Houston County

Houston County

Houston County (pronounced House-ton), the 51st county formed in Georgia, was created in 1821. Originally part of the Creek nation’s land, the county was named for John Houstoun, a member of the Continental Congress and two-term governor of Georgia from 1778-1784.

The county has three municipalities: Centerville, Warner Robins and Perry, the county seat. Robins Air Force Base also is located in the county.

Both Warner Robins and Robins Air Force Base were named for Brig. Gen. Augustine Warner Robins.

Robins Air Force Base was built in 1941 for about $15 million. It covers 6,400 acres and is Georgia’s largest single employer, providing an important economic boost to Middle Georgia.

Perry is named in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry, the naval officer who said, “We have met the enemy and they are ours,” after a fleet under his command defeated the British at Lake Erie. Perry also is home to the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter.

HOUSTON COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Houston County Annex, 200 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins

Houston County Board of Commissioners, 478-542-2115

CITY GOVERNMENTS

Warner Robins City Hall, 700 Watson Blvd., Warner Robins, 478-929-1111

Perry City Hall, 1211 Washington St., Perry, 478-988-2700

Centerville City Hall, 300 East Church St., Centerville, 478-953-4734

Voter registration

Houston County Board of Elections, 801 Main St., Room 237, Perry, 478-987-1973

Also Centerville and Perry city halls, Houston County Annex in Warner Robins and the Departments of Public Safety in Perry and Warner Robins.

Driver’s licenses

Licenses can be obtained at bureaus at 198 Carl Vinson Parkway in Warner Robins, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 478-542-2110; and at 450 Larry Walker Parkway in Perry, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 478-988-6721

Auto tags

Houston County Tag Offices: 200 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 478-542-2110; 201 Perry Parkway, Perry, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 478-218-4940

Emergency numbers

Centerville Police Department, 911 or 478-953-4222; Fire Department, 911 or 478-953-4050

Perry Police Department, 911 or 478-988-2800; Fire Department, 911 or 478-988-2850

Warner Robins Police Department, 911 or 478-929-1170; Fire Department, 911 or 478-293-1020

POPULATION

2012 estimate: 146,316

Change, 2000 to 2010: 26.3 percent

White: 64.7 percent

Black: 29.4 percent

Hispanic: 6.3 percent

EDUCATION

High school or better: 87.3 percent

Bachelor’s or better: 24.4 percent

Public high school graduates, 2011: 1,537

Graduation rate, 2011: 73.2 percent

Public school enrollment, October 2012: 27,610

Eligible for HOPE scholarship: 39.4 percent

Enrolled, white: 49 percent

Enrolled, black: 36.1 percent

ECONOMICS

Median household income, 2011: $51,851

People below poverty level: 14.6 percent

Unemployment rate, December 2013: 6.7

Civilian labor force, December 2013: 69,424

HEALTH

Births per 1,000 people, 2010: 14.8

Deaths per 1,000 people, 2010: 7

Births to unwed mothers, 2010: 41.8 percent

Teen pregnancies per 1,000 girls aged 10 to 19: 25.5

People per physician, 2010: 717

Uninsured, less than age 65: 18 percent

TANF recipients, Fiscal 2010: 0.4 percent

PHYSICAL

Land: 379.9 square miles

Land in farms: 19.4 percent

Road mileage, unpaved, 2010: 5.5 percent

Sources: Telegraph analysis, Georgia Statistics System, U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Department of Education

This story was originally published May 4, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Houston County ."