Houston County, Georgia

Houston County
Houston County courthouse in Perry
Houston County courthouse in Perry
Map of Georgia highlighting Houston County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°28′N 83°40′W / 32.46°N 83.67°W / 32.46; -83.67
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedMay 15, 1821; 203 years ago (1821-05-15)
Named forJohn Houstoun
SeatPerry
Largest cityWarner Robins
Area
 • Total380 sq mi (1,000 km2)
 • Land376 sq mi (970 km2)
 • Water4.4 sq mi (11 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total163,633
 • Density373/sq mi (144/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.houstoncountyga.gov

Houston County (/ˈhstən/ HOW-stən) is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 163,633 at the 2020 census.[1] Its county seat is Perry; the city of Warner Robins is substantially larger in both area and population.[2]

The county was created on May 15, 1821, along with 4 other counties in the state, and later reduced in size with the formation of Bibb, Crawford, Pulaski, Macon, and Peach counties.[3] It was named after Georgia governor John Houstoun, with the spelling being a common 19th-century variation that later evolved to "Houston".[4] The pronunciation, however, remains to this day "howston."[5] The geographic center of the county was given the name Wattsville, which was later changed to Perry.[5]

Houston County is included in the Warner Robins, GA metropolitan statistical area, which in turn is included in the Macon-Warner Robins-Fort Valley combined statistical area. Flat Creek Public Fishing Area is in Houston County, south west of Perry.

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Houston County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Houston County". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council, in partnership with the University of Georgia Press, the University System of Georgia/GALILEO, and the Office of the Governor. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
  4. ^ "Houston County, Georgia - Centerville, Perry, Warner Robins - Georgia's Most Progressive County!".
  5. ^ a b "Houston County". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council, in partnership with the University of Georgia Press, the University System of Georgia/GALILEO, and the Office of the Governor. Retrieved September 1, 2016.