular in the American South. The origin of the dish is uncertain, and there are two competing claims as to the place in the South where it originated, in addition to some claim to a German origin...
, fried chicken
Fried chicken
Fried chicken is a dish consisting of chicken pieces usually from broiler chickens which have been floured or battered and then pan fried, deep fried, or pressure fried. The breading adds a crisp coating or crust to the exterior...
and cornbread
Cornbread
Cornbread is a generic name for any number of quick breads containing cornmeal and leavened by baking powder.-History:Native Americans were using ground corn for food thousands of years before European explorers arrived in the New World...
. Other well known and loved foods in the county include pecan
Pecan
The pecan , Carya illinoinensis, is a species of hickory, native to south-central North America, in Mexico from Coahuila south to Jalisco and Veracruz, in the United States from southern Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana east to western Kentucky, southwestern Ohio, North Carolina, South...
s, peach
Peach
The peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach...
es and peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s. However, these are not the only foods enjoyed by Evans Countians. Because of the diversity within the county, the people of Evans County also frequent Mexican and Chinese restaurants.
Architecture
A number of buildings and homes in Evans County are on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. In Claxton, there is the Dr. James W. Daniel House; the Evans County Courthouse; and the Mitchell J. Green Plantation. In Hagan, there is the George W. DeLoach House. And at Camp Oliver there is the Glissom, Remer, Store (DOE). Other places of interest include the Daisy Post Office and the train depot in Bellville.
Health care
Evans County has several medical facilities, including the Evans County Memorial Hospital; the Jack Strickland Rehabilitation Wellness Center; Northspring Assisted Living; The Griffin House; the Camellia Health and Rehabilitation Center; The Evans County Health Department and Health and Well-Being Consultative Services. There are approximately twelve doctors in the county, two dentists and two pharmacies.Education
Public schools
Public education in Evans County is supervised by the Evans County School DistrictEvans County School District
The Evans County School District is a school district based in Evans County, Georgia, United States. The superintendent is Dr. Joy S. Collins....
. The current superintendent is Dr. Joy S. Collins.
All schools have been fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
as well as the Georgia Accrediting Commission
Georgia Accrediting Commission
The Georgia Accrediting Commission is a nonprofit educational accreditation organization founded in 1904 "to stimulate the schools to achieve and maintain a high level of professional integrity and competence." Its purposes are stated as to provide standards for Georgia's schools and to promote...
. There are currently 1,888 students and 122 teachers, a ratio of 15:1. There are three public schools in Evans County: Claxton Elementary School; Claxton Middle School; and Claxton High School
Claxton High School
Claxton High School is a public high school located in Claxton, Georgia, United States. It is a part of the Evans County School District. The current principal is Justin RussellBetween 1975 and 1979, students at the school under the direction of B. G...
.
Private school
Pinewood Christian AcademyPinewood Christian Academy
Pinewood Christian Academy is a co-ed private school located in the small town of Bellville, Georgia.-Academics:Pinewood has a calendar year of 180 days and each school day is 7 hours. Approximately 650 students grades K4 through 12 attend the Academy. Pinewood offers many advanced classes and...
is a co-educational private school in Bellville. Founded in 1970, the school has approximately 685 students and has a calendar year of 180 days with each school day lasting 7 hours.
Ground transportation
Transportation in Evans County is overseen by the Georgia Department of TransportationGeorgia Department of Transportation
The Georgia Department of Transportation is the organization in charge of developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the U.S. state of Georgia. In addition to highways, the department also has a limited role in developing public transportation and general aviation programs...
, a part of the executive branch of the state government
Government of Georgia (U.S. state)
The state government of Georgia is the U.S. state governmental body established by the Georgia State Constitution. It is a republican government with three branches: the legislature, executive, and judiciary...
. The major U.S. highways that run through Evans County are U.S. Route 25
U.S. Route 25
U.S. Route 25 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from Brunswick, Georgia to the Ohio state line in Covington, Kentucky.-Georgia:...
