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Albany, Georgia

Albany is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia. Located on the Flint River, it is the seat of Dougherty County, and is the sole incorporated city in that county. Located in Southwest Georgia, it is the principal city of the Albany metropolitan area. The city's population was 68,089 in 2020.

It became prominent in the nineteenth century as a shipping and market center, first served by riverboats. Scheduled steamboats connected Albany with the busy port of Apalachicola, Florida. They were replaced by railroads. Seven lines met in Albany, and it was a center of trade in the Southeast.

Albany is part of the Black Belt, a geological formation of soil conducive to cotton growth. An extensive area in the Southern geographical area of the United States. From the mid-20th century, it received military investment during World War II and after, that helped develop the region. Albany and this area were prominent during the civil rights era, particularly during the early 1960s as activists worked to regain voting and other civil rights. Railroad restructuring and reduction in the military here caused job losses, but the city has developed new businesses.

History
Albany is located in a region which was long inhabited by the Creek Indians, who called it Thronateeska after their word for "flint", the valuable mineral found in beds near the Flint River. They used it for making arrowheads and other tools. In 1830, U.S. Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, and the United States made treaties to extinguish Creek and other Native American land claims in the Southeast. The U.S. Army forcibly removed most of the native peoples to Indian Territory, lands west of the Mississippi River.

Nelson Tift
European-American settlement began with Nelson Tift of Groton, Connecticut, who took land along the Flint River in October 1836 after Indian removal. Tift and his colleagues named the new town Albany after the capital of New York; noting that New York's Albany was a commercial center located at the headwaters of the Hudson River, they hoped that their town near the headwaters of the Flint would prove to be just as successful. It proved to be nowhere near as prosperous. Alexander Shotwell laid out the town in 1836, and it was incorporated as a city by an act of the General Assembly of Georgia on December 27, 1838.

Tift was the city's leading entrepreneur for decades. An ardent booster, he promoted education, business, and railroad construction. During the Civil War he provided naval supplies and helped build two ships. He opposed Radical Reconstruction inside the state and in Congress, and was scornful of the Yankee carpetbaggers who came in. Historian John Fair concludes that Tift became "more Southern than many natives." His pro-slavery attitudes before the war and his support for segregation afterward made him compatible with Georgia's white elite.

This area was developed for cotton cultivation by planters, who used numerous enslaved African Americans to clear lands and process the cotton. As a result of the planters' acquisition of slave workers, by 1840 Dougherty County's majority population was black, composed overwhelmingly of slaves. The market center for cotton plantations, Albany was in a prime location for shipping cotton to other markets by steamboats. In 1858, Tift hired Horace King, a former slave and bridge builder, to construct a toll bridge over the river. King's bridge toll house still stands.

Already important as a shipping port, Albany later became an important railroad hub in southwestern Georgia. Seven lines were constructed to the town. An exhibit on trains is located at the Thronateeska Heritage Center in the former railroad station.

Carey Wentworth Styles
After the war, Carey Wentworth Styles moved to Albany and founded the newspaper Albany News. In the early years following the war, Styles, like Tift, took great exception to the Radical Reconstruction program then in force, and advocated for a more moderate response based on his interpretation of Georgia's rights under the Constitution. Styles backed "constitutional reconstruction" advanced by Benjamin H. Hill and sought support for the idea from the national Democratic party. While on a trip to Atlanta in May 1868, to meet with Democratic party leaders, Styles took measure of the contemporary Atlanta newspapers, and found them lacking.

Styles believed them to be little more than organs for the Radical Republican reconstruction agenda. He resolved to bring a paper aligned with the Democratic party viewpoint to the Atlanta market, one supporting his constitutional reconstruction ideals. Styles moved from Albany to Atlanta, and on May 9 he announced that he had obtained the necessary financial backing to purchase the Daily Opinion.

On June 16, 1868 the new Democratic daily (as he described it) printed its first edition, under the name The Constitution. Styles' tenure at the Atlanta Constitution would be brief. Unable to pay for his portion of the purchase, when the sale of his Albany News fell through, Styles was forced to surrender his interest in the paper to his joint venture partners. Styles returned to Albany as editor of the News. In 1872, he was elected to the Georgia Senate, representing Augusta and surrounding communities, in an ironic turn of events, having killed a member of the Georgia House of Representatives in his earlier years. After his legislative service, Styles sold the Albany newspaper in 1876 and returned to Atlanta.

20th century to present
While integral to the economic life of the town, the Flint River has flooded regularly. It caused extensive property damage in 1841 and 1925. The city has also been subject to tornadoes. On February 10, 1940, a severe tornado hit Albany, killing eighteen people and causing large-scale damage.

1940 tornado gallery
On April 11, 1906, the Carnegie Library, created by matching funds from the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, was opened downtown. Originally a segregated facility under Jim Crow laws, it was not open to African Americans until after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It functioned as a library through 1985. In 1992, after renovation, the building was reopened as the headquarters of the Albany Area Arts Council.

In 1912, the downtown U.S. Post Office and courthouse building opened. Other federal projects have been important to the city and region. In 1937, Chehaw Park was constructed as a part of a New Deal program under the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression.

Major changes came with the expansion of military facilities in the city, secured by the powerful Southern Block in Congress. A U.S. Army Air Corps training base was built near Albany on land owned by the city and leased to the Air Corps for $1 a year. Construction of the base and airfield by the Army Corps of Engineers began on March 25, 1941. After being used during World War II, the airfield was temporarily deactivated between August 15, 1946, and September 1, 1947.

After the beginning of the Cold War and the founding of the U.S. Air Force in late 1947, the airfield was reactivated and upgraded with runways for a U.S. Air Force base. It was named Turner Air Force Base. The Air Force used this base for heavy bomber jets, such as the B-52 Stratofortress. A number of other Air Force units were also housed at this base. Among them were the 1370th Photomapping Group, and refueling and maintenance functions.

In 1951, the U.S. Marine Corps established a logistics base on the eastern outskirts of Albany. During the 1950s and 1960s, so many white servicemen and associated workers arrived that the city briefly became majority white for the first time since 1870.

In 1960, the population of Albany reached 50,000 people. During 1961–1962, African Americans in Albany played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement (see the Albany Movement). They led protests and non-violent demonstrations to end segregation of public facilities, gain the right to vote, and advance social justice. Assisted by activists from SCLC, CORE, SNCC, and the NAACP, African Americans and supporters took a stand to fight segregation through nonviolence. The city repealed its Jim Crow laws in 1963, but African Americans did not recover the ability to exercise their voting rights until Congress passed enforcement authority with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

In 1967, the Air Force closed all its operations at the base, which was transferred to the U.S. Navy and renamed Naval Air Station Albany. NAS Albany was used as the shore base of nearly all the Navy's RA-5C Vigilante twin-jet, carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft. In 1974, the base was closed and the property was returned to the city.

In 1979, the Miller Brewing Company purchased part of the old naval base's property to build a new brewery.

The decline in military bases and railroad restructuring nationwide both led to job losses in the Albany area. Much of the remaining white population moved to suburbs and newer housing out of the city, which became majority African American in the 1970s. Struggling with a poor economy, in 1988 Albany made national headlines as the "Murder Capital of America", with the highest murder rate per capita in the United States. Other cities have since taken that title.

Some late twentieth-century floods have been extreme. In 1994, a severe flood was caused by rainfall from Tropical Storm Alberto; it killed 14 people and displaced 22,000. The state supported a $150 million renovation of the Albany State University campus to repair storm damage and complete upgrades. New housing was built on the south side of town to replace what had been destroyed. In 1998, the Flint River crested at 35 ft above its bed and flooded parts of the city.

Because of such flooding, the city has decided against redeveloping areas along the riverfront floodplain for commercial or residential purposes. This area is being improved for other uses, with a riverfront walkway and a new aquarium built over a tributary creek.

On January 2 and 22, 2017, violent tornadoes passed through the area, claiming several lives and destroying mobile home parks in the process. On October 10, 2018 Hurricane Michael, the first major hurricane (Category 3+) to directly impact Georgia since the 1890s, plowed through South Georgia leaving widespread devastation in its path.

Geography
Albany is located at (31.582273, −84.165557), within Southwest Georgia. It lies in a belt of historically rich farmland in the East Gulf coastal plain, on the banks of the Flint River. The city is 78 mi southeast of Columbus, 151 mi south of Atlanta, 45 mi south of Americus, 93 mi southwest of Macon, 39 mi west of Tifton, 73 mi northwest of Valdosta, 88 mi north of Tallahassee, Florida, 70 mi east of Eufaula, Alabama, and 84 mi east of Dothan, Alabama.

, the city of Albany had been a member of the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA Program for 23 years. Tree-lined streets are common, with large, mature oaks and other native trees. The city has a tree ordinance, and a certified arborist on staff.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Albany has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. Albany receives well above the national average amount of precipitation. Much of this comes in the form of heavy showers and thunderstorms. According to "Cities Ranked and Rated" (Bert Sperling and Peter Sander), Albany reports thunder on 86 days per year. This is more than twice the national average.

Demographics
At the 1860 U.S. census, the city's population was 1,618. Its population has increased to a historic high of 78,122, before experiencing a decline to 69,647 at the 2020 United States census.

Racially and ethnically, Albany forms a part of the Black Belt. The racial and ethnic composition in 2020 was 74.59% Black or African American, 19.71% non-Hispanic white, 0.13% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.02% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 2.47% other or multiracial, and 2.36% Hispanic or Latino of any race. According to the American Community Survey of 2022, its racial and ethnic makeup was 75% African American, 19% White, 1% Asian, 2% multiracial, and 3% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

At the 2022 American Community Survey, the city had a median age of 34.7. There was an average of 2.3 persons per household and 27,608 housing units. Approximately 33% were married couples, 19% non-family households, 40% female households, and 7% male households. An estimated 36% of the city population was married.

