Demorest, Georgia

Demorest, Georgia
City

Location in Habersham County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 34°33′54″N 83°32′38″W / 34.56500°N 83.54389°WCoordinates: 34°33′54″N 83°32′38″W / 34.56500°N 83.54389°W
Country United States
State Georgia
County Habersham
Founded November 13, 1889[1]
Government
  Mayor Rick Austin[2]
  City Manager Vacant
Area
  Total 2.3 sq mi (6 km2)
  Land 2.3 sq mi (5.9 km2)
  Water 0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation 1,348 ft (411 m)
Population (2010)
  Total 1,823
  Density 637/sq mi (244.2/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 30535, 30544
Area code(s) 706
FIPS code 13-22304[3]
GNIS feature ID 0331538[4]
Website City of Demorest

Demorest is a city in Habersham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,465 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Demorest is located at 34°33′54″N 83°32′38″W / 34.56500°N 83.54389°W (34.564948, -83.543920).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2), of which 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.87%) is water.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census,[3] there were 1,465 people, 498 households, and 292 families residing in the city. The population density was 644.4 people per square mile (249.2/km²). There were 564 housing units at an average density of 248.1 per square mile (95.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.70% White, 3.96% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population.

There were 498 households out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city the population was spread out with 15.1% under the age of 18, 28.6% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,382, and the median income for a family was $39,917. Males had a median income of $29,485 versus $24,861 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,981. About 7.8% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

History

Map of land plat and property lines for an auction of land in Demorest, Georgia in Habersham County. The auction was put on by the Demorest Home, Mining and Improvement Company, which was at one point the largest land owner in Demorest. The map shows the location of the former Lake Demorest, the Blue Ridge and Atlantic Rail Road, and Hazel Creek.

The land where Demorest is now located was given by the State of Georgia to W. Stripling in 1829. Stripling did little with the land aside from maintaining a family farm. In 1840, the land was transferred to Dr. Paul Rossignol who built a summer home on the west side of Lake Demorest. That house became significant to the history of Demorest. Among other things, it was one of the first buildings used by Piedmont College, which was established in 1897.[6]

Demorest is one of the Temperance Towns.[7]

Notable landmarks

The new pedestrian footbridge has a ramp on one side and an elevator and stairs on the other.
The Demorest Women's Club in downtown next to the pedestrian footbridge.

Although Demorest is a small city, it has many notable landmarks. A few of these landmarks include Demorest Springs Park, Old Demorest Train Depot, Demorest Women's Club and the former Lake Demorest.

One of Demorest's most popular landmarks is the Johnny Mize Athletic Center and Museum.[8] The museum is owned by Piedmont College and is named for Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize. Mize was born in Demorest, and played baseball at Piedmont.[9][10] The museum houses Mize memorabilia from his time at Piedmont as well as from his professional baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants and the New York Yankees. In addition to the museum, Mize's childhood home is a Georgia Historical site with a private owner.

The most recent landmark is the new addition of the pedestrian bridge over a span of Historic U.S. 441 in front of the Piedmont College campus.[11] The new bridge was assembled off-site and lowered into place by crane.[12] The bridge was modeled after the Vanderbilt University 21st Avenue Pedestrian Bridge. The installation of the bridge was a joint project of the Georgia Department of Transportation, Piedmont College and the city of Demorest.

References

  1. "City of Demorest". Habersham County Government. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  2. Moore, Rob (2 January 2014). "New mayor, council members take oaths in Demorest". Access North Georgia. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. Lane, Mary Charlotte Ed.D (1993). Piedmont College History 1897-1990. Demorest, Ga.: Piedmont College.
  7. Susanna Barrows and Robin Room, Puritans in Taverns: Law and Popular Culture in Colonial Massachusetts, 1630–1720, p. 185, University of California Press (April 1991)
  8. "Johnny Mize Athletic Center and Museum". Georgia Tourism. Web.Georgia.Org. 2007-09-24. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  9. Phelps, Myron (2008-02-11). "Johnny Mize Collection". The Navigator. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  10. Suda, Tim (2008-01-28). "History of Sports". The Navigator. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  11. Moore, Rob (2008-08-04). "Pedestrian Bridge Installation Rescheduled". The Northeast Georgian (Community Newspapers, Inc.). Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  12. "Demorest Bridge Installation Delayed". Access North Georgia (Jacobs Media). 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2008-08-08.