; U.S. Route 280
U.S. Route 280
U.S. Route 280 is a spur of U.S. Highway 80. It currently runs for 392 miles from Blichton, Georgia at U.S. Highway 80 to Birmingham, Alabama at I-20/I-59. For much of its route, U.S. 280 travels through rural areas and smaller cities in southern Georgia and east central Alabama. Once the...
; and U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It currently runs 1,099 miles from Glasgow, Delaware at U.S. Route 40 to Sarasota, Florida. It passes through the states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida...
. State highways running through Evans County are State Route 30; State Route 73; State Route 129; State Route 169; and State Route 292. Georgia Central Railway
Georgia Central Railway
The Georgia Central Railway operates about of track from Macon, Georgia through Dublin, Georgia and Vidalia, Georgia to Savannah, Georgia. It also operates about of trackage between Savannah and Riceboro, Georgia, switching Interstate Paper LLC. It connects with CSX Transportation and the...
provides transportation for industrial customers in the county.
Major highways
U.S. Route 25U.S. Route 25U.S. Route 25 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from Brunswick, Georgia to the Ohio state line in Covington, Kentucky.-Georgia:...
U.S. Route 280U.S. Route 280U.S. Route 280 is a spur of U.S. Highway 80. It currently runs for 392 miles from Blichton, Georgia at U.S. Highway 80 to Birmingham, Alabama at I-20/I-59. For much of its route, U.S. 280 travels through rural areas and smaller cities in southern Georgia and east central Alabama. Once the...
U.S. Route 301U.S. Route 301U.S. Route 301 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It currently runs 1,099 miles from Glasgow, Delaware at U.S. Route 40 to Sarasota, Florida. It passes through the states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida...
State Route 30
State Route 73
State Route 129
State Route 169
State Route 292
Air transportation
Air travel in Evans County is provided by the Claxton-Evans County Airport. The site for the airport was approved by the FAA in 1964 and it was activated in 1971; the airport is three miles (5 km) northeast of Claxton, Georgia. It is operated by the city of Claxton. It has a 5000 feet (1,524 m) runwayRunway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
, hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
s, pilot control lighting, and a Precision Approach Path Indicator
Precision Approach Path Indicator
Precision approach path Indicator is a visual aid that provides guidance information to help a pilot acquire and maintain the correct approach to an aerodrome or an airport. It is generally located beside the runway approximately 300 metres beyond the landing threshold of the runway...
. The Claxton-Evans County Airport has an elevation of 112 ft (34.1 m).
Government
The county government is a constitutional body and is granted powers by the Constitution of Georgia. Evans County has a board of commissioners, sheriffSheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, tax commissioner and clerk of court. The original top positions were held by:
- H. Leonard Brewton—First County Commissioner (1915–1920)
- T. Walton Rogers—First County Sheriff (January 1, 1915 – February 24, 1920)
- T.J. Edwards—First County Tax Commissioner (January 1, 1933 – December 25, 1940)
- R.R. Tippins, Sr.—First Clerk of Court (January 1, 1915 – December 31, 1920)
Individuals currently holding Constitutional Offices are:
- Randall Tippins—Sheriff
- Wanda Moseley—Tax Commissioner
- Kathy P. Hendrix—Clerk of Court
- Darin McCoy-Judge of the Probate Court
Board of Commissioners: The board of commissioners in Evans County is made up of six members elected by the people and led by a chairman elected by the board. The board of commissioners acts as both the legislative and executive branches of government for the county and is charged with financing county programs and paying the salaries of constitutional officers.
The current members of the Board of Commissioners are:
- Shela Holland—District 1
- Phillip Richey—District 2
- Del Beasley—District 3
- Jack Pinckard—District 4
- Neal Hammack—District 5
- Charles Oglesby—District 6
Tax Commissioner: The tax commissioner receives tax returns, maintains tax records for the county, and collects and pays tax funds to the state and local government.
