Baldwin, Georgia

Baldwin, Georgia
City

Baldwin City Hall
Motto: "The Hub of Development in Northeast Georgia"

Location in Banks County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 34°29′27″N 83°33′10″W / 34.49083°N 83.55278°W / 34.49083; -83.55278
Country United States
State Georgia
Counties Habersham, Banks
Area
 • Total 4.9 sq mi (12.7 km2)
 • Land 4.9 sq mi (12.7 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 1,529 ft (466 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 3,279
 • Estimate (2016)[1] 3,304
 • Density 668/sq mi (258.0/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 30511
Area code(s) 706
FIPS code 13-04980[2]
GNIS feature ID 0354438[3]
Website www.cityofbaldwin.org

Baldwin is a city in Banks and Habersham counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 3,279,[4] up from 2,425 at the 2000 census.

Baldwin is located on U.S. Route 441 just south of Georgia State Route 365. Baldwin sits astride the Eastern Continental Divide, which separates waters flowing southeastward toward the Savannah River and the Atlantic Ocean from waters flowing southwestward toward the Chattahoochee River and the Gulf of Mexico. City Hall sits in Habersham County. Baldwin borders the slightly larger city of Cornelia, which houses the Habersham Chamber of Commerce. Nearby in Demorest is Piedmont College. Also nearby is Lake Russell, a recreation area in Chattahoochee National Forest. The Habersham County airport is in Baldwin. The largest employer is Fieldale Corporation, a chicken processing company.

Geography

Baldwin is located in northeastern Georgia at 34°29′27″N 83°33′10″W / 34.490757°N 83.552643°W / 34.490757; -83.552643Coordinates: 34°29′27″N 83°33′10″W / 34.490757°N 83.552643°W / 34.490757; -83.552643,[5] split between Banks and Habersham County. It is located along two major arterial routes: U.S. Highway 441 and U.S. Highway 23/Georgia State Highway 365, both of which are divided four-lane highways. Highway 23/365 becomes Interstate 985 in Gainesville, 17 miles (27 km) southwest of the Baldwin limits.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 square miles (12.7 km2), all land.[4]

Baldwin is home to the Habersham County Airport, located on the north side of town. The airport offers a 5,500-foot (1,700 m) paved runway at 1,447 feet (441 m) above sea level. It serves as the gateway airport to the Georgia mountains with its central location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1900130—
1910280115.4%
1920193−31.1%
193031965.3%
194040226.0%
195049021.9%
196069842.4%
197077210.6%
19801,08039.9%
19901,43933.2%
20002,42568.5%
20103,27935.2%
Est. 20163,304[1]0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

According to the 2010 census, the population of Baldwin was 3,279, representing a population growth in the previous decade of 35.2%.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 2,425 people, 845 households, and 583 families residing in the city. The population density was 674.9 people per square mile (260.8/km²). There were 912 housing units at an average density of 253.8 per square mile (98.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.22% White, 3.71% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.43% Asian, 0.82% Pacific Islander, 6.89% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.86% of the population.

There were 845 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the city, the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 13.5% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,299, and the median income for a family was $33,011. Males had a median income of $25,409 versus $21,823 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,059. About 20.0% of families and 26.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.5% of those under age 18 and 33.8% of those age 65 or over.

Just over sixty percent of Baldwin's population is a high school graduate or higher. Twelve and half percent have a bachelor's degree or higher.

21.3% of Baldwin's workforce are in management, professional and related occupations, 15.7% are in service occupations, 19.2% are in sales and office occupations, 1.5% are in agricultural occupations, 12.1% are in construction, extraction and maintenance occupations, and 30.2% are in production, transportation and material moving occupations.

Baldwin has a cost of living index of 82.9 against a U.S. average of 100.0. Crime rates in Baldwin have decreased 53% since 2003, with zero violent crimes in 2009 (the latest reported figures). Baldwin's crime index for 2009 was 77.0 against the U.S. average of 319.1. (A higher number equates to more crimes committed.)

History

The city of Baldwin was incorporated by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on December 17, 1896, on some 250 acres (100 ha) along the Banks / Habersham County line and resting on the Eastern Continental Divide. It was originally known as "Stonepile" because of a large pile of stones that once stood in the center of town. The stone structure was erected and left behind by the Cherokee people who once inhabited the area. The stone pile's significance to the Cherokee and why they left it remains a mystery.

The land was purchased from the Cherokee Nation in 1804 by the state of Georgia in an effort to take in Wofford's Settlement along Nancytown Creek. This land was a 4-mile (6 km) strip known as the Hawkins Line (sometimes called the "Four-Mile Purchase Line"). The Hawkins Line served as the established boundary between Georgia and the Cherokee Nation from 1804 to 1818.

During the early years of industrialization, many communities developed around train depots. As a result, many small towns were established along the rail lines and received their names from prominent railroad officials. Baldwin was named after Joseph A. Baldwin, an Atlanta-Charlotte Air Line Railroad official who helped to construct much of Georgia's rail network, one of which passed through this area.

Nearby institutions

The closest hospital is Habersham County Medical Center in Demorest. Stephens County Hospital is to the northeast in Toccoa, and Northeast Georgia Medical Center is to the southwest in Gainesville.

Colleges and universities in the region include:

Comprehensive plan update

In 2007, the city of Baldwin began efforts to develop its Comprehensive Plan Update. This document provides three key planning elements: a Community Assessment with supporting data, a Community Participation Plan and a Community Agenda. The Assessment provides an overview of current conditions in the city and identifies key challenges being faced by our community.

The Community Participation Plan establishes a process for ensuring active public participation and involvement in developing a community vision, setting goals for the future and establishing the community's agenda for the next decade. Finally, the Community Agenda serves as the city's action plan for carrying out this new vision, achieving the goals and objectives as defined in the plan and it serves as a tool for measuring our success during the implementation phase.

References

  1. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Baldwin city, Georgia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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