Among its relatively young population, the city had a median household income of $39,422 with a per capita income of $22,115. More than 60% of the population earned less than $50,000 annually, and 27% earned from $50,000 to $100,000 a year. Of the population, 33.8% lived at or below the poverty line, and 55% of children under age 18 are considered to be in poverty. Approximately 15% of adults 65 and older were considered in poverty.

Economy

Today, although the city is surrounded by pecan groves, pine trees, farms and plantations, almost none of the population is employed in agriculture. It has become heavily industrialized, and most business is conducted on a multinational scale. The city developed on both sides of the Flint River.

Health care, education and the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany are the largest employers. Manufacturing, transportation, and retail trade are also important foundations of Albany's economy, and the city acts as a hub for commerce in southwest Georgia.

On December 17, 2008, Cooper Tire and Rubber, one of Albany's largest employers, announced plans to close the local manufacturing facility. Approximately 1,400 employees at the plant were projected to lose their jobs.

As a result of the Great Recession, unemployment remained higher in Albany than the country average. In 2012 Albany continued to add more new jobs while other portions of the state were trying to stem the tide of unemployment.

Albany has a skilled workforce, makes continual upgrades to its infrastructure, and has improvements in public safety, such as its ISO fire rating of 2. It has numerous economic development initiatives, such as an Opportunity Zone, which offers a $3,500 tax credit per job created.

Museums and the arts

 * Albany Area Arts Council
 * The Albany Chorale
 * Albany Civic Center
 * Albany Civil Rights Institute
 * The Albany Concert Association
 * Albany Municipal Auditorium
 * Albany Museum of Art
 * The Albany Symphony Orchestra
 * Ballet Theatre South
 * Flint RiverQuarium
 * The Parks at Chehaw has one of two accredited zoos in the state.
 * RiverQuarium Imagination Theater
 * Theatre Albany
 * Thronateeska Heritage Center
 * Weatherbee Planetarium

Registered historic places

 * Albany District Pecan Growers' Exchange
 * Albany Housefurnishing Company
 * Albany Municipal Auditorium
 * Albany Railroad Depot Historic District
 * Bridge House
 * Carnegie Library of Albany
 * Davis-Exchange Bank Building
 * John A. Davis House
 * Mount Zion Baptist Church
 * New Albany Hotel
 * Old St. Teresa's Catholic Church
 * Rosenberg Brothers Department Store
 * St. Nicholas Hotel
 * Samuel Farkas House
 * Tift Park
 * U.S. Post Office and Courthouse
 * Union Station Depot
 * W. E. Smith House

Sports

 * Albany was home to the Albany Polecats, who were a low-A class team that played in the South Atlantic League between 1992 and 1995. Albany was also home to the South Georgia Peanuts, who played in the South Coast League. They won the South Coast League championships in the league's inaugural season (2007) and were managed by former MLB shortstop Wally Backman. The league folded after that season.
 * The Albany Panthers were an indoor football team based in Albany, Georgia. The team joined the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) during their inaugural season in 2010. When the SIFL folded, the team joined the Professional Indoor Football League in 2012. The Panthers' home games were played at the James H. Gray Civic Center until 2014.
 * The Georgia Firebirds were an indoor football team that played in various semi-pro leagues as well as the professional American Indoor Football in 2016 and the National Arena League in 2017.
 * Albany is home to Sowegans SC, an amateur soccer team founded in 2023 and competing in the Gulf Coast Premier League. The team hosts home matches at Westover Comprehensive High School.
 * Craft Axe Throwing Albany brought the sport of axe throwing to Albany in 2019. The sport has continued to grow and enhance Albany's community.

Memorials and sights

 * Albany Civil Rights Memorial
 * Albany Railroad Depot Historic District
 * Astronauts Memorial
 * Confederate Memorial Park
 * The Flint Riverquarium
 * Freedom Flame
 * Freedom Walk
 * The Guardian
 * Radium Springs – one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia
 * Ray Charles Plaza
 * RiverFront Park
 * Royal Air Force Memorial
 * Veterans Park

Festivals and events
City races include a 26.2 mi full marathon or a 13.1 mi half marathon. The full race is ranked as one of the top Boston Marathon qualifiers in the country, with almost 20% of all marathon finishers qualifying.

The annual Mardi Gras Street Festival takes place in downtown Albany the first weekend of March. Starting at noon and running until midnight, the festival coincides with the marathon and half marathon.

Government
Elected officials include a mayor and six city commissioners, each of whom serves a four-year term. The commissioners are elected from single-member districts. An appointed city manager acts as the chief administrative officer. The city has been governed by a city commission and city manager since January 14, 1924.

The city government places responsibility for specific features into several departments.

Public schools
The Dougherty County School System operates a system of five learning centers, fourteen public elementary schools, four public middle schools, three public high schools, and one alternative school. All schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC). The system had an enrollment in 2009–2010 of 15,838 students being taught by 1,070 teachers and 198 support and administrative personnel.

The following schools have distinctions:
 * Alice Coachman Elementary School: 2009 National Blue Ribbon School, 2009 "No Excuses School" (Georgia Public Policy Foundation)
 * Lincoln Elementary Magnet School: 2009–2010 Governor's Office of Students Achievement Bronze Award for Highest Percentage of Students Meeting & Exceeding Standards on the CRCT
 * International Studies Elementary Charter School: Title 1 Distinguished School (10 consecutive years making AYP)
 * Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet School: 2009–2010 Governor's Office of Students Achievement Gold Award for Highest Percentage of Students Meeting & Exceeding Standards on the CRCT

Private schools
Several private schools provide primary and secondary education, including:
 * Byne Memorial Baptist School (BMBS)
 * Deerfield-Windsor School (DWS)
 * God's Foundation Christian Academy (GFCA)
 * St. Teresa's Catholic School (STS)
 * Sherwood Christian Academy (SCA)
 * Christian Covenant Academy (CCA)

Albany State University
The city is the location of Albany State University, founded as a pre-collegiate school in 1903. African Americans in the South had been intent since emancipation in gaining education and, by the turn of the 20th century, most were literate, as documented by W. E. B. Du Bois in his history, Black Reconstruction (1930). Albany State is notable as one of the few historically black colleges and universities to be part of the University System of Georgia.

Albany Technical College
Albany Technical College is part of the Technical College System of Georgia and teaches post-secondary vocational and occupational training subjects.

Georgia Military College (GMC) has a site at this campus and conducts some classes here.

Troy University
Albany is a site location of Troy University, one of many satellites which Troy has established throughout the Southeastern United States. For more than 20 years, Troy University, a public non-profit institution of Alabama, has taught classes both in-class and online in Albany. Troy's Albany site has classes in criminal justice, psychology and various general studies, along with offering other undergraduate and master's degree programs online.

Public libraries
Dougherty County Public Library operates the public libraries serving Albany.

Newspapers

 * The Albany Herald, founded in 1891
 * The Albany Journal, published since 1939; Tom Knighton is current editor and publisher
 * The Albany Southwest Georgian, historically black newspaper founded by A. C. Searles, editor
 * The Metro Gazette, offers positive news about the community; founded in 2010 by Judith Hampton-Thompson

Television stations

 * Channel 10 WALB (NBC)
 * Channel 10.2 WALB-DT2 (ABC)
 * Channel 14 WABW (PBS-GPB) (Pelham)
 * Channel 25 WACS (PBS-GPB) (Dawson)
 * Channel 31 WFXL (FOX)
 * Channel 44 WSWG (CBS)
 * Channel 44.2 WSWG-DT2 (MyNet-WSST)
 * Channel 44.3 WSWG-DT3 (CW+)
 * Channel 55 WSST (MyNet)

FM radio stations

 * 88.5 W203AT (religious; translator for KEAR)
 * 89.3 WBJY (religious)
 * 90.3 WAEF (religious)
 * 90.7 WWQA (religious, bluegrass)
 * 91.7 WUNV (NPR – news, classical)
 * 92.7 WASU (Albany State University – college, jazz, urban)
 * 93.1 WSRD (religious, talk)
 * 93.5 WMRG (hip-hop/R&B)
 * 93.9 WMTM (Classic hits)
 * 94.7 WDEC (hot adult contemporary)
 * 96.3 WJIZ (urban)
 * 97.3 WGEX "Power 97.3" (Top 40)
 * 98.1 WMRZ "Kiss" (adult urban)
 * 100.3 WOBB "B-100"(country)
 * 101.3 WTOA-LP Catholic radio
 * 101.7 WQVE "V101.7"(R&B, classic soul)
 * 102.1 WJST "Retro FM 102.1" (classic hits)
 * 102.5 W273AE (religious; translator for WYFK)
 * 103.5 WJAD "Rock 103" (classic and mainstream rock) (Leesburg)
 * 104.5 WKAK "Nash FM" (country) (formerly K-Country 104.5 as of June 2013)
 * 105.5 WZBN "Power 105... The King" (holy hip hop and contemporary gospel)
 * 106.1 WHKV (Christian contemporary)
 * 106.5 WZIQ (Christian)
 * 107.7 WNOU "107.7 Now-FM" (Hot adult contemporary)

AM radio stations

 * 960 WJYZ (gospel)
 * 1250 WSRA (ESPN sports)
 * 1590 WALG (news, talk)

Air
Southwest Georgia Regional Airport (ABY) is a non-hub commercial service airport with service to Atlanta by Endeavor Air, a regional carrier for Delta. Both UPS and DHL use the airport as a sorting facility. In 2010, a master plan was completed. It recommended moving forward with the Replacement Terminal Project.

