Bainbridge, Georgia

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Bainbridge, Georgia
City
Bainbridge City Hall.JPG
Bainbridge City Hall
Flag of Bainbridge, Georgia.png
Flag
Seal of Bainbridge, Georgia.png
Seal
Motto: 
"Georgia's First Inland Port" [1]
Decatur County Georgia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bainbridge Highlighted.svg
Location in Decatur County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 30°54′17″N84°34′16″W / 30.90472°N 84.57111°W / 30.90472; -84.57111
Country United States
State Georgia
County Decatur
Government
 • MayorEdward Reynolds
Area
[2]
 •  City
21.00 sq mi (54.40 km2)
 • Land19.78 sq mi (51.22 km2)
 • Water1.23 sq mi (3.18 km2)
Elevation
121 ft (37 m)
Population
 (2020)
 •  City
14,468
 • Density731.59/sq mi (282.47/km2)
 •  Metro
27,842
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
39817, 39819
Area code 229
FIPS code 13-04896 [3]
GNIS feature ID0354431 [4]
Website bainbridgecity.com
Bainbridge Welcome sign on U.S. Route 84 Bainbridge welcome sign, US84EB.JPG
Bainbridge Welcome sign on U.S. Route 84
Bainbridge High School (North face) Bainbridge High School (North face).JPG
Bainbridge High School (North face)
Bainbridge Public Safety Police Car Bainbridge Police Car.JPG
Bainbridge Public Safety Police Car
Historic house at Shotwell Street 2011.02.18.172157 Shotwell Street Bainbridge Georgia.jpg
Historic house at Shotwell Street
Oak Hill Cemetery, Bainbridge Oak Hill Cemetery, Bainbridge.JPG
Oak Hill Cemetery, Bainbridge
Welcome Earle May Boat Basin Park Welcome Earle May Boat Basin Park, Bainbridge.JPG
Welcome Earle May Boat Basin Park

Bainbridge is a city in Decatur County, Georgia, United States. The city is the county seat of Decatur County. [5] As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 14,468, up from 12,697 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Bainbridge, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area and a principal city in the Tallahassee—Bainbridge, FL-GA Combined Statistical Area.

Contents

History

The first European settlement in what is today Bainbridge was a trading post set up by James Burges in the late 18th century. From him comes the name Burges's Bluff. [6] : 120  The town was named after U.S. Navy Commodore William Bainbridge, [7] commander of the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides"), and was incorporated on December 22, 1829. [8]

In 1824, Bainbridge was designated seat of the newly formed Decatur County. [9]

On October 10, 2018, Bainbridge fell victim to Hurricane Michael. The storm left widespread damage through the city limits, including downed trees, power lines, and structural damage. Many residents affected suffered severe damage to their homes.

Geography

Bainbridge is located in the center of Decatur County. The city is in southwestern Georgia along U.S. Routes 27 and 84, which form a bypass around the southern part of the city. U.S. Route 27 leads southeast 42 miles (68 km) to Tallahassee, Florida, and north 128 miles (206 km) to Columbus. U.S. Route 84 leads east 38 miles (61 km) to Thomasville and northwest 54 miles (87 km) to Dothan, Alabama. Other highways which run through the city include Georgia State Routes 97, 253, 309, and 311.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.1 square miles (52.0 km2), of which 18.8 square miles (48.7 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.3 km2), or 6.40%, is water. [10]

