Folkston, Georgia

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Folkston, Georgia
City
FolkstonGAMontage.png
Top, left to right: Charlton County Courthouse, Folkston Funnel, Folkston Train Museum, City Hall, Downtown Folkston, Okefenokee Swamp
FolkstonGeorgialogo.png
Logo
Motto: 
"Gateway to the Okefenokee" [1]
Charlton County Georgia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Folkston Highlighted.svg
Location in Charlton County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 30°50′4″N82°0′17″W / 30.83444°N 82.00472°W / 30.83444; -82.00472
Country United States
State Georgia
Counties Charlton
Government
 • MayorLee Gowen
 • City ManagerLeonard H. Lloyd
Area
[2]
 • Total4.19 sq mi (10.86 km2)
 • Land4.19 sq mi (10.86 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,464
 • Density1,065.14/sq mi (411.21/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
31537
Area code 912
FIPS code [3]
GNIS feature ID [4]
Website charltoncountyga.us/city-of-folkston
City Hall City Hall in Folkston, GA, US.jpg
City Hall

Folkston is a city in and the county seat of Charlton County, Georgia, United States. [5] [6] The population was 4,464 in 2020.

Contents

History

Folkston was founded on August 19, 1911. [7] The city was named in honor of William Brandon Folks, M.D., a prominent physician and surgeon in his day. In the years 1925 through 1927, many new and commodious residences were built and several modern brick buildings were erected, including the Citizen Bank Block, the Masonic Temple building, a grammar school building, and a courthouse. Shortly after its creation, the village of Folkston was incorporated as a town government and functioned as a town until 1911 when the area was incorporated as a city. For a number of years, Folkston was the self-proclaimed "Marriage Capital of the World"; Floridians who could not endure their state's waiting period before tying the knot would cross the state line to wed.

Geography

Folkston is located near the southern boundary of Georgia at 30°50′4″N82°0′17″W / 30.83444°N 82.00472°W / 30.83444; -82.00472 (30.834437, -82.004829). [8] U.S. Routes 1, 23, and 301 pass through the city as Second Street, leading south 2 miles to the state line. Route 1 and 23 lead northwest 35 miles (56 km) to Waycross, while Route 301 leads north 30 miles (48 km) to Nahunta. The eastern entrance to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is 11 miles (18 km) southwest of Folkston via GA 23 and GA 121.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Folkston has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km2), all land. [9]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900 167—
1910 355112.6%
1920 39711.8%
1930 50627.5%
1940 1,024102.4%
1950 1,51547.9%
1960 1,81019.5%
1970 2,11216.7%
1980 2,2436.2%
1990 2,2851.9%
2000 2,178−4.7%
2010 2,50214.9%
2020 4,46478.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]
Folkston racial composition as of 2020 [11]
RaceNum.Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)1,08824.37%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)1,30929.32%
Native American 110.25%
Asian 801.79%
Other/Mixed 861.93%
Hispanic or Latino 1,89042.34%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,464 people, 1,082 households, and 667 families residing in the city.

Attraction

Folkston Funnel

With a high percentage of rail traffic headed to Florida passing through Folkston, the rail lines through the city have acquired the nickname "The Folkston Funnel." To provide for a safe viewing situation, the city has built a platform for visitors, along with picnic tables, chairs, barbecue pits, restrooms, [12] grills, and even WiFi. At night, lights shine onto the double track if someone wanted to watch after sunset. Freight trains pass through the Folkston Funnel, and proceed to terminals such as Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami. Freight trains that originate in Florida take the same routes in opposite direction. In addition, Amtrak trains pass through the Folkston Funnel, they do not stop there. [13] At the covered viewing platform, there is an active scanner running and visitors can listen to train engineers. [12]

Education

Charlton County School District

The Charlton County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve. It consists of three elementary schools and a high school. [14]

Notable people

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folkston Railfan Platform</span> Train-viewing shelter along fairly busy CSX rail corridor in Folkston, Georgia, USA

The Folkston Railfan Platform is located in Folkston, Georgia along CSX Transportation's Nahunta Subdivision, and provides a location where railfans can safely view and photograph trains. With the help of a $30,000 state grant, the city built the train-watching platform in 2001 and is promoted by county and state tourism agencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint George, Georgia</span> Unincorporated community in Georgia, U.S.

Saint George, an unincorporated community located in the "Georgia Bend" of the St. Mary's River, is the southernmost named settlement in Georgia. It is in Charlton County, south of Folkston. In 2020, the population of the St. George census county division (CCD) was 2,237. Most of this population is in the town of St. George, but the figure also includes rural areas not recognized by the Census Bureau, including communities like Moniac. The ZIP Code for Saint George is 31562.

References

  1. ↑ "City of Folkston Georgia Website". City of Folkston Georgia Website. Archived from the original on May 24, 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. ↑ "Profile for Folkston, Georgia, GA". ePodunk. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Folkston city, Georgia (revision of 02-23-2012)". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Trains". www.innatfolkston.com.
  13. ↑ The Folkston Funnel: Trainwatcher's Page
  14. ↑ Georgia Board of Education [ permanent dead link ], Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Champ Bailey". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Boss Bailey". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
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