Rail
Freight rail service is provided by Georgia Southwestern Railroad, Georgia and Florida Railway/Omnitrax, and Norfolk Southern Railway. Georgia and Florida Railway has its headquarters in Albany.

Several passenger trains from St. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati in the Midwest, heading to Florida, made stops in Albany Union Station. The last of these, the Illinois Central's City of Miami made its final stop there in 1971.

Bus
Albany Transit System (ATS) has been operated by the city since 1974 and provides fixed-route and para-transit services in Albany and Dougherty County, including service to the airport. All buses are wheelchair accessible and are equipped with bicycle racks. The main transfer station is in downtown Albany, at the corner of Oglethorpe and Jackson.

In addition, a Greyhound bus station is located in downtown Albany, with connections to interstate service.

Transportation
While Albany is one of the largest cities in Georgia to not be served by an interstate, U.S. Route 19 and U.S. Route 82 provide thoroughfares through the city. The two join together north of the city for a short freeway known as the Liberty Expressway. Other major highways that run through the city include Georgia State Route 91, Georgia State Route 133, Georgia State Route 234, and Georgia State Route 520. Albany is located on Georgia State Route 300 (Georgia-Florida Parkway), which provides easy access to Cordele, and Interstate 75 to the northeast and south to Camilla, and Thomasville. The Liberty Expressway spans 10 mi serves as a bypass on Albany's north and east sides. Other highways that pass through Albany include US 19, US 82, and State Routes 3, 62, 91, 133, 234, and 520.

Bridges
Albany's Broad Avenue Memorial bridge, constructed in 1920 and comprising three open-spandrel concrete deck arch main spans and eight closed-spandrel deck arch spans, was closed in February 2009 after examination found it to be in unsafe condition. Deconstruction began in 2015 and the replacement segmental concrete box girder bridge was dedicated to veterans and opened on November 11, 2015.

In the early 1970s, construction of the Liberty-bypass bridges began. Construction of the bridges over the Flint River was completed much before the highway itself. They became known as the bridges to nowhere.

Georgia Power
Portions of Albany are serviced by Georgia Power, which operates two electrical power plants within Dougherty County: coal-fired Plant Mitchell and the hydroelectric dam at Lake Worth, also known as Lake Chehaw.

Water management infrastructure
The Albany Water, Gas & Light Commission (WG&L) is a municipally-owned and operated utility system furnishing water, gas, and electricity to its broad–based customers. Albany WG&L, was founded in 1892 as the Albany Water Works, as the largest municipal user in Georgia.

The public water supply source for Albany-Dougherty County is groundwater obtained from four aquifers:
 * Upper Floridan (locally called the Ocala) Aquifer
 * Claiborne (formerly Tallahatta) Aquifer
 * Clayton Formation
 * Providence Aquifer

The water quality is considered to be excellent, needing only chlorination and fluoridation treatment.

Communications infrastructure
Both WG&L and AT&T offer communications infrastructure within the City of Albany.

Solid waste management
Albany is served by the Dougherty County Landfill located at 900 Gaissert Road, approximately 7.5 mi southeast of the City of Albany.

Health care
Albany is the home of a not-for-profit regional health system with a 26-county cachement area with Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital at its hub.

Law enforcement
Albany is serviced by the Albany Police Department (APD) which is divided into three districts, each having its own police center. The Dougherty County Police Department is responsible for the unincorporated area of Dougherty County. The Dougherty County Sheriff's Department is a law enforcement agency under the direction of the County Sheriff, an elected official.

Fire protection
The Albany Fire Department consists of more than 150 assigned personnel operating 11 fire stations in Dougherty County, seven of which are within the city limits.

EMS/EMT service
Dougherty County EMS has over 60 employees and services the county through one headquarters and five satellite stations.

Notable people

 * Ray Charles: Grammy Award–winning singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer
 * Alice Coachman: first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal
 * Mary Francis Hill Coley: midwife in Albany 1930–1966, inducted into Georgia Women of Achievement 2011
 * Paula Deen: TV personality and cooking show host
 * Field Mob: hip hop group
 * Bart Oates: 5-time NFL pro-bowler and 3-time Super Bowl Champion
 * McCree Harris: activist with the Albany Movement
 * Reginald D. Hunter: stand-up comedian
 * Harry James: Swing era trumpet player and bandleader
 * Alex Kendrick, actor/director/producer/filmmaker, co-founder of Sherwood Pictures and Kendrick Brothers
 * Stephen Kendrick, actor/director/producer/filmmaker, co-founder of Sherwood Pictures and Kendrick Brothers
 * Ray Knight: former Major League Baseball infielder best remembered for his time with the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets
 * Paul McKinney: Pennsylvania State Senator for the 8th district from 1975 to 1982
 * Phillip Phillips: singer-songwriter and actor who won the eleventh season of American Idol
 * Bobby Rush: pastor and U.S. Representative from Illinois
 * Kylie Sonique Love: drag queen, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 6)
 * Harry Spilman: former player for the Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants
 * Angelo Taylor: athlete, Olympic gold medalist
 * Jo Marie Payton, actress
 * Geraldine W. Travis: first black woman to serve in the Montana House of Representatives
 * James Wheeler (1937–2014), Chicago blues guitarist, singer and songwriter
 * Daryl Smith: Former linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League

title: Albany, Georgia


text:
Putney, Georgia

Putney is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Dougherty County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,898 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
A post office called Putney was established in 1897. The community was named after Francis F. Putney, a local landowner.

Geography
Putney is located in southeastern Dougherty County at 31.47306°N, -84.12139°W (31.473076, -84.121492). The southern border of the CDP is the Mitchell County line, and part of the western edge is the Flint River. U.S. Route 19 (the Liberty Expressway) is the main highway through Putney, leading north 7 mi to Albany and south 50 mi to Thomasville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Putney CDP has a total area of 56.8 sqkm, of which 56.6 sqkm is land and 0.3 sqkm, or 0.49%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,998 people, 1,138 households, and 899 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 139.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,223 housing units at an average density of 56.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 68.81% White, 29.52% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.

There were 1,138 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,953, and the median income for a family was $44,244. Males had a median income of $35,377 versus $21,910 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,828. About 12.8% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Neighborhoods

 * Hollands Folly
 * Loretta Heights

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Putney, Georgia


text:
Douglasville, Georgia

The city of Douglasville is the county seat of and largest city in Douglas County, Georgia, United States. , the city had a population of 34,650, up from 30,961 in 2010 and 20,065 in 2000.

Douglasville is located approximately 20 mi west of Atlanta and is part of the Atlanta Metro Area. Highway access can be obtained via three interchanges along Interstate 20.

History
Located along a natural rise in the topography, Douglasville was originally known as "Skint Chestnut." The name was derived from a large tree used by Native Americans as a landmark; it was stripped of its bark so as to be more conspicuous.

Douglasville was founded in 1874 as the railroad was constructed in the area. That same year, Douglasville was designated as the county seat of the recently formed Douglas County. The community was named for Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois.

Georgia General Assembly first incorporated Douglasville in 1875.

On September 21, 2009, Douglas County was devastated by the second worst flood in Georgia history (the first being the failure of the Kelly Barnes Dam  in 1977). Over 18 in of rain fell in one night, destroying many roads and homes. The county was later declared a disaster area, and the governor of Georgia declared a state of emergency. The flooding most affected the areas of Douglasville, Villa Rica, Austell, Lithia Springs, and Chapel Hill. The disaster killed more than eight people in the county, most of them in the Douglasville area.

Geography
Douglasville is located in north-central Douglas County at 33.74972°N, -84.72306°W (33.749824, −84.723190). Lithia Springs is 6 mi to the northeast along U.S. Route 78, and Villa Rica is 10 mi to the west. Hiram is 9 mi to the north via SR 92. Interstate 20 passes south of downtown, leading east 22 mi to downtown Atlanta and west 125 mi to Birmingham, Alabama. I-20 provides access to the city from exits 34, 36, and 37.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Douglasville has a total area of 58.5 km2, of which 58.2 km2 is land and 0.3 km2, or 0.58%, is water.

Douglasville has an elevation of 1209 ft above sea level.

2020 Census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 34,650 people, 12,675 households, and 7,833 families residing in the city.

2010 Census
As of the census of 2010, there were 30,961 people, 11,627 households, and 7,692 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,376 PD/sqmi. There were 13,163 housing units at an average density of 585.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 55.9% African American, 36.0% White (33.4% Non-Hispanic White), 0.2% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.3% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. 7.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,627 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,596, and the median income for a family was $54,375. Males had a median income of $45,933 versus $39,675 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,002. 15.9% of the population and 14.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 22.2% of those under the age of 18 and 15.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

2000 Census
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,065 people, 7,286 households, and 5,078 families residing in the city. The population density was 938.5 PD/sqmi. There were 7,903 housing units at an average density of 369.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 63.84% White, 30.29% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. 3.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,286 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,289, and the median income for a family was $52,340. Males had a median income of $37,464 versus $27,038 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,283. 12.2% of the population and 10.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.3% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Economy
The historic Downtown hosts many shops and eateries. A vibrant business area in Douglasville is located south of the city between Chapel Hill Road and Georgia State Route 5, around the Douglas Boulevard Corridor. Arbor Place Mall is located in this area, as are many major retail stores and fast food chains.

The Fairburn Road area also hosts many shops, food stores and fast food spots. Some vacated to make way for an expansion of the highway in early 2008. Expansion is aided by the Douglasville Development Authority (described below).

In recent years, the historic downtown district and surrounding areas have become favorite backdrops for the film industry. Productions include Netflix's Stranger Things (2016), The Founder (2015), Mocking Jay Part 1 (2014), Catching Fire (2013), Finding Carter (MTV series 2014), and Kill the Messenger (2014).

