Bulloch County, Georgia

Bulloch County Education, Geography, and History

Bulloch County is a county located in the state of Georgia. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 70,217. The county was created on February 8, 1796 from St. Phillip's parish. The county seat is Statesboro. The county is named after Archibald Bulloch, a South Carolina native who served as Provincial Governor of Georgia.

Bulloch County comprises the Statesboro, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Savannah-Hinesville-Statesboro Combined Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Bulloch County Name

Georgia's 21st county was named for Archibald Bulloch, who presided over the Provincial Congress of July 4, 1775, before becoming Georgia's first Provincial Governor in 1776.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Bulloch County History

Georgia's 21st county was named for Archibald Bulloch, who presided over the Provincial Congress of July 4, 1775, before becoming Georgia's first Provincial Governor in 1776.  Archibald Bulloch was born in South Carolina but bought a plantation on the Savannah River. Politically active in opposing the British, he became the first provincial governor of Georgia, in January 1776, and was to have been one of the signatories to the Declaration of Independence, but thirteen months to the day after taking office, he died, aged forty-six, in mysterious circumstances, probably poisoned. There was no Statesboro in his lifetime, just a terrain of settlers driving out the Creek Indians.

In addition to the county's four incorporated municipalities, a number of unincorporated communities like Nevils, Stilson, and Clito provide a glimpse into the county's history. One of the most interesting community names in Georgia is the Bulloch County community of Hopeulikit, named for a famous dance hall of the big band swing era.

Statesboro, the largest city, was created in 1866 and is the only city by that name in the United States.

Points of Interest

Georgia Southern University provides a number of resources to the community. It is the home of the Magnolia Gardens and GSU Botanical Gardens. The Lamar Q. Ball, Jr., Raptor Center and Wildlife Center provides an ecological educational center, as well as a sanctuary for bald eagles and other native birds of prey.

A downtown Center for the Arts and an Agribusiness Center, featuring a multi-purpose building to seat over 1,000 for a meal and an outdoor covered arena which will seat 4,000, are being developed at this time.

Notable Citizens

Emma Kelly, the "Lady of Six Thousand Songs" was from Statesboro.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 689 square miles (1,780 km²), of which 673 square miles (1,740 km²) is land and 16 square miles (41 km²) (2.3%) is water.

Bulloch county is located in east Georgia. The county is in the Ogeechee River basin.

 The terrain is mostly flat, as the county is in the coastal plain region of Georgia. However, the landscape gets slightly hilly in the northwestern and central side of the county. Bulloch County is just southwest of the Ogeechee River and has many other small waterways, ponds, and swamps. Trees like bald cypress are seen in these areas. On higher ground, pine, oak, and many other tree varieties native to the southeastern United States thrive.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Northeast: Screven County
• East: Effingham County
• Southeast: Bryan County
• Southwest: Evans County
• West: Candler County
• Northwest: Emanuel County; Jenkins County

Education

Statesboro is home to Georgia Southern University and Ogeechee Technical Institute.

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