how many counties does the state of georgia have
159 159 counties
title: Government of Georgia (U.S. state) text: Court of Appeals serve for terms of six years. Judges of other courts serve for terms of four years. The Georgia Constitution grants cities and counties a significant amount of home rule authority. Georgia is divided into 159 counties, more than any other U.S. state except Texas. Among all counties, 149 of them are governed by a committee made of between three and eleven commissioners. The other 10 counties are overseen by a single commissioner. All commissioners are elected by the voters of their county for terms that range between two and six years with most counties having terms lasting title: Georgia (U.S. state) text: Some counties have been named for prominent figures in both American and Georgian history, and many bear names with Native American origin. Counties in Georgia have their own elected legislative branch, usually called the Board of Commissioners, which usually also has executive authority in the county. Several counties have a sole Commissioner form of government, with legislative and executive authority vested in a single person. Georgia is the only state with current Sole Commissioner counties. Georgia's Constitution provides all counties and cities with "home rule" authority. The county commissions have considerable power to pass legislation within their county, as a title: County Unit System text: was in effect, the Democratic Party was the single dominant party in state politics. Democratic nominees frequently ran unopposed or with only token opposition in general elections, so the Democratic primary election usually determined the eventual officeholder. Under the County Unit System, the 159 counties in Georgia were divided by population into three categories. The largest eight counties were classified as "Urban," the next-largest 30 counties were classified as "Town," and the remaining 121 counties were classified as "Rural." Urban counties were given 6 unit votes, Town counties were given 4 unit votes, and Rural counties were given 2 unit title: Peach County, Georgia text: Peach County, Georgia Peach County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 27,695. Its county seat is Fort Valley. Founded in 1924, it is the state's newest county, taken from Houston and Macon counties on July 8 of that year. Its namesake is the peach, Georgia's most famous crop. Peach County is included in the Warner Robins, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Macon-Warner Robins, GA Combined Statistical Area. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of title: Georgia (U.S. state) text: statewide authority. In addition, there are smaller courts which have more limited geographical jurisdiction, including Superior Courts, State Courts, Juvenile Courts, Magistrate Courts and Probate Courts. Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court of Appeals are elected statewide by the citizens in non-partisan elections to six-year terms. Judges for the smaller courts are elected to four-year terms by the state's citizens who live within that court's jurisdiction. Georgia consists of 159 counties, second only to Texas, with 254. Georgia had 161 counties until the end of 1931, when Milton and Campbell were merged into the existing Fulton.