Top employers
According to Douglasville's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

The Douglasville CAFR table of principal employers (p. 77) does not show public employees. The Douglas County School System currently employs over 3,550 people, including teachers, administrators, and support staff.

Points of interest

The Central Business District of downtown Douglasville is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district; it is an outstanding example of a turn-of-the-century southern railroad town. The majority of the buildings are one- and two-story brick structures dating from the mid-19th century into the mid-20th century. Most are of Victorian-era commercial design set flush with the sidewalk. The buildings' styles include Romanesque, Italianate, and Queen Anne. Many of the doorways and windows have Gothic arched openings and hooded windows. The dominant landscape feature is the railroad right-of-way running east-to-west through downtown.

In the center of town is a small plaza, which was converted from a street block, known as O'Neal Plaza (named after the former O'Neal's department store, now used as the Douglasville City Hall). The plaza features a small performance venue and concrete fountain. It is home to many festivals year round. This is the site of the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival.

 * The Douglasville Convention & Visitors Bureau is located in the heart of downtown and serves as the city's welcome center.
 * The Douglas County Cultural Arts Center is located at Campbellton Street, south of Downtown. The center holds art shows and special events throughout the year, and hosts events for schools across the county. Classes for a variety of visual and performing arts are available year-round for all ages.
 * The courthouse on Hospital Drive hosts the Douglasville Farmers and Artisans Market every Wednesday from 4 pm until 7 pm, from April until November.
 * The Douglasville Downtown Conference Center is located at 6701 Church Street. It hosts corporate meetings, community events, and social gatherings. Summit Church of West Georgia meets here on Sunday mornings. The 37000 sqft conference center, with a two-level, 300-space parking deck, opened in early 2013. It has a 7600 ft ballroom space that can be divided into five rooms. It includes a 150-seat auditorium, a 15-person boardroom, a business center, three meeting rooms, two pre-function spaces, bride and groom dressing rooms, and a terrace in the back.
 * The Douglas County Museum of History and Art on West Broad Street is housed in the county's historic 1956 courthouse, which has been preserved for its unique mid-century modern architecture and is listed in the National Register for Historic Places. The museum features an exhibit of county history as well as seasonal displays.
 * Arbor Place Mall sponsors many festivals, as well as Douglasville's July 4 celebrations.

Parks and recreation

 * Hunter Park is Douglasville's largest park, and is home to the county Boys & Girls Club. Many festivals, sports activities, and recreational activities take place here. The park features a playground, wildlife pond and trail, seven tennis courts, 11 baseball/softball fields, including one designed for the handicapped, and an 18-hole disc golf course that opened in 2015. The small train for children that operated during the summer no longer exists, but the track for the train still remains. The park is named after the late 1st Lt. "Jerry" Hunter (USAF), Douglas County's first casualty of the Vietnam War.
 * Boundary Waters Park, located on GA Highway 92 North/Highway 166 East, has several pools which are open to the public. The Boundary Waters Aquatic Center features an eight-lane, 25-yard heated competition pool and a four-lane, heated therapeutic/teaching pool. The center is home to the Douglas County Stingrays swim team as well as local high school and Special Olympics swim teams. The park complex includes an array of ball fields, walking and horseriding trails, and an 18-hole disc golf course In late 2021, the new Boundary Waters Activity Center opened up in the park. The new facility has two basketball courts, an indoor walking track, and a fitness room.
 * Deer Lick Park is located approximately 3 mi south of Interstate 20 and east of the city limits on Mack Road. This 66-acre park features softball fields, a sand volleyball court, an 18-hole disc golf course, tennis courts, a gymnasium, and batting cages. It also hosts a three-acre fishing lake with a pier, playground, an amphitheater, gazebo, group shelters, and restroom facilities.
 * The West Pines Golf Club was purchased by the city in 2003 and is now operated as a public course.
 * The Fowler Field Soccer Complex is located in the southwest part of the city, on Chapel Hill Road.
 * The Chestnut Log Soccer Complex is located on Pope Road beside Chestnut Log Middle School, about ½ mile west of SR 92 (Fairburn Road).
 * Jesse Davis Park is located north of downtown Douglasville and serves as a neighborhood park for residents of North Douglasville. The park was recently renovated, and has a playground and a community swimming pool.
 * Sweetwater Creek State Park is a 2549 acre park 7 mi east of Douglasville. The park has 9 mi of wooded trails that follow the stream to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill burned during the Civil War. The park has a 215 acre lake with two fishing docks, canoe and fishing boat rentals, 11 picnic shelters, playground, visitors center and museum.
 * Clinton Nature Preserve located 7 mi west of Douglasville, is a 200-acre historical preserve, located off the Post Road exit of Interstate 20, which features a pre-Civil War log cabin, picnic areas, walking and mountain biking trails, a gravel walking track, fishing, an outdoor amphitheatre, and a 100-percent disabled-accessible children's play garden.

Government
In 2015, the city elected Rochelle Robinson as its first female and first African American mayor.

The City Council is elected from single-member districts.

Law enforcement
The Douglasville police chief is Gary Sparks. The Douglasville Police Department is located at 2083 Fairburn Road. The sheriff is Tim Pounds, and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office is located at 8470 Earl D Lee Boulevard in Douglasville.

Education
Education in Douglasville is varied, with a large public school system and many private schools. The Douglas County School District operates 21 elementary schools, eight middle schools, and five high schools, covering grades pre-K to 12th grade.

Douglasville hosts a campus ("instructional site") of Georgia Highlands College. Nearby universities and colleges include Strayer College, West Georgia Technical College, and Mercer University.

Douglasville has numerous secular and religious private schools, including:

 * Harvester Christian Academy
 * Heirway Christian Academy
 * The International Montessori Academy
 * The Kings Way Christian School
 * Primrose School at Brookmont
 * Saint Rose Academy
 * Sunbrook Academy at Chapel Hill
 * Chapelhill Christian School

Media
Douglasville is served by the Douglas County Sentinel, a three-day-a-week publication that covers local and state news and by All On Georgia - Douglas, a hyperlocal digital news organization that covers local, state and national news, daily. Chapel Hill News & Views also serves Douglasville as a monthly magazine with 45,000 circulation.

Transportation

 * U.S. Highway 78 (State Route 8, Veterans' Memorial Highway) runs directly east to west through downtown Douglasville.
 * State Route 92 runs north to southeast just ¼ of a mile to the east of downtown as a truck route designed to keep large trucks from crossing an elevated railroad crossing at Campbellton Street. The city and the Georgia DOT are working on plans to reroute Highway 92 farther east of downtown on a four-lane bridge serving as a bypass.
 * State Route 5 is colocated with US 78 through downtown east to the Cobb County line and west just past Hunter Park. Highway 5 continues in a southwesterly direction through the village of Bill Arp and crosses into Carroll County near Whitesburg.
 * Interstate 20 (Ga Hwy 402) extends roughly east to west about 1.5 mi south of downtown, with access from Exits 34, 36, and 37.

Douglasville is home to the single-runway Pinewood Airport, located 5.7 mi northwest of downtown. Historically, the Southern Railway ran several daily passenger trains, including the Kansas City-Florida Special, the Sunnyland and an Atlanta-Birmingham section of the Piedmont Limited, making flag or signal stops in Douglasville. The last trains made stops in 1967. Today, the nearest passenger service is Amtrak's Crescent in Atlanta, 26.4 miles to the east.

Healthcare
Residents of Douglasville are served by the Wellstar Douglas Hospital located at 8954 Hospital Drive.

Douglasville Development Authority
The primary goals of the City of Douglasville Development Authority (CDDA) are to promote the economic prosperity of the city while simultaneously increasing the existing industry and business sectors in order to raise the quality of life for the city's residents. The City Development Authority also focuses on education in order successfully promote the labor force.

In the fall of 2009, an area of interest for the CDDA was the reconstruction and widening of Highway 92, which runs through the heart of the city. This major roadway reconstruction was expected to have a significant impact on the city and its ability to promote economic development.

Notable people

 * George Bello, American soccer player for Arminia Bielefeld
 * Josh Buice, American pastor who pastors a church in Douglasville, and is also the Founder and current President of a Christian ministry organization that holds one of the largest evangelical conferences, which had originally began in Douglasville
 * Asia Durr, WNBA player for the Atlanta Dream
 * Janie Lou Gibbs, serial killer and poisoner, died in a nursing home after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease after being released from prison
 * Walton Goggins, actor best known for his role as Boyd Crowder in Justified. Though he was born in Birmingham Alabama, his family relocated to Douglasville for his formative years. He eventually graduated from Lithia Springs High School
 * Terry Harper, former outfielder for the Atlanta Braves
 * Brian Heidik, winner of Survivor: Thailand
 * Bill Hembree, politician from Georgia
 * Norma Jean, metalcore band
 * Priscilla Kelly, professional wrestler known in WWE as Gigi Dolin
 * Mason Massey, racing driver
 * Justin Shipley, racing driver

title: Douglasville, Georgia


text:
Lithia Springs, Georgia

Lithia Springs is an unincorporated community and census-designated place, formerly incorporated as a city, located in northeastern Douglas County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the community had a population of 16,644. The area is named for its historic lithia mineral water springs.

Incorporated in 1882, Lithia Springs was dissolved the first time in 1933. Lithia Springs became incorporated again in 1994, to be Douglas County's second completely internal municipality, but disincorporated again in 2000.

In 2000, the citizens voted (80% yea, 20% nay) on December 20 to dissolve the city charter and de-incorporate the city, transferring all assets to the county. The referendum that ended the town was part of the settlement in a lawsuit brought by city residents charging the city should be dissolved because it did not deliver enough services to justify its existence under state law. During its incorporation until 2000, the former city had five mayors.