Clerk of Court: The responsibility of the clerk of the court is to maintain court records and supervise registration of property transactions.
Law enforcement and emergency services
Sheriff: The sheriff maintains the peace in the county through enforcement of the law. In Evans County, the sheriff is assisted by eight officers, four deputies and four dispatchers.Fire department and EMS: The Evans County fire department is located in Claxton and has a fire chief, four dispatchers, and 21 volunteers. Ambulance services are provided by Evans County EMS. EMS has seven full time employees and four part time employees.
Evans County is represented in the Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
by State Senator Jack Hill in Georgia Senatorial District 4 and State Representative Delvis Dutton. The county is represented in Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
by John Barrow
John Barrow (U.S. politician)
John Jenkins Barrow is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district stretches along the eastern portion of the state, from Augusta to Savannah.-Early life, education and career:...
of Georgia's 12th congressional district
Georgia's 12th congressional district
Georgia's 12th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia covering much of the east central parts of the state. From the city of Augusta it runs southeast, along the state's border with South Carolina, to the city of Savannah, taking in such cities as...
.
Newspaper
The Claxton EnterpriseThe Claxton Enterprise
The Claxton Enterprise is a weekly newspaper located in Claxton, Georgia, USA. It primarily serves Evans County, Georgia. The Enterprise was established in 1912 with its first issue being published on December 4, 1912....
is a weekly newspaper located in Claxton, Georgia, USA. It primarily serves Evans County, Georgia. The Enterprise was established in 1912 with its first issue being published on December 4, 1912. The current publisher is Mitchell Peace.
Radio
Two radio stations serve the Evans County area. WCLAWCLA
WCLA is a radio station broadcasting a Oldies format. Licensed to Claxton, Georgia, USA. The station is currently owned by W. Danny Swain and features programing from ABC Radio ....
(1470 AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
) is an AM station which plays Gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
and Oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
, as well as providing local news and weather. WMCD
WMCD
WMCD is a radio station broadcasting an adult hits format. Licensed to Claxton, Georgia, USA. The station is currently owned by Georgia Eagle Broadcasting, Inc. WMCD features programing from Westwood One.-History:...
(107.3 FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
) is an FM station which plays adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
.
Sports and recreation
Sports in Evans County include the Claxton High School athletic program and the Pinewood Christian Academy athletic program. Both schools programs include footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
; baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
; basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
; track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
; softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
; and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
. Claxton High School also has a golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
program. Claxton's boy's track and field were Georgia High School Association
Georgia High School Association
The Georgia High School Association governs athletic and club events for member high schools in Georgia, USA. The GHSA is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations. The association comprises 437 public and private high schools...
champions in 1983 and the boy's basketball team were champions in 1988.
The county is home to a handful of public areas which are set aside for recreation. The Evans County Public Fishing Area, located in Claxton, is one such area and contains three lakes of 8, 30 and 84 acres and primitive campsites. Families can also picnic at the lake and an outdoor classroom is available for use. Parks include Bacon Ford Park and the Senior Citizens Park in Claxton. Two parks in Hagan are the Maggie Mae Lewis Children's Park and the Bradley Memorial Park.
Another outdoor recreational area is the Evans Heights Golf Club. The course was designed by Don Cottle, Jr. in 1970 and has Bermuda Grass. In total, the course is 6,514 yards.
See also
Cities
- BellvilleBellville, GeorgiaBellville is a city in Evans County, Georgia, United States. The population was 130 at the 2000 census, it is also home to Pinewood Christian Academy.-Geography:Bellville is located at ....
- ClaxtonClaxton, GeorgiaClaxton is a city in Evans County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,276 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Evans County.-History:...
- DaisyDaisy, GeorgiaDaisy is a city in Evans County, Georgia, United States. The population was 126 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Daisy is located at . I love daisy...
- HaganHagan, GeorgiaHagan is a city in Evans County, Georgia, United States. The population was 898 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hagan is located at ....