Butler, Georgia

Butler, Georgia
City
Butler Municipal Building (aka City Hall)
Location in Taylor County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°33′N84°14′W / 32.550°N 84.233°W / 32.550; -84.233
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Taylor
Area [1]
• Total	3.26 sq mi (8.45 km2)
• Land	3.25 sq mi (8.41 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation	628 ft (191 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,881
• Density	579.48/sq mi (223.73/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	31006
Area code	478
FIPS code	13-12120 [2]
GNIS feature ID	0312093 [3]
Website	www.cityofbutlerga.com

Butler is the county seat of Taylor County, Georgia, United States. ^[4] Its population was 1,972 at the 2010 census, ^[5] and 1,881 in 2020.

History

The Central of Georgia Railway was built through the present area of Butler about 1850. ^[6] The line is currently owned by Norfolk Southern and hosts three to four trains per day.

Butler was incorporated on February 8, 1854, but the charter was not received until 1870. Taylor County was carved from the Creek Indian territory which had in earlier years become the counties of Marion, Talbot, and Macon.

The chosen location of Butler was known as the "Fifty Mile Station" on the railroad because it was the geographical center of the railroad between Macon and Columbus, Georgia. Each town is approximately 50 miles (80 km) in either direction of Butler.

The city of Butler, Georgia, was named for General William Orlando Butler, a distinguished soldier of the Mexican–American War and a candidate for Vice President on the ticket with General Lewis Cass of Michigan. ^[7]

In late 2016, a 1070 acre 103 megawatt solar panel facility was completed. The Butler Solar Facility is owned by First Solar. ^[8]

Geography

Butler is located at 32°33′N84°14′W / 32.550°N 84.233°W / 32.550; -84.233 (32.557, -84.239). ^[9]

The city is located along U.S. Route 19, which is the main route through the city. U.S. 19 leads north 28 mi (45 km) to Thomaston and south 24 mi (39 km) to Ellaville. The Fall Line Freeway (GA-540) runs from west to east through the southern part of the city, concurrent with Georgia State Route 96. GA-540 and GA-96 lead east 9 mi (14 km) to Reynolds and west 14 mi (23 km) to Junction City. Georgia State Route 137 also runs through the city, leading northeast 20 mi (32 km) to Roberta and southwest 25 mi (40 km) to Buena Vista.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), of which 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) is land and 0.31% is water.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	712		—
1900	707		−0.7%
1910	705		−0.3%
1920	758		7.5%
1930	857		13.1%
1940	1,093		27.5%
1950	1,182		8.1%
1960	1,346		13.9%
1970	1,589		18.1%
1980	1,959		23.3%
1990	1,673		−14.6%
2000	1,907		14.0%
2010	1,972		3.4%
2020	1,881		−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

Butler racial composition as of 2020 ^[11]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	810	43.06%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	986	52.42%
Native American	6	0.32%
Asian	4	0.21%
Pacific Islander	1	0.05%
Other/mixed	50	2.66%
Hispanic or Latino	24	1.28%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,881 people, 762 households, and 447 families residing in the city.

Education

Taylor County School District

The Taylor County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. ^[12] The district has 101 full-time teachers and over 1,735 students. ^[13]

• Taylor County Primary School
• Taylor County Upper Elementary
• Taylor County Middle School
• Taylor County High School

The Taylor County Girls' basketball team (1967–1972) holds the record for the nation's longest girl's high school basketball winning streak by winning 132 consecutive games, going undefeated for five years and winning five back-to-back state championships.^{[ citation needed ]}

Notable people

• Ella Little-Collins, civil rights activist

Gallery

• 
  Taylor County Courthouse was built in Butler in 1935. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1995.
• 
  Taylor County Government Complex ^[14]
• 
  Butler Post Office (ZIP code: 31006)
• 
  Taylor County Board of Education
• 
  Located just north of Butler, the Union Methodist Church and cemetery were added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 6, 2001.
• 
  Taylor County Sheriff's Office ^[15]

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 13, 2016.
6. Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 221. ISBN   978-1135948597 . Retrieved November 30, 2013.
7. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 29. ISBN   0-915430-00-2.
8. "Largest Solar Plant in Southeast Will be Built in Georgia". February 22, 2018.
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
12. Georgia Board of Education ^{[ permanent dead link ]}, Retrieved June 27, 2010.
13. School Stats, Retrieved June 27, 2010.
14. Taylor County Government Complex
15. Taylor County Sheriff's Office