Lithia Springs is assigned the United States Postal Service ZIP code of 30122.

History

The history of the community began with Lithia Springs, a natural lithia water spring. So popular were the curative waters that flowed from Lithia Springs that people came for miles to drink it. The neighboring city of Austell was also founded due to the spring's popularity.

In 1887 Judge Bowden bought the springs with a group of investors and started bottling and selling Bowden lithia spring water. That same year the Sweet Water Hotel, a 300-room luxury health resort, opened in Lithia Springs. The hotel and its famous lithia spring water were so popular that Mark Twain, members of the Vanderbilt family, and Presidents Cleveland, Taft, McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt all enjoyed the many amenities of the resort, which included the world-famous Lithia Vapor Baths.

In 1888, the Piedmont Chautauqua Institute opened in Lithia Springs. Henry W. Grady, editor of the Atlanta Constitution, was the founder and gave the institute the motto "Enlightenment of the People". In 1888, over 30,000 tourists, sightseers, and health-seekers visited Lithia Springs.

The only remnants of this time that have survived are the natural springs and its historic lithia water under the name brand Lithia, which is still bottled and sold in restaurants and health food stores.

Geography
Lithia Springs is located in the northeastern corner of Douglas County, bordered to the north and east by the Cobb County line and to the south by East County Line Road, Cedar Terrace Road, and Factory Shoals Road. Sweetwater Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee River, flows through the eastern part of the community, and Sweetwater Creek State Park is along its southern edge.

Some of the incorporated limits of Douglasville occupy some of the territory within Lithia Springs, along Interstate 20, Blair Bridge Road, Lee Road and Thornton Road.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Lithia Springs CDP has a total area of 35.4 sqkm, of which 35.2 sqkm is land and 0.13 sqkm, or 0.37%, is water.

Parks
Sweetwater Creek State Park is Lithia Springs' main recreational area. The park is home to the George Sparks Reservoir, owned and maintained by the City of East Point. It is home to hiking trails, picnic pavilions, playgrounds and the ruins of the Manchester Mill, a mill destroyed by Sherman's Atlanta Campaign in 1864.

Several movies have filmed scenes in this park, including Avengers: Infinity War, The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and No Good Deed.

In 2005, the remnants of Hurricane Dennis damaged the bridge over the reservoir, the main road into and out of the park. The bridge was rebuilt and the road was reopened in 2006. The park is located off Mount Vernon Road in Lithia Springs.

Woodrow Wilson Park/Lithia Springs Girls Ball Field was a small park surrounded by homes and apartments. The park was well known in the area for its location next to Sweetwater Creek. When heavy rains occurred in the area, the park was prone to flooding. It was flooded during the 2009 Southeastern United States floods. It is not currently scheduled to be rebuilt, and has been dismantled. The park was located off Mount Vernon Road near Skyview Drive.

Schools
Lithia Springs is home to six schools operated by the Douglas County School System:

 * Annette Winn Elementary off US. Hwy 78
 * Lithia Springs Elementary off Junior High Dr.
 * Sweetwater Elementary off E. County Line Rd.
 * Turner Middle School next to Lithia Elementary
 * Chestnut Log Middle School off Hwy. 92
 * Lithia Springs Comprehensive High School across the street from Sweetwater Elementary

Library
Lithia Springs has one library, Betty C. Hagler Public Library, also known as Lithia Springs Public Library.

Economy
There are multiple datacenters in Lithia Springs.

Demographics
Lithia Springs was first listed as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. Census. After incorporation in 1994, it was delineated as a city with 2,072 people in the 2000 U.S. Census. After the city was dissolved, it was redesignated as a CDP in the 2010 U.S. Census.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 16,644 people, 6,435 households, and 4,159 families residing in the CDP.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 15,491 people, 6,713 households, and 5,901 families residing in the city. The population density was 937.6 PD/sqmi. There were 6,713 housing units at an average density of 415.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 39.1% White, 39.5% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. 17.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 861 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,029, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $32,240 versus $25,357 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,421. 10.2% of the population and 5.8% of families were below the poverty line. 3.0% of those under the age of 18 and 19.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Notable people

 * Ruth Blair - first woman state historian of Georgia; grew up here
 * Sawyer Gipson-Long - professional baseball player
 * Walton Goggins - moved to Lithia Springs at a young age and grew up in the area
 * Lil Nas X - rapper; born in Lithia Springs
 * Elana Meyers - Olympian; attended Lithia Springs High School
 * Calvin Pace - NFL player; attended Lithia Springs High School 1994–1998

title: Lithia Springs, Georgia


text:
Blakely, Georgia

Blakely is a city and the county seat of Early County, Georgia, United States. As of 2020, its population was 5,371. It is located approximately halfway between Columbus and Tallahassee, Florida on U.S. Route 27.

History
Blakely was platted in 1825 as the county seat for Early County. It was named for Johnston Blakeley, an officer in the War of 1812. Between 1881 and 1947 at least seven African-Americans were lynched in Blakely, including at least two veterans. One of these, Wilbur Little, was murdered upon returning from service in World War I by whites who detested seeing a black person in uniform. In 1960 an African-American veteran from New Jersey who was traveling through the county was convicted of rape and sentenced to death 3 days after his arrest in a trial that featured no defense counsel and no jury. The story was chronicled in the movie Fair Game.A month after the article appeared in the Chicago Defender the NAACP sent Monroe N. Work to Blakely to investigate the incident. On June 7, 1919, Work sent a telegram to NAACP officer J.R. Shillady stating "Have investigated report. Blakely, Georgia, lynching does not appear to have occurred [sic]." Work concluded his investigation by recommending that allegations of a lynching be dropped. However, further review by the organization found that it had in fact occurred.

Geography
Blakely is located at 31.37667°N, -84.93389°W (31.376728, -84.933873). The city is located in southwestern Georgia along U.S. Route 27, Georgia State Route 62, and Georgia State Route 39. Blakely is located approximately 75 mi south of Columbus, 48 mi southwest of Albany, and 76 mi northwest of Tallahassee, Florida and 24 miles northeast of Dothan, Alabama.

According to the United States Census Bureau, this town has a total area of 17.6 sqmi, of which 17.5 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (0.74%) is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,371 people, 1,584 households, and 1,065 families residing in the city.

Early County School District
The Early County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 156 full-time teachers and over 2,764 students.
 * Early County Elementary School
 * Early County Middle School
 * Early County High School

Alternative School

 * Learning and Opportunity Academy

title: Blakely, Georgia


text:
Damascus, Georgia

Damascus is a city in Early County, Georgia, United States. The population was 212 in the 2020 census, down from 254 in the 2010 census.

History
An early variant name was Kestler. An act of Georgia General Assembly officially changed the name to Damascus in 1914. The present name is a transfer from nearby Old Damascus, which it was named for Damascus, Syria. Old Damascus would be bypassed when a new railroad line was being built through the area.

In 2021, an EF2 tornado struck the area south of town, causing major damage and injuring five people.

On June 14, 2023, a tornado struck the town destroying a home and slightly injuring three people.

Geography
Damascus is located in eastern Early County at 31.29861°N, -84.7175°W (31.298580, -84.717429). Georgia State Route 45 passes through the community, leading north 10 mi to Arlington and south 9 mi to Colquitt. Georgia State Route 200 also passes through the center of town, leading east 24 mi to Newton and northwest 15 mi to Blakely, the Early County seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Damascus has a total area of 4.6 km2, of which 0.02 km2, or 0.48%, is water.

Demographics
In 2020, the city had a population of 212, down from 254 in 2010 and 277 in 2000.

Education
Public school students are zoned to the Early County School District which operates three schools in Blakely: Early County Elementary School, Early County Middle School, and Early County High School.

Damascus is home to Southwest Georgia Academy, which was founded in 1970 as a segregation academy and participates in the Georgia Independent School Association. Its property formerly housed Damascus High School.

Notable people

 * Robbie Robinson, bodybuilder, actor, three-time Mr. Universe overall winner
 * Shawn Williams (American football), football player, Atlanta Falcons

title: Damascus, Georgia


text:
Jakin, Georgia

Jakin is a city in Early County, Georgia, United States. Incorporated in 1895, Jakin's population was 131 in 2020.

History
Early County was created by an act of the General Assembly on December 15, 1818. Land lots of 250 acre surveyed in 1819 and 1820 were distributed by the state in lotteries. Jakin is in the 26th land district in the southernmost end of the county.

As early as 1817 settlers began moving into the area and began to build on the old Indian paths along the river. These old paths became the Old River Road in 1820 and a post road by the mid 1820s. The post riders were often harassed by Indians. As the forests along the river were cleared, large plantations and fine frame homes began to appear. The Chattahoochee River, 3 mi to the west, was the main source of transportation, bearing downstream huge square-cut timbers to Apalachicola, Florida, for ship building and turpentine for export, and bearing cotton upstream to the cotton mills in Columbus. In 1821 the Armstrong and Attaway Company built the first cotton gin at nearby Saffold Navy Yard.

The first families established here were the Allens, Rambos, Donalsons, Harrells, Shewmakes, Saffolds, Johnsons, Hayes, Gibsons, Crawfords, and Moodys. In 1828 a road was made from Blakely to Bainbridge on which settled the Hodges, Warrens, Minters, Easoms and Perrys. These families pioneered what became Jakin.

In May 1878 C.A. Minter, a physician, purchased three lots, roughly 750 acre of land, for $10 and a shotgun. The first mayor of Jakin, James Morris "Major" Bivings, named the town "Jakin" after one of the columns of Solomon's temple.

