Atkinson County, Georgia

Atkinson County
County
Atkinson County Courthouse in Pearson
Atkinson County Courthouse in Pearson
Map of Georgia highlighting Atkinson County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°17′N 82°52′W / 31.29°N 82.87°W / 31.29; -82.87
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedAugust 15, 1917; 107 years ago (1917)
Named forWilliam Yates Atkinson
SeatPearson
Largest cityPearson
Area
 • Total
345 sq mi (890 km2)
 • Land339 sq mi (880 km2)
 • Water5.2 sq mi (13 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,286
 • Density24/sq mi (9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district8th
Websiteatkinsoncounty.org

Atkinson County is a county located in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 8,286.[1] The county seat is Pearson.[2] The county was formed in 1917 from parts of Coffee and Clinch counties. It is named for William Yates Atkinson, Democratic governor of Georgia from 1894 to 1898.[3] In 2003, it had the highest illiteracy rate of any U.S. county at 36%.[4]

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Atkinson County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 8. ISBN 0-915430-00-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 14, 2004.
  4. ^ "State and County Literacy Estimates - State Estimates". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved March 18, 2018.