Moving to Homer, Georgia

Homer, the county seat of Banks County, was incorporated on December 19, 1859. The city was named after Homer Jackson, a prominent early settler.

The Banks County courthouse, in Homer, is one of the four oldest courthouses in Georgia. The courthouse was built between 1860 and 1863 and the county used it until 1987, when it was restored. Today it houses historic exhibits, the Banks Chamber of Commerce and the Welcome Center.

Another historical site is the Banks County Jail that was built circa 1864-1880. The jail is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and still has the cells, bars on the windows and the “hanging trap” door.

Homer hosts an Easter egg hunt held in each spring that claims to be the world’s largest.

Population: 950. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,085 (+14.2% change)
Males: 464 (48.8%), Females: 486 (51.2%)

Banks County

Zip code: 30547

Demographics

Median resident age: 33.1 years
Median household income: $35,500
Median house value: $90,000

Population by Race

Races in Homer:

• White Non-Hispanic (83.6%)
• Black (11.8%)
• Hispanic (2.0%)
• American Indian (1.8%)
• Other race (1.2%)
• Other Asian (0.8%)
• Two or more races (0.7%)

Ancestries: United States (30.5%), English (7.6%), Irish (6.8%), Scotch-Irish (3.5%), Scottish (3.4%), French (2.5%).

Elevation: 820 feet

Land area: 9.6 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Homer

• High school or higher: 63.4%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.7%
• Graduate or professional degree: 3.5%
• Unemployed: 4.5%
• Mean travel time to work: 27.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Homer town

• Never married: 19.4%
• Now married: 57.7%
• Separated: 0.9%
• Widowed: 9.2%
• Divorced: 12.8%

0.5% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +197 (+26.2%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Homer:

• BANKS-JACKSON-COMMERCE HOSPITAL (about 9 miles; COMMERCE, GA)
• HABERSHAM COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER (about 17 miles; DEMOREST, GA)
• STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 21 miles; TOCCOA, GA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Homer:

• ATHENS/BEN EPPS (about 31 miles; ATHENS, GA; Abbreviation: AHN)
• ANDERSON RGNL (about 57 miles; ANDERSON, SC; Abbreviation: AND)
• DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE (about 76 miles; MARIETTA, GA; Abbreviation: MGE)

Other public-use airports nearest to Homer:

• HABERSHAM COUNTY (about 12 miles; CORNELIA, GA; Abbreviation: AJR)
• JACKSON COUNTY (about 12 miles; JEFFERSON, GA; Abbreviation: 19A)
• LEE GILMER MEMORIAL (about 23 miles; GAINESVILLE, GA; Abbreviation: GVL)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Homer:

• UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA (about 28 miles; ATHENS, GA; Full-time enrollment: 28,464)
• GAINESVILLE COLLEGE (about 28 miles; OAKWOOD, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,181)
• NORTH GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY (about 36 miles; DAHLONEGA, GA; Full-time enrollment: 3,119)
• GWINNETT TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 43 miles; LAWRENCEVILLE, GA; Full-time enrollment: 3,215)
• TRI-COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 55 miles; PENDLETON, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,343)
• CLEMSON UNIVERSITY (about 66 miles; CLEMSON, SC; Full-time enrollment: 15,962)
• DEVRY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (about 68 miles; DECATUR, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,486)

Schools

Public high school in Homer:

• BANKS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 648; Location: 10174 HIGHWAY 441 SOUTH; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Homer:

• BANKS COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 643; Location: 180 HWY 51 SOUTH; Grades: 06 – 08)
• BANKS COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL (Students: 393; Location: 266 HIGHWAY 51 SOUTH; Grades: PK – 01)
• BANKS COUNTY UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 388; Location: 182 HWY 51 SOUTH; Grades: 04 – 05)
• BANKS COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 385; Location: 335 EVANS STREET; Grades: 02 – 03)
• ALPINE PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (Location: 102 HWY 51 SOUTH; Grades: 00 – 00)