In addition to small farm agriculture, Jakin's early economic growth resulted from turpentine. The unspoiled longleaf pine forests were prime resources, first for turpentine then lumber. Bivings and his partner, James W. Duke of Chicago, founded the Duke and Bivings Lumber Company complete with housing, commissary and post office. Bivings served as the first postmaster. On January 3, 1898, the Flowers Company purchased the lumber mill for $20,000. In addition to machines, buildings and materials, the purchase included 160 acre of land and a railway. According to published town history, an estimated 1,000 workers were employed by the mill. In 1903 Jakin's population was 2,000. World War I and deforestation led to the closure of the lumber mill in 1918.

Agriculture served as Jakin's main industry until 1963, with Great Northern Nekoosa's purchase of a family-owned lumber mill which later became Great Southern Paper, which also ran a plywood mill in nearby Cedar Springs. Great Southern Paper was acquired by Georgia-Pacific in 1990. In 2005 GP was acquired by the privately held Koch Industries. Despite changing ownership, the mill has operated continuously.

Geography
Jakin is located in southern Early County at 31.09056°N, -84.98306°W (31.090574, -84.983179). U.S. Route 84 passes through the southern part of the town, leading southeast 7 mi to Donalsonville and northwest 26 mi to Dothan, Alabama. Blakely, the Early County seat, is 21 mi to the north via Jakin Road.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Jakin has a total area of 3.2 km2, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 157 people, 71 households, and 42 families residing in the city. In 2020, its population was 131.

Education
Jakin is served by the Early County School District schools in Blakely: Early County Elementary School, Early County Middle School, and Early County High School.

It was formerly the site of Jakin High School.

Notable person

 * Isabelle Daniels Holston, 1956 Olympic bronze medal winner

title: Jakin, Georgia


text:
Guyton, Georgia

Guyton is a city in Effingham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,289 at the 2020 census, up from 1,684 in 2010. Guyton is located 28 mi northwest of downtown Savannah, and is part of the Savannah metropolitan statistical area. The rise of population can be attributed to the port expansion in Savannah Georgia.

History
While some of the early settlers came from the Savannah area, it seems that most came from North and South Carolina. In 1792 a tract of 250 acre of land in the form of a land warrant from Effingham County was issued to Squire Zachariah White. The community became known as "Whitesville". The Squire was not married and left no heir when he died in 1838. White had granted a right-of-way to the new Central of Georgia Railway Co. prior to his death. He was buried on his own land, as was the custom then. His grave is in the rear of the present New Providence Church. Years later, a local controversy was started when some of this community tried to have Squire White's grave moved to the new local cemetery. It was never moved.

Shortly after White's death, the Effingham County Commissioners took over his land for unpaid taxes. They had a survey made, laid off lots and streets just as they still are today, and sold it all at public auction as payment of his taxes. Many lots were bought by affluent Savannah residents as a place for a summer home. At this time, the fever was very bad in Savannah.

When the Central of Georgia Railroad Company, having a charter to build and operate a railroad from Savannah to Macon and on to Marthasville (now Atlanta), laid their track through Whitesville in 1837 or 1838, they referred to this place as Station Number 30. After a short time, locals asked the railroad company to give this place a name so they could request the federal government to place a post office here. Since there was another town in the state named Whitesville, Mr. W. W. Gordon, President of the Central Railroad, named this location "Guyton", after Archibald Guyton, a prominent local citizen. The U. S. Post Office established a post office at Guyton, Georgia, December 31, 1851.

Guyton was an affluent town by the time of the Civil War. During the Civil War, the Confederacy built a hospital in Guyton. There are 26 Confederate soldiers buried in the local cemetery. When General Sherman marched from Atlanta to Savannah on his burn and destroy mission, he came through Guyton with his main body of troops. It took five days for his army to pass through, with some of his troops looting, burning, and stealing. The depot and tracks were destroyed, which could explain why some records of this period are not complete.

In 1887, Guyton was incorporated and issued a town charter by the State of Georgia. The local member of the Georgia Legislature who had the bill introduced and passed was Colonel Clarance Guyton, a grandson of Archibald Guyton.

The Guyton City Hall has had many requests for information about the family of Guytons. However, little is known about their background. They were rumored to have come from England to North Carolina. Archibald Guyton came to this area from North Carolina in 1825. He was married twice. His first wife was the widow Tondee of Savannah. There is a Tondee farm or plantation listed in Effingham County near Guyton during this period, so she may have had connections there. The Georgia census of 1850 shows Archibald came to Georgia in 1825. He was in the timber business. His first wife, widow Tondee died (fever) and is buried in the old Providence Baptist Cemetery. His second wife was Harriet Patterson, of this area. Archibald had a son, Robert, by his first wife and a son, Charles, by his second wife. There were several girls also as are listed in his cemetery plot. Archibald's grandson, Clarance, was an attorney and maintained a law office in Savannah. Everyone called him Colonel Guyton. He was a member of the Georgia Legislature and was very prominent.

There are no families named Guyton living in the community today. The last Guyton family home, which was occupied by Clarance, his sister Belle Hendry, and also his sister Tallullah and her husband Fred Seckinger is still in excellent condition. It is located on Highway 17, just north of the Guyton city limits.

Every December, the spirit of Christmas is highlighted in Guyton with an annual tour of homes. This community-sponsored event will usually host around three to four thousand visitors every year. Visitors will usually tour about a dozen homes, and nearly all of the churches are open for the tour. Many homes in the historic district will have lighted doors. The festivities usually begin with a country supper and tour of the historical city. As visitors drive down main street in Guyton, they can view the lighted trees that line the old railroad median for 1 mi. The Guyton Volunteer Fire Department usually illuminates the nearly 7,000 lights each year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

Today, Guyton is still a small town, but one with much history. As visitors drive through its narrow lanes and streets, particularly in December of each year, they see a Georgia town pretty much the way it was nearly a century ago.

Geography
Guyton is located in west-central Effingham County at 32.33639°N, -81.39389°W (32.336338, -81.393763). State Routes 17 and 119 cross in the southwest part of town. GA 17 leads northwest 15 mi to Oliver and south 16 mi to Bloomingdale, west of Savannah, while GA 119 leads northeast 5 mi to Springfield, the Effingham County seat, and southwest 14 mi to Interstate 16 in Bulloch County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Guyton has a total area of 8.3 km2, of which 0.04 km2, or 0.48%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,289 people, 665 households, and 527 families residing in the city.

title: Guyton, Georgia


text:
Rincon, Georgia

Rincon is a city in Effingham County, Georgia, United States. The 2020 population was 10,934, up from 8,836 at the 2010 census. Rincon is part of the Savannah metropolitan statistical area.

History
Rincon, in the southeast area of Effingham County, Georgia, was incorporated as a city in 1927. While the earliest settlers came to the area in 1751, the area had little development until the late 19th century.

During the American Civil War, when forces of the Union Army penetrated the South, thousands of slaves escaped from plantations to go to their lines. Many fell in with the forces of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman and followed his March to the Sea. Hundreds of fugitive African-Americans drowned during the campaign while trying to cross Ebenezer Creek near the site of present-day Rincon, outside of Savannah. In 2010 the Georgia Historical Society erected a historical marker about this event, as part of a major project to memorialize little-known events from the Civil War era and recognize African-American sacrifices for freedom.

Rincon's development was catalyzed by the coming of the railroad in the 1890s. A rail line was built from the Carolinas across the state line at the Savannah River and southward to Savannah. The name of the city is believed to have been adopted from the Spanish or Mexican name Rincón, after a small but prosperous town in Mexico. (Rincón means "corner", more specifically an inside corner as one might refer to a nook, cove, or a more isolated location.)

Once the railroad and depot were built at Rincon, a telegraph operator or agent was on duty as early as about 1895. This opened up the area to long-distance communication. In addition to the railroad, a "dirt" road (now improved as State Highway 21) was built northwest from Savannah to Rincon and beyond, and other country roads were developed in the area. Rincon became a small hive of trading activity. The surrounding farmers, sawmill operators and the like, who had taken their products of cotton and lumber to Savannah, could "wagon" to Rincon to ship by rail. They also could receive shipments there and travel as rail passengers.

About the time of World War I, there was a spurt of local activity. Some men served in the military, and many locals in and around Rincon commuted daily to work in shipbuilding and other war-related plants in Port Wentworth and Savannah. Soon after the war, new homes were built or completed by new residents and old.

Residents established a grade school for white students about 1900 in an old two-story building opposite the Lutheran church. A few years later the school was relocated into a new two-story building between 4th and 5th streets. It had a steeple belltower and bell to signal recess and lunch periods, and the daily opening and closing of school. That building was used for at least 40 years for both grade school and high school. First known as the Effingham Institute. Its name was changed in the early 1920s to Rincon High School. Racial segregation continued to exclude African Americans from this school.

By 1929 the corporate government of the small town had become inactive, in part due to the small population. Sometime later, however, the population began to increase. By 1950 the population was 454. By 1955 it was 650 and by 1960 it was 1,057. Rincon was reincorporated and organized as the Town of Rincon around the end of 1954. The incorporated limits of Rincon originally formed a circle having a diameter of 2.5 mi, with the center at the site of the old (now gone) railroad depot, but annexations of land since the late 20th century have changed this shape.

In approximately 1934, Georgia State Route 21 was paved from the Chatham County line in the south, northward through Rincon and Springfield and beyond. In about 1939, electric lines were installed, and electric power was supplied from the Savannah Electric and Power Company, replacing private individual small plants. These improvements were made during the Great Depression to provide jobs to working men, with assistance from the federal government under the WPA program of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose administration invested heavily in infrastructure in the South.

In late 1955, Rincon installed its own city pump, tank, lines and water system, enabling "running water" throughout for the first time. In 1956, a volunteer fire department was organized. Also beginning in that year, many arterials and streets were paved.

