Hephzibah, Georgia

Hephzibah is a city in south Richmond County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Augusta – Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,880 at the 2000 census.

Hephzibah was originally named Brothersville, after the three Anderson brothers who were among the earliest settlers. Around the town, a seminary of learning was established by Hephzibah Baptist Association in October of 1860 (Appling, GA area group of believers) and soon the town became known as Hephzibah after the school and the Hephzibah Baptist Church were built (1862).^[1] In 1870, The State of Georgia officially renamed Brothersville, Hephzibah^[1], with the name Hephzibah found twice in the Bible, as the wife of Hezekiah in the Biblical book of Second Kings. Hephzibah is a Hebrew name meaning "my delight is in her."^[2]

Due to the 1996 consolidation of Augusta and unincorporated Richmond County, Hephzibah is surrounded to the west, north, and east by consolidated Augusta (including many areas within the Hephzibah ZIP code).

Geography

Hephzibah is located at (33.304126, -82.097923)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.4 square miles (50.3 km²), of which, 19.4 square miles (50.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.31%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 3,880 people, 1,374 households, and 1,090 families residing in the city. The population density was 200.4 people per square mile (77.4/km²). There were 1,570 housing units at an average density of 81.1 per square mile (31.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.37% White, 25.08% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.96% of the population.

There were 1,374 households out of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,123, and the median income for a family was $42,898. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $22,841 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,905. About 12.9% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Christian denominations with established places of worship in the city are Southern Baptists and Methodists.

Notable locations

• Augusta International Raceway
• Diamond Lakes Recreation Center
• Jessie Carroll Park and Recreation Center
• Blythe Recreation Center

Notable people from Hephzibah

This list includes people who were born in Hephzibah or who spent a significant amount of time living in the town.

Photos

See also

• Hephzibah High School

References

External links

• Hephzibah proud of separate identity, Susan McCord, Augusta Chronicle, June 20, 2010