According to liuxers.com, Ben Hill County is a county located in south central Georgia and is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county has a total area of 323 square miles and a population of 17,097 people as of the 2020 census. The county seat is Fitzgerald, Georgia, and the county is named after Benjamin Harvey Hill, a Confederate senator from Georgia.
The county is bordered by Coffee County to the north, Irwin County to the east, Wilcox County to the south and Tift County to the west. Ben Hill County has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. The average temperature in January is 47°F while in July it averages 81°F. The average annual precipitation for Ben Hill County is 50 inches per year with an average of 4 inches per month from May through September.
The economy of Ben Hill County relies heavily on agriculture with cotton being one of the main crops grown in the area. Other crops that are grown include corn, peanuts, soybeans, wheat and hay. Livestock production also plays an important role in the local economy with cattle ranching being one of the most popular activities here.
Ben Hill County also offers plenty of recreational activities for residents and visitors alike including golf courses, fishing spots on Lake Blackshear and other nearby lakes and rivers as well as camping sites at Reed Bingham State Park just outside Fitzgerald. Hiking trails are also available throughout Ben Hill County at places such as Moccasin Creek State Park near Fitzgerald which offers great views of Lake Blackshear from its hiking trails or at Little Ocmulgee State Park near McRae-Helena which features over 20 miles of hiking trails winding through wetlands and forests.
History of Ben Hill County, Georgia
Ben Hill County, Georgia is located in south central Georgia and is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county was created in 1906 and is named after Benjamin Harvey Hill, a Confederate senator from Georgia. Ben Hill County has a total area of 323 square miles and a population of 17,097 people as of the 2020 census.
The first inhabitants of Ben Hill County were Native Americans such as the Creek and Cherokee tribes who lived in the area until they were forcibly removed during the Indian Removal Act in 1830. After their removal, white settlers began to move into Ben Hill County and by 1840 there were about 2,000 people living in the area.
During the Civil War (1861-1865), Ben Hill County was home to several Confederate military units including Company G of the 19th Georgia Infantry Regiment which was formed from local farmers and saw action at several battles including Bull Run (Manassas) and Gettysburg.
After Reconstruction (1865-1877), Ben Hill County experienced an economic boom with cotton being one of its main crops along with corn, peanuts, soybeans, wheat and hay. In addition to agriculture, timber production also became an important industry in this region with large lumber mills being established throughout Ben Hill County as well as other nearby counties such as Coffee and Irwin Counties.
In addition to its agricultural roots, Ben Hill County also played a role in railroad development with several rail lines being built through here during the late 19th century including one that ran between Fitzgerald and Ocilla which connected Fitzgerald to other parts of Georgia as well as Florida. The railroad also helped spur economic growth in this region by connecting it to other parts of the country for trade purposes.
Today, Ben Hill County continues to be an important agricultural center with cotton still being one of its main crops along with other crops such as corn, peanuts, soybeans, wheat and hay while livestock production also plays an important role here. In addition to agriculture, tourism has become an increasingly important part of the local economy with attractions such as Reed Bingham State Park near Fitzgerald offering camping sites for visitors while nearby lakes such as Moccasin Creek State Park offers great views from its hiking trails or Little Ocmulgee State Park near McRae-Helena features over 20 miles of trails winding through wetlands and forests for visitors to explore.
Major cities and towns in Ben Hill County, Georgia
Ben Hill County is located in the south-central part of Georgia and is home to nearly 17,000 people. The county seat is Fitzgerald, which is also the largest city in the county. Other major cities and towns in Ben Hill County include McRae-Helena, Ocilla, and Rebecca.
Fitzgerald is the largest city in Ben Hill County with a population of 9,400 people. It was founded in 1896 and named after a railroad official who had helped build a railroad line through the area. The town has since become known as the “Heart of Georgia” due to its central location between Savannah and Atlanta. It has several historic buildings as well as a vibrant downtown area with shops and restaurants. Fitzgerald also hosts an annual Blueberry Festival each June that draws thousands of visitors from across the state.
McRae-Helena is located about 20 miles northwest of Fitzgerald and has a population of 4,100 people. It was founded in 1902 when two separate towns (McRae and Helena) merged together due to their close proximity to each other. McRae-Helena is known for its beautiful historic homes as well as its annual Peanut Festival which takes place each October featuring arts & crafts, live music, food vendors, carnival rides, contests, parades, fireworks displays and more.
Ocilla is located about 30 miles west of Fitzgerald with a population of 3,500 people. It was established in 1894 by the Irwin County Railroad Company who built a railway through here connecting Ocilla with other parts of Georgia as well as Florida. The town has several historic buildings such as the Ocilla Depot Museum which features artifacts from early settlers such as tools used for farming cotton or items used for making moonshine during prohibition era.
Rebecca is situated about 10 miles southeast of Fitzgerald with a population of 1,100 people. It was founded in 1895 by Reverend John Dyer who named it after his daughter Rebecca Dyer who died shortly before he established this small town near his church grounds where he served for many years until his death in 1916 at age 75 years old. Rebecca still has several original buildings from this era such as an old schoolhouse which now serves as an antique shop or an old general store which now serves as an ice cream parlor.
Ben Hill County offers plenty to explore from its vibrant cities to its charming small towns so there’s something for everyone here. Whether you’re visiting one town or exploring them all you’re sure to find something unique that will make your trip memorable.
Airports in Ben Hill County, Georgia
According to Countryaah, Ben Hill County, Georgia is home to three popular airports that provide convenient transportation options for travelers. The three main airports in the county are the Fitzgerald Municipal Airport, Ocilla-Irwin County Airport, and Rebecca-Wynn Airport. Each of these airports offers a variety of services and amenities for both commercial and private aviation needs.
The Fitzgerald Municipal Airport is located in the city of Fitzgerald and serves as an important hub for air travel in Ben Hill County. This airport has two runways that are both 5,000 feet long and offer service to a variety of destinations across the United States. The airport also features a terminal building with several amenities such as car rental services, shops and restaurants, free Wi-Fi access throughout the building, and more.
The Ocilla-Irwin County Airport is located just outside of Ocilla in Irwin County and provides service to destinations across the region. This airport has a single runway that is 5,000 feet long and offers several services such as fuel sales, pilot supplies, aircraft maintenance, car rental services, flight instruction classes, hangar rentals, air taxi services, weather briefings and more.
Finally, there’s the Rebecca-Wynn Airport which is located just outside of Rebecca in Ben Hill County. This airport has two runways that are both 4,000 feet long offering service to destinations across the region as well as some international flights. The airport also features a full range of amenities such as fuel sales for both private aircrafts and commercial airlines; vehicle rental services; pilot supplies; aircraft maintenance; flight instruction classes; hangar rentals; air taxi services; weather briefings; free Wi-Fi access throughout the building; shops & restaurants; conference rooms & meeting spaces; luggage storage facilities; ATM machines & vending machines; restrooms & showers facilities.
Ben Hill County offers plenty of convenient transportation options with its three main airports providing easy access to destinations across the country and beyond. Whether you’re flying commercially or privately you’ll be sure to find everything you need here at one or all three of these airports.