As suburban development has expanded outward from Savannah, since 1990 the population of Rincon has grown rapidly, rising from 2,697 in 1990 to an estimated 9,638 in 2014.

Geography
Rincon is located in southeastern Effingham County at 32.29333°N, -81.23417°W (32.293258, -81.234171). Georgia State Route 21 passes through the town, leading northwest 7 mi to Springfield, the county seat, and south 18 mi to Savannah.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.0 sqkm, all land.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,934 people, 3,827 households, and 2,537 families residing in the city.

Notable people

 * Billy Currington, country music artist; raised in Rincon
 * Bill Hitchens - Politician. Resident in Rincon.
 * Sydney Martinez - Professional footballer. Born in Rincon.
 * Tracy Yardley, comic book artist. Resident in Rincon.

title: Rincon, Georgia


text:
Springfield, Georgia

Springfield is a city in Effingham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,703 as of the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Effingham County. Springfield is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Springfield was established in 1799, and most likely was named after a plantation. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Springfield in 1838.

Geography
Springfield is located in central Effingham County at 32.36833°N, -81.31028°W (32.368240, -81.310152). Georgia State Route 21 bypasses the city center on the west, while Route 119 passes closer to the center of town. Via GA 21 it is 26 mi south to Savannah and 33 mi northwest to Sylvania, while GA 119 leads southwest 5 mi to Guyton and north 12 mi to the South Carolina border.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Springfield has a total area of 7.1 km2, all land.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,703 people, 1,392 households, and 857 families residing in the city.

Effingham County School District
The Effingham County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. The district has 511 full-time teachers and over 9,037 students.
 * Blandford Elementary School
 * Ebenezer Elementary School
 * Guyton Elementary School
 * Marlow Elementary School
 * Rincon Elementary School
 * Sand Hill Elementary School
 * South Effingham Elementary School
 * Springfield Elementary School
 * Ebenezer Middle School
 * Effingham County Middle School
 * South Effingham Middle School
 * Effingham County High School
 * South Effingham High School

Notable people

 * Paul Carrington - professional football player
 * JaKeenan Gant (born 1996) - basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Josh Reddick - professional baseball player
 * Charlton W. Tebeau - historian
 * Artie Ulmer - professional football player
 * Dusty Zeigler - professional football player

title: Springfield, Georgia


text:
Bowman, Georgia

Bowman is a city in Elbert County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 872.

History
The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Bowman as a town in 1907. The community was named after Thomas J. Bowman, a railroad promoter.

Geography
Bowman is located in northwestern Elbert County at 34.20417°N, -83.02694°W (34.204231, -83.026989). State Routes 17 and 172 cross in the center of town. GA 17 leads northwest 7 mi to Royston and southeast 12 mi to Elberton, the Elbert County seat, while GA 172 leads northeast 12 mi to Hartwell and southwest 28 mi to Athens.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Bowman has a total area of 8.1 km2, of which 0.06 sqkm, or 0.70%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 898 people, 377 households, and 243 families residing in the city. The population density was 350.0 PD/sqmi. There were 411 housing units at an average density of 160.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 74.05% White, 24.28% African American, 0.67% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.

There were 377 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,083, and the median income for a family was $33,542. Males had a median income of $30,714 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,584. About 22.0% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 28.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government
The city of Bowman is governed by a mayor and five city council members who serve four-year terms. Current council members include Wade Bridges, Rachel Felice, Mary Clark, Roberta Rice and Leona Brown. Bowman operates under a weak mayor style of government, meaning the mayor does not have a vote but is charged with facilitating the monthly meeting and acting on any matters passed by council.

Notable people

 * Mecole Hardman, NFL wide receiver who caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl LVIII.

title: Bowman, Georgia


text:
Elberton, Georgia

Elberton is the largest city in Elbert County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,653 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Elbert County.

Elberton is known as the "granite capital of the world".

History
Settled in the 1780s, Elbert was designated seat of the newly formed Elbert County in 1790. It was incorporated as a town in 1803 and as a city in 1896. Like Elbert County, Elberton is named for Samuel Elbert.

Geography
Elberton is located near the center of Elbert County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Elberton has a total area of 12.4 km2, of which 12.3 km2 is land and 0.1 km2, or 0.72%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,640 people, 1,754 households, and 997 families residing in the city.

Granite
Elberton claims the title "granite capital of the world". The city's post-Civil War history has largely revolved around the industry, following the opening of the first commercial quarry and manufacturing plant by Nathaniel Long in 1889. As the industry grew in the early 1900s, so did Elberton's importance on the passenger and freight railroad lines, bringing many travelers and businessmen to the city and leading to its heyday.

Several granite monuments, including the now-destructed Georgia Guidestones, are located in or near Elberton.

Elberton's Granite Bowl seats 20,000 and formerly featured a retired Sanford Stadium (University of Georgia) scoreboard.

The city is home to the Elberton Granite Museum and Exhibit, with a notable exhibit being "Dutchy", a Confederate monument made of granite that was removed from the town square due to its appearance.

Southeastern Power
Since 1950, Elberton has served as the headquarters of the Southeastern Power Administration, a division of the United States Department of Energy. The authority markets power generated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers across the southern United States. The authority recently moved from its downtown headquarters in the former Samuel Elbert Hotel to a new building on Athens Tech Drive on the western end of the city.

Government
Elberton operates under a council-manager form of government. In this style of government, the city manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city, the five-person elected council serves as a board of directors, and the mayor performs more ceremonial duties and presides over council.

The City of Elberton operates Elberton Utilities, a comprehensive utility system which includes electric, gas, water, sewer, cable television, and internet services.

The Elbert Theatre reopened in 2001 after extensive renovations.

Elbert County School District
The city is served by the Elbert County School District. One learning center, one primary school, one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school are located within the city. The district has 194 full-time teachers and over 3,079 students. The school system is one of the county's largest employers.

Private education
Elberton Christian School was located on Rhodes Drive in the city, but has closed.

Colleges and universities
Athens Technical College operates a full satellite campus on the western end of the city, near the elementary school, middle school, and high school.

Media
Elberton is currently served by one newspaper, The Elberton Star, though several others (including the Elbert County Examiner and the Elbert Beacon, both of which merged with the Star) have covered the city over the years. The Star has been published since 1887.

The Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail publishes a daily Northeast Georgia edition which covers the Elberton area.

The city is served by four local radio stations. WSGC-AM 1400, which plays an oldies format, is one of Georgia's oldest, having been on the air since 1947. WSGC-FM 92.1 and WXKT-FM 100.1 play country music while WLVX-FM 105.1 specializes in R&B.

Elberton is in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville television market, though local cable and satellite providers also carry stations from the Atlanta market.

Highways
Highways in Elberton include:
 * Georgia State Route 17
 * Georgia State Route 72
 * Georgia State Route 77
 * Interstate 85

Airports
Elberton and Elbert County are served locally by the Elbert County-Patz Field Airport, located just east of the city on State Route 72.

Railroad
For many years, Elberton was an important passenger and freight stop on the main line of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. The line is now operated by CSX Transportation and remains in use for freight transportation. A spur line connects Elberton to a main line of the Norfolk Southern Railway (formerly Southern Railway).

Healthcare
Elbert Memorial Hospital, founded in 1950, is a 25-bed acute care critical access hospital with emergency, surgical, and rehabilitation facilities.

Notable people

 * Brent Adams, NFL Offensive Lineman for Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams
 * Amos T. Akerman, U.S. Attorney General under Ulysses S. Grant, fought railroad corruption and the Ku Klux Klan
 * William Wyatt Bibb, appointed first governor of Alabama, U.S. senator, 1813–1816
 * Paul Brown, 14-term U.S. congressman, 1933–1961
 * Clark Gaines, NFL running back for New York Jets
 * George Rockingham Gilmer, two-term governor of Georgia, U.S. congressman
 * Derek Harper, University of Illinois and 16-year NBA point guard
 * Corra May Harris, early 20th century author, lived at Farm Hill
 * Nancy Hart, Revolutionary War heroine
 * Stephen Heard, governor of Georgia, 1780–1781
 * William H. Heard, former slave, clergyman and U.S. ambassador to Liberia
 * Joseph Rucker Lamar, former United States Supreme Court justice
 * Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, lived in Elbert County
 * Juanita Marsh, third female judge in Georgia, 2020 Georgia Women of Achievement inductee
 * Arnall Patz, discovered cause of blindness in premature infants and helped develop laser treatment of diabetic retinopathy
 * Charles Tait, U.S. senator, 1809–1819
 * Wiley Thompson, U.S. congressman and Indian agent, oversaw removal of Seminoles from Florida (Second Seminole War)
 * Daniel Tucker, preacher, possible subject of "Old Dan Tucker" song
 * Chester Willis, former NFL halfback

Sister cities
Elberton has a sister city, Mure, Kagawa, Japan, as designated by Sister Cities International.

title: Elberton, Georgia


text:
Adrian, Georgia

Adrian is a city in Emanuel and Johnson County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 552.

History
A post office has been in operation at Adrian since 1891. Adrian incorporated in 1899. It is unknown why the name "Adrian" was applied to this community.

Geography
Adrian is located at 32.53194°N, -82.59056°W (32.531960, -82.590680), at the intersection of U.S. Route 80/Georgia State Route 26 with State Routes 15/78. US 80 leads east 16 mi to Swainsboro and west 19 mi to Dublin, while Routes 15 and 78 lead south 7 mi to Interstate 16 near Soperton and northwest 17 mi to Wrightsville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Adrian has a total area of 3.7 km2, of which 3.6 km2 is land and 0.1 km2, or 3.12%, is water.

Demographics
As of 2020, its population was 552.

