Southeast Georgia | |
|---|---|
Region | |
 Valdosta Commercial Historic District | |
.png.webp) Southeast Georgia highlighted in red | |
 Location of Georgia within the United States | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| Largest city | Valdosta |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 416,498 |
| Demonym | Southeast Georgian |
| Website | georgia |
Southeast Georgia is an eighteen-county region within the U.S. state of Georgia, bordering Florida.[1] Forming a part of Georgia's Lower Coastal Plain, the largest city for Southeast Georgia is Valdosta, which forms the core of the Valdosta metropolitan area. The region's largest county by population is Lowndes County. Tabulating Southeast Georgia's counties, the region had a total resident population of 416,498 in 2020.
Geography
Located in southern Georgia and the Deep South, the Southeast Georgia region lies on a low elevation above sea level, and a portion of its land consists of the Okefenokee Swamp.[1][2] According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Southeast Georgia consists of the following counties: Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, and Ware.
Demographics
Southeast Georgia, like the majority of the U.S. state, has been settled by a predominantly non-Hispanic white and Black or African American population. Among its regional population, the counties making up the region had a resident population of 416,498 as of the 2020 United States census. To its west, Southwest Georgia has remained predominantly African America, forming part of the Black Belt of the South.
As a part of the Bible Belt, Christianity is the largest religion for Southeast Georgia. Throughout its counties, Southeast Georgia's largest single Christian denomination has been the Southern Baptist Convention, with 97,452 adherents. The Baptist tradition is the region's largest Protestant group, with the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America and National Baptist Convention of the United States of America being the second and third-largest Baptist denominations. Non/interdenominational Protestants formed the second-largest overall group with 25,080 adherents.[3] Other prominent groups in the region have included Methodists and Pentecostals.
The largest non-Christian religions in the region have been Buddhism, Islam, and the Baha'i Faith.[3] Theravada Buddhism is the dominant sect of Buddhism practiced, with 1,296 adherents in Southeast Georgia.
Economy
According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Southeast Georgia's largest industries were the military through Georgia Air National Guard, and healthcare and education, stimulated by the Mayo Health Clinic System and Valdosta State University.[1] Valdosta State University operates a center of economic development for the region,[4] aiming to increase development within industrial businesses, healthcare, education, arts and athletics.
Transportation
The region is served by one interstate and four U.S. route highways; it is also served by the Valdosta Regional Airport which provides services by Delta to Atlanta.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 "Southeast Georgia - Region 11". Georgia Department of Economic Development. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ↑ "Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
- 1 2 "Congregational Membership Reports | US Religion". Association of Religion Data Archives. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ↑ "Center for South Georgia Regional Impact". Valdosta State University. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
- ↑ "Regional Airport in Valdosta, GA". Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
