Banks County, Georgia

Banks County, Georgia

General Information
Name	Banks County, Georgia
Native Name
Other Names
Settlement Type	County
Transliteration
Language 1
Type 1
Info 1
Location
Coordinates
Map
Population
Total	18,035
Density	per km²
Area
Total	km²
Land	km²
Water	km²
Government
Type
Leader
Time Zone
Standard	UTC-5
DST	UTC-4

Banks County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,035. The county seat is Homer.

History

Banks County was created on February 1, 1859, from portions of Franklin and Habersham counties. It was named after Dr. Richard E. Banks, a noted local physician who treated Native Americans and settlers alike.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 234 square miles (610 km²), of which 233 square miles (600 km²) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) (0.4%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Habersham County - north
• Stephens County - northeast
• Franklin County - east
• Madison County - southeast
• Jackson County - south
• Hall County - west

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,035 people, 6,500 households, and 4,800 families residing in the county. The population density was 77 people per square mile (30/km²).

Economy

The economy of Banks County is diverse, with agriculture, manufacturing, and retail trade being significant sectors. The Tanger Outlets in Commerce is a major retail center attracting visitors from across the region.

Education

Banks County is served by the Banks County School District, which includes Banks County Primary School, Banks County Elementary School, Banks County Middle School, and Banks County High School.

Transportation

Major highways in Banks County include:

• Interstate 85
• U.S. Route 441
• Georgia State Route 15

Communities

• Alto
• Baldwin
• Gillsville
• Homer (county seat)
• Lula

Notable People

• Ty Cobb, a famous baseball player, was born in nearby Narrows, which is now part of Banks County.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Banks County, Georgia

External links

• Official website of Banks County
• Banks County at the New Georgia Encyclopedia