Pearson, Georgia
8 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1953 and the latest in 1988. It stands in the Pearson census division. It lies in ZIP code area 31642. The Survey maps it on the Pearson quadrangle. 1,821 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 203 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Pearson
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 1 record
Atkinson County Courthouselisted 1980
Population over time
2 figuresPearson fell from 2,117 to 1,821 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2,117 | |
| 2020 | 1,821 | -296 (-14%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
5 surveys from 8 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1953 USGS Waycross quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1958 USGS Waycross quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1971 USGS Pearson quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1978 USGS Waycross quadrangle1:100000
- 1988 USGS Waycross quadrangle1:250000
Fires near this place
448 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 448 fires within 5 miles of Pearson between 1992 and 2020, burning about 1,065 acres in total. 31 started naturally. 31 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 293 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 35 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 31 |
| Natural | 31 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 27 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 15 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 9 |
| Smoking | 7 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 2017 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2018-ATKINSON-002 |
| 9 September 2006 | Arson/incendiarism | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 8 September 2016 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2017-ATKINSON-010 |
| 8 September 1998 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 30 September 2015 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2016-ATKINSON-004 |
| 3 September 1995 | Arson/incendiarism | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 29 September 2002 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.9 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2003-ATKINSON-009 |
| 27 September 1996 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Storms near this place
60 since 1995Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Pearson in 60 storm reports between 1995 and 2026: 42 thunderstorm wind, 12 hail, 3 tornado, 2 funnel cloud. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $100,000 | A mobile home being transported by semi truck was blown off the trailer during transport along Hwy 441 near Axson Rd north of Pearson, GA. Several trees were reported down and minor structure damage was also reported. An RV was also flipped over. Time was estimated from radar. |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $40,000 | Thunderstorm winds knocked down a large tree and several limbs. The tree and limbs fell on a house, destroying it. |
| February 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $15,000 | Power pole down on Fears Ave. Trees down on West Albany Ave. Large trees on roadway on Old Douglas Highway, north side of Pearson. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $5,000 | A chicken house roof was blown off and spread into a field and an awning next to a mobile home was lifted up and the steel leg penetrated into the mobile home. The cost of damage was estimated. Time of damage was estimated based on radar. |
| October 1997 | Tornado (F0) | Pearson | $5,000 | Large trees and tops of trees were destroyed. |
| June 2001 | Tornado (F0) | Pearson | $3,500 | Weak FO. Large trees and power lines were blown down. Trees were blocking secondary roads off Highway 21. |
| August 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $2,500 | Large trees and power lines were blown down. |
| July 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $2,500 | Large trees and power lines were blown down. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $2,500 | Large trees and power lines were blown down. |
| December 2018 | Tornado (EF0) | Pearson | $2,000 | A home security camera captured video of a tornado moving across personal property. Minor damage was done to the home. Cost of damage was estimated. |
| December 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $2,000 | Numerous trees down along Hwy 441 north and south of Pearson. |
| January 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $1,500 | Large trees and power lines were blown down. |
| July 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $1,500 | Large trees and power lines were blown down. |
| March 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $1,500 | Large trees and power lines were blown down. |
| October 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $1,500 | Large trees and power lines were blown down. |
| May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | $500 | Large trees and limbs blocked King Street. |
| March 2024 | Hail | Pearson | - | The public reported nickel size hail near Pearson. |
| March 2024 | Hail | Pearson | - | The public shared an image via social media of nickel size hail near Pearson. The time of the report was based on radar. |
| April 2024 | Heavy Rain | Pearson | - | A location about 4 miles NE of Pearson measured 4.74 inches of rain in 24 hours. |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Trees and power lines were blown down near Pearson. The time of damage was based on radar. |
| January 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | A traffic light and power lines were blown down on Route 441 near Quail Lane. The time of damage was based on radar. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | A large tree was blown down across E Austin Avenue. The time of damage was based on radar. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | A tree was blown down on Axson Road. The time of damage was based on radar. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | A tree was blown down on GA Highway 64 eastbound. The time of damage was based on radar. |
| August 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Multiple trees were blown down along north Main Street. |
| February 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Widespread trees were blown down in Pearson. A large tree was blown down onto power lines. The time of damage was based on radar. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Trees were blown down along Highway 441 north of Pearson. The time of damage was based on radar. |
| February 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Widespread power outages due to blown down trees and power lines were reported across southern Atkinson county. |
| February 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | The Atkinson County Department of Roads and Revenues reported a possible tornado touchdown near Cogdell Highway on Joe Neugent Road. There were 11 utility poles twisted off and two pivot systems for an irrigation that were flipped over on their sides. The power was out in portions of Pearson for up to 36 hours. The time of damage was based on radar imagery. |
| March 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | A large cypress tree was blown down on Columbus Road and knocked out power to customers. |
| August 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | A large tree was blown down on Highway 82 and County Road 212. |
| February 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | About 12 utility poles were blown down in Pearson and power was out for about 24 hours. The post office employee mentioned a possible tornado touchdown (unconfirmed) on Cogdell Highway just southeast of Pearson. The time of the event was based on radar. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Trees were blown down in Pearson with power outages reported in the city. Hail was reported but the size was unknown. The time of the report was based on radar. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Trees were blown down across Atkinson county. The time of the event was based on radar. |
| August 2010 | Funnel Cloud | Pearson | - | The Atkinson County 911 Dispatch relayed a public report of a funnel cloud in Pearson. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Many trees were blown down along Old Axson Road, and yard debris was blown across Highway 441 north of Pearson. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | A power line was blown down. |
| February 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Scattered trees down in the Pearson area along Mercy Road. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Pearson | - | Penny size hail was reported in Pearson. |
| February 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Emergency Management reports trees down on Sunnyside Church Road. |
| July 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Multiple trees were blown down along U.S. Highway 441, about five miles south of Pearson. |
| July 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Trees and power lines were blown down across the county. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Trees were blown down along Old Douglas Highway, about 2 miles north of Pearson. The downed trees contributed to a traffic accident along the highway. |
| March 2007 | Hail | Pearson | - | Penny size hail fell in downtown Pearson. |
| March 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | Widespread trees down on highways 441 and 221. Power outages in Willacoochee. |
| May 2006 | Hail | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| May 2006 | Hail | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| March 2005 | Hail | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| April 2004 | Hail | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| March 2003 | Hail | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| June 2003 | Funnel Cloud | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| June 2000 | Hail | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| October 1997 | Hail | Pearson | - | no account filed |
| October 1997 | Hail | Pearson | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkland | 3.0 miles | 8 | |
| Axson | 6.4 miles | 7 | |
| Leliaton | 7.7 miles | 8 | |
| Stokesville | 8.6 miles | 7 | |
| Sandy Bottom | 8.9 miles | 8 | |
| Oberry | 9.1 miles | 8 | |
| Gracys Station (historical) | 9.2 miles | 8 | |
| Henderson Still | 9.8 miles | 8 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Pearson | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q2534070 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 332626. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.




