Douglas, Georgia
| City of Douglas, Georgia | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 | |
| Motto: Working Together to Serve You Better | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 31°30′27″N 82°51′3″W / 31.50750°N 82.85083°WCoordinates: 31°30′27″N 82°51′3″W / 31.50750°N 82.85083°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Coffee |
| Government | |
| • City Mayor | James Dennis |
| • City Manager | Terrel Jacobs |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.9 sq mi (33.5 km2) |
| • Land | 12.9 sq mi (33.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 253 ft (77 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 11,589 |
| • Density | 825.7/sq mi (318.9/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 31533-31535 |
| Area code(s) | 912 |
| FIPS code | 13-23872[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0313591[2] |
| Website | http://www.cityofdouglas.com/ |
Douglas is a city in Coffee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 11,589.[3] Douglas is the county seat of Coffee County[4] and the core city of the Douglas, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area which has a population of 48,708 as of the 2008 census estimates.[5]
History
Douglas was founded in 1855 as seat of the newly formed Coffee County.[6] It was named for Senator Stephen A. Douglas, a renowned stump speaker and Congressman who was the presidential challenger to Abraham Lincoln in the Election of 1860. Douglas was chartered as a town in 1895 and as a city in 1897. In 1895, the railroad came to Douglas and the community began to boom.[7] In 1909, the Georgia and Florida Railway located its offices in Douglas. The Eleventh District Agricultural & Mechanical School was established in Douglas in 1906. In 1927, South Georgia College became Georgia's first state supported junior college. During the 1920s and 1930s, Douglas became one of the major tobacco markets in the state. Much of this history is depicted in the Heritage Station Museum, which is located in the old Georgia and Florida Railway train station on Ward Street in downtown Douglas.
Douglas has two areas listed on the National Register of Historic Places: downtown and Gaskin Avenue historic districts. They were added to the list in 1989.[8]
Geography
Douglas is located at 31°30′27″N 82°51′3″W / 31.50750°N 82.85083°W (31.507413, -82.850799)[9]. Douglas is 62 miles (100 km) driving distance NE of Valdosta, Georgia, 116 miles (187 km) driving distance NW of Jacksonville, Florida, and 205 miles (330 km) driving distance SE of Atlanta, Georgia.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.9 square miles (33 km2), of which, 12.9 square miles (33 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.46%) is water. Major water bodies include Twenty Mile Creek, Seventeen Mile Creek, and Hilliard's Pond, which was once the ski show park "Holiday Beach."
Demographics
Douglas is the principal city of the Douglas Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Atkinson and Coffee counties[10] and had a combined population of 45,022 at the 2000 census.[1]
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 10,639 people, 3,977 households, and 2,656 families residing in the city. The population density was 825.7 people per square mile (318.9/km²). There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 364.2 per square mile (140.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.41% White, 45.33% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.80% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.92% of the population.
There were 3,977 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,946, and the median income for a family was $36,349. Males had a median income of $26,551 versus $20,145 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,652. About 17.9% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.2% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.
Infrastructure
Highways
U.S. Route 221 (runs north-south)
U.S. Route 441 (runs north-south)
Georgia State Route 31 (runs north-south)
Georgia State Route 32 (runs east-west)
Georgia State Route 135 (runs north-south)
Georgia State Route 158 (runs east-west)
Georgia State Route 206 (runs east-west)
Airport
Utilities
- The Electric Department, locally-owned and a member of Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, services Douglas with power.[11]
- The Natural Gas Department, member of both Georgia & American Public Gas Association and the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia, provides gas to the area.[12]
- Water and sewer service is conducted by the city's Water Department.[13]
- The Public Works Department handles yard clippings, junk items, and animal control for the city.[14]
Economy
Major employers
AgricultureFarming plays a large role in the area's economy. Major agricultural products from the town and surrounding county include peanuts, corn, tobacco, and cotton. Chicken is also considered a major part of the economy. TourismDouglas is home to Heritage Station Museum which displays artifacts of the city's history. The WWII Aviation Museum, Broxton Rocks, and the Ashley-Slater House are also popular tourist attractions in the area. All three were recently named among "Georgia's Hidden Treasures" in a segment on WSB-TV. Douglas has ten public parks that offer year-round activities for all ages and interest groups. Also, there are four golf courses in and around the city. Nearby, the 1,490 acres (6.0 km2) General Coffee State Park draws more than 100,000 visitors a year and is the most popular tourist attraction in the area. Healthcare
Media
EducationCoffee County School DistrictThe Douglas-Coffee County area is serviced by the Coffee County Board of Education. The Coffee County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of eight elementary schools, a middle school, three high schools and an alternative education center.[15] The district has 438 full-time teachers and over 8,000 students.[16]
Private schools
Higher Education
Notable people
References
External links
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