Notable people

 * Izola Curry, assailant who tried to kill Martin Luther King Jr. in 1958, was born in Adrian in 1916.

title: Adrian, Georgia


text:
Garfield, Georgia

Garfield is a city in Emanuel County, Georgia, United States. The population was 257 in 2020.

History
The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the place as the Town of Garfield in 1905.

Geography
Garfield is located in eastern Emanuel County at 32.65056°N, -82.09639°W (32.650511, -82.096319). Georgia State Route 23 passes through the city, leading northeast 14 mi to Millen and southwest 6 mi to Twin City. Swainsboro, the Emanuel County seat, is 16 mi to the west.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Garfield has a total area of 2.1 km2, of which 0.02 sqkm, or 0.86%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 152 people, 65 households, and 46 families residing in the town. By the 2020 census, its population increased to 257.

title: Garfield, Georgia


text:
Nunez, Georgia

Nunez is a city in Emanuel County, Georgia, United States. The population was 134 in 2020.

History
The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Nunez as a town in 1903. The city was named after Samuel Nunez, a pioneer Jew in Georgia history.

Geography
Nunez is located in southern Emanuel County at 32.49194°N, -82.34667°W (32.491880, -82.346547). Georgia State Route 297 passes through the city, leading north 8 mi to Swainsboro, the county seat, and south 6 mi to Interstate 16 Exit 84.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Nunez has a total area of 3.5 sqkm, of which 0.05 sqkm, or 1.52%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 131 people, 50 households, and 36 families residing in the town. By the 2020 census, its population was 134.

title: Nunez, Georgia


text:
Oak Park, Georgia

Oak Park is a city in Emanuel County, Georgia, United States. The population was 484 at the 2010 census, up from 366 in 2000. By 2020, its population was 512.

History
The town was originally named Sol, Georgia from June to August 1880 then the town name was changed to Horace, Georgia. The town name was later changed to Oak Park, Georgia in 1904.

In 1914 a murder–suicide committed by local farmer J.A. Eubanks got national news coverage. He murdered his wife and two daughters with an axe, set fire to some farm buildings, and shot himself in the head. Before killing himself, he woke a neighbor and told them what he had done. He did leave a suicide note. Several structures were destroyed in the fire, including houses of others. He had even cut the rope for the well bucket to keep the fire from being put out.

In a December 14, 1934 municipal election, Oak Park elected a mayor and five-person town council composed entirely of women. The election of an all-woman government was a first for Georgia, and novel enough that the event was covered by Associated Press and United Press news stories, both calling it "Petticoat Rule". It was not a surprise to the town however, as the all-woman slate had been nominated by men when the previous mayor retired and no men volunteered to replace him.

Some in the town apparently dissented, as the jail was set ablaze the night before the election and dynamite blasts were set off after it, damaging buildings. Despite that, Mrs. Solomon S. Youmans (the wife of a local physician) was elected mayor, and the council consisted of Mrs. J.D. Tyson, Mrs. G.C. Corbin, Mrs. J.J. Powell, Mrs. G.C. Williamson and Miss Ada Belle Thompson.

Geography
Oak Park is located in southern Emanuel County at 32.37083°N, -82.31°W (32.370747, -82.309915), along U.S. Route 1. Interstate 16 passes through the northern part of the town, 3 mi north of the original town center, with access to US 1 from Exit 90. I-16 leads east 77 mi to Savannah and west 88 mi to Macon, while US 1 leads north 18 mi to Swainsboro, the Emanuel County seat, and south 11 mi to Lyons.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Oak Park has a total area of 18.7 km2, of which 18.3 km2 is land and 0.4 km2, or 2.17%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 512 people, 238 households, and 166 families residing in the town.

title: Oak Park, Georgia


text:
Stillmore, Georgia

Stillmore is a city in Emanuel County, Georgia, United States. The population was 439 in 2020.

History
An early variant name was "Kea's Mill". According to tradition, the town's present name stems from the offer by postal officials to supply "still more" names if their list of suitable names for the post office was not satisfactory.

Geography
Stillmore is located in southeastern Emanuel County at 32.44111°N, -82.21472°W (32.441176, -82.214637). Georgia State Route 57 passes through the town, leading northwest 14 mi to Swainsboro, the county seat, and southeast 5 mi to Interstate 16 at Exit 98. Georgia State Route 192 crosses GA 57 in the center of Stillmore, leading northeast 11 mi to Twin City and west 5 mi to U.S. Route 1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Stillmore has a total area of 8.3 km2, of which 8.0 km2 is land and 0.3 km2, or 3.39%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 730 people, 220 households, and 159 families residing in the town. By 2020, its population declined to 439.

Education
Stillmore is home to the David Emanuel Academy (DEA), a Christian school. Local public school students are zoned to attend Emanuel County School District schools, including Swainsboro High School.

Notable residents

 * George L. Smith, former Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives

In the media
The town is the setting for Stillmore, Georgia, a play written, produced, and directed by Brad Ogden.

title: Stillmore, Georgia


text:
Summertown, Georgia

Summertown is a city in Emanuel County, Georgia, United States. The population was 121 in 2020.

History
Summertown was originally built up as a summer retreat, hence the name. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Summertown as a town in 1906.

Geography
Summertown is located in northern Emanuel County at 32.74667°N, -82.27611°W (32.746532, -82.276182). Georgia State Route 56 passes through the east side of the city limits, leading north 5 mi to Midville and south 11 mi to Swainsboro, the county seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Summertown has a total area of 2.0 sqkm, of which 0.01 sqkm, or 0.54%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 140 people, 48 households, and 34 families residing in the town. By 2020, its population declined to 121.

title: Summertown, Georgia


text:
Swainsboro, Georgia

Swainsboro is a city in Emanuel County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 7,425. The city is the county seat of Emanuel County.

History
In 1822, the Georgia state legislature established "Swainsborough" as the seat of Emanuel County. The town was named in recognition of Stephen Swain, the state senator who introduced the bill for the county's creation in 1812. The town's name was changed to "Paris" at its incorporation on February 18, 1854, but three years later reverted to its current name, Swainsboro.

Transportation
Early in its corporate life, much like other rural Georgia towns, Swainsboro depended on railroads for transportation. However, in the 1930s, many of the town's streets and sidewalks were paved, and Swainsboro found itself at the intersection of two major national highways, U.S. 1 and U.S. 80, thus earning its city motto: "Crossroads of the Great South". U.S. 1 was the principal highway from Maine to Key West, and U.S. 80, at that time, ran from Tybee Island, Georgia, to San Diego.

Geography
Swainsboro is located near the center of Emanuel County at 32°35'37" North, 82°19'56" West (32.593743, -82.332146). U.S. Route 80 passes through the center of the city, and U.S. Route 1 bypasses it to the west. US 80 leads east 36 mi to Statesboro and west 36 mi to Dublin, while US 1 leads north 62 mi to Augusta and south 106 mi to Waycross. Interstate 16 is 14 mi south of Swainsboro via US 1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.5 km2, of which 32.6 km2 is land and 0.9 km2, or 2.81%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,425 people, 2,697 households, and 1,783 families residing in the city.

Emanuel County School District
The Emanuel County School District, run by the Emanuel County Board of Education, holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of three elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and two academies. The district has 293 full-time teachers and over 4,664 students.
 * Adrian School of Performing Arts (Closed)
 * David Emanuel Academy (DEA)
 * Swainsboro Elementary School
 * Swainsboro Primary School
 * Twin City Elementary School
 * Swainsboro Middle School
 * Emanuel County Institute
 * Swainsboro High School

Higher education

 * East Georgia State College - Swainsboro Campus
 * Southeastern Technical College - Swainsboro Campus

Notable people

 * Ray Guy, NFL Hall of Famer, retired punter, three-time Super Bowl champion
 * Dwight Howard, NBA Player (born in Swainsboro, raised in Atlanta)
 * Rufus Hannah, aka "Rufus the Stunt Bum", born and raised in Swainsboro, famous for his role in the controversial Bumfights series
 * Doug Johnson, record producer, songwriter, record label executive, born in Swainsboro
 * Pat Mitchell, media personality and businesswoman
 * Tony Mitchell, professional basketball player for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, former Milwaukee Bucks player
 * George L. Smith II, member of the Georgia House of Representatives (1944–1973) and Speaker of the same body (1959–1962, 1967–1973)
 * Ben Troupe, born in Swainsboro, played high school football in Augusta, former University of Florida football standout
 * Larry Jon Wilson, singer-songwriter, born in Swainsboro

title: Swainsboro, Georgia


text:
Twin City, Georgia

Twin City is a city in Emanuel County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 1,642.

History
Twin City gets its name from the combining of two adjacent towns, Graymont and Summit. The two rival towns were merged in 1924 as Twin City.

Of Twin City's 3.6 sqmi area, 255 acre is included in the Twin City Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This includes the historic jail and former city hall building

Geography
Twin City is located in eastern Emanuel County at 32.58056°N, -82.15778°W (32.580420, -82.157776). U.S. Route 80 passes through the city, leading west 11 mi to Swainsboro, the county seat, and east 25 mi to Statesboro.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Twin City has a total area of 9.4 km2, of which 0.1 sqkm, or 1.12%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,642 people, 559 households, and 333 families residing in the city.

Attractions
George L. Smith State Park is located in Emanuel County, and is known for its Parrish Mill and Pond, a combination grist mill, saw mill, covered bridge and dam built in 1880 and now open for tours. Anglers and canoeists can explore the mill pond dotted with Spanish moss-draped trees and home to blue heron and white ibis. Hikers can walk seven miles of trails while searching for gopher tortoises, Georgia's state reptile.

Notable people

 * Johnny Archer, professional pool player
 * Ginny Wright, country music singer

title: Twin City, Georgia