Bainbridge is located on the Flint River, which flows southwest to meet the Chattahoochee. Together they form the Apalachicola River which flows to the Gulf of Mexico. At the junction of the two rivers, the Jim Woodruff Dam forms Lake Seminole. A system of locks at the dam allows barge traffic to travel between the inland port at Bainbridge and the Gulf of Mexico.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860 1,869—
1870 1,351−27.7%
1880 1,4366.3%
1890 1,66816.2%
1900 2,64158.3%
1910 4,21759.7%
1920 4,79213.6%
1930 6,14128.2%
1940 6,3523.4%
1950 7,56219.0%
1960 12,71468.1%
1970 10,887−14.4%
1980 10,553−3.1%
1990 10,7121.5%
2000 11,7229.4%
2010 12,6978.3%
2020 14,46813.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]
1850-1870 [12] 1870-1880 [13]
1890-1910 [14] 1920-1930 [15]
1940 [16] 1950 [17] 1960 [18]
1970 [19] 1980 [20] 1990 [21]
2000 [22] 2010 [23]
Bainbridge racial makeup as of 2020 [24]
RaceNum.Perc.
White 5,10635.29%
Black or African American 8,10656.03%
Native American 310.21%
Asian 1170.81%
Pacific Islander 40.03%
Other/Mixed 3362.32%
Hispanic or Latino 7685.31%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,468 people, 4,471 households, and 3,111 families residing in the city.

Economy

It was announced in December 2019 that Brazil-based gun manufacturer Taurus had been granted a $39 million tax-incentive package to move from the Miami, Florida area to Bainbridge in return for creating 300 jobs. The package includes $20 million for construction, $7.9 million in tax credits, $4.5 million for infrastructure, $4.3 million in property-tax abatements, and $3 million for equipment, in addition to a land lease arrangement of $1/year for 73 acres (30 hectares) of land. The subsidy totals $130,000 per job. [25]

Arts and culture

Arts

Annual cultural events

River Town Days is held each year the second weekend of March.

The Swine Time Festival and Decatur County Fall Festival and Fair are annual events. [8]

National Register of Historic Places

The Decatur County Courthouse was constructed in 1902, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [8] Also listed on the Register is the First African Missionary Baptist Church. [26]

Public library

The Decatur County Gilbert H. Gragg Library is located in Bainbridge. The library serves the population of Decatur County and acts as the headquarters for the Southwest Georgia Regional Library. [27]

Education

Decatur County School District

The Decatur County School District holds pre-school to grade 12, and consists of two primary schools, one elementary school, one middle school, and a high school. [28] The district has 384 full-time teachers and over 5,782 students. [29]

Schools include: [30]

Other schools

Parks and recreation

The Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA opened on September 15, 1986. Its building had a cost of $1,000,000. [31]

Infrastructure

Transportation

The city is a seaport linked to the Gulf of Mexico via Florida's Apalachicola River. Officially known as Port Bainbridge, these facilities are managed entirely by the Georgia Ports Authority.

The Decatur County Industrial Air Park, located 6 miles (10 km) northwest of the city, provides general aviation service to the community.

Notable people

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References

  1. ↑ "City of Bainbridge website". City of Bainbridge Georgia. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  2. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  3. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ↑ Cox, Dale; Conrad, Rachael (2017). Fowltown. Neamathla, Tutakosi Talofa & the first battle of the Seminole Wars. Old Kitchen Books. ISBN   978-0692977880.
  7. ↑ "Profile for Bainbridge, Georgia, GA". ePodunk. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 "Bainbridge". Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Archived from the original on December 24, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  9. ↑ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 220. ISBN   978-1135948597 . Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Bainbridge city, Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 20, 2015.[ dead link ]
  11. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ↑ "1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1870.
  13. ↑ "1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  14. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  15. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930. pp. 251–256.
  16. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  17. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  18. ↑ "1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1960.
  19. ↑ "1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1970.
  20. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  21. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1990.
  22. ↑ "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  23. ↑ "2010 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  24. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  25. ↑ Polly Mosendz; Caleb Melby (December 19, 2019), "Gunmaker Gets $39 Million From Taxpayers for 300 Small-Town Jobs", Bloomberg Business
  26. ↑ Steven Moffson (June 2001). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: First African Missionary Baptist Church". National Park Service. with 12 photos
  27. ↑ "Homepage". Southwest Georgia Regional Library System. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  28. ↑ Georgia Board of Education [ permanent dead link ], Retrieved June 8, 2010.
  29. ↑ School Stats, Retrieved June 8, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Our Schools". Decatur County School District. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Too small for a YMCA? … No way!". The Post Searchlight . March 21, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2021. - Author was the interim CEO of the YMCA.

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