Hawkinsville, Georgia

"Hawkinsville" redirects here. For other places and uses, see Hawkinsville (disambiguation).

Hawkinsville, Georgia
City
Nickname(s):  The Good Life, Harness Capital of the World
Motto:  Where Progress Sets Pace
Location in Pulaski County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°17′1″N83°28′36″W / 32.28361°N 83.47667°W / 32.28361; -83.47667
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Pulaski
Government [1]
• Type	Council-Manager
• Council Chairperson	Bernice Banks
• City Manager	Sara Myers
Area [2]
• Total	5.39 sq mi (13.93 km2)
• Land	5.38 sq mi (13.91 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	262 ft (80 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,980
• Density	741.15/sq mi (286.14/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	31036
Area code	478
FIPS code	13235 [3]
GNIS feature ID	0331934 [4]
Website	hawkinsville-pulaski.org

Hawkinsville is a city in Middle Georgia and the county seat of Pulaski County, Georgia, United States. ^{[5] [6]} As of 2020, it has a population of 3,980. ^[7]

The city is known as the "Harness Horse Capital of Georgia" and holds an annual Harness Horse Festival to celebrate its connections to the sport. ^[8] Hawkinsville is also known as the "Highway Hub," with seven major highways running through the city. ^{[8] [9]}

History

Main Street, 1908

Hawkinsville was founded in 1830, and in 1836, it replaced Hartford as the county seat of Pulaski County. ^[10] The city was named after Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, a Senator and Delegate to the Continental Congress from North Carolina. After the war ended, he was appointed Indian agent in charge of affairs south of the Ohio River by George Washington. ^{[11] [12]}

Well before the city's formal establishment, Hawkinsville was a key center for regional trade and travel. It was situated along the Slosheye Trail, a trading route dating back to around 1750 that connected the area to Drayton, Georgia. This trail was used by Native Americans and early European traders throughout the area. The traffic on the trail continued to grow, and it was eventually turned into a road. Its location is marked on what is now Commerce Street in Downtown Hawkinsville. ^[13]

In 1818 General Andrew Jackson is believed to have passed through the city while travelling to Florida during the First Seminole War. The trail is designated by the Andrew Jackson Trail historical marker in the city. ^[14]

Hawkinsville is known as the "Harness Horse Capital of Georgia." Since 1894, the city has hosted harness racing events. Beginning in the 1920s, harness horses have travelled from colder climates to train Hawkinsville due to its Hawkinsville's mild winters. The city holds an annual Harness Festival on the first Saturday in April to celebrate the legacy of harness racing in Hawkinsville. ^{[8] [15]}

Geography

Hawkinsville City Hall

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.39 square miles (14.0 km²), of which 5.38 square miles (13.9 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.026 km²) (1.57%) is water. ^[2]

Climate

Hawkinsville has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Climate data for Hawkinsville, Georgia (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1892–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	86 (30)	88 (31)	96 (36)	99 (37)	102 (39)	107 (42)	106 (41)	107 (42)	110 (43)	102 (39)	90 (32)	89 (32)	110 (43)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	58.8 (14.9)	62.8 (17.1)	70.1 (21.2)	77.4 (25.2)	85.0 (29.4)	90.2 (32.3)	92.4 (33.6)	91.1 (32.8)	86.8 (30.4)	78.3 (25.7)	68.7 (20.4)	61.1 (16.2)	76.9 (24.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	34.8 (1.6)	37.2 (2.9)	43.1 (6.2)	49.9 (9.9)	59.0 (15.0)	67.1 (19.5)	70.1 (21.2)	69.6 (20.9)	64.0 (17.8)	52.7 (11.5)	42.0 (5.6)	36.7 (2.6)	52.2 (11.2)
Record low °F (°C)	−2 (−19)	−3 (−19)	15 (−9)	28 (−2)	36 (2)	45 (7)	55 (13)	52 (11)	35 (2)	23 (−5)	11 (−12)	5 (−15)	−3 (−19)
Average rainfall inches (mm)	4.65 (118)	4.33 (110)	4.52 (115)	3.69 (94)	2.90 (74)	4.39 (112)	4.66 (118)	4.68 (119)	4.07 (103)	2.92 (74)	3.14 (80)	4.59 (117)	48.54 (1,234)
Source: NOAA [16]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	813		—
1880	1,542		89.7%
1890	1,755		13.8%
1900	2,103		19.8%
1910	3,420		62.6%
1920	3,070		−10.2%
1930	2,484		−19.1%
1940	3,000		20.8%
1950	3,342		11.4%
1960	3,967		18.7%
1970	4,077		2.8%
1980	4,372		7.2%
1990	3,527		−19.3%
2000	3,280		−7.0%
2010	4,589		39.9%
2020	3,980		−13.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [17]

Hawkinsville racial composition (2020) ^[18]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White	1,925	48.37%
Black or African American	1,822	45.78%
Native American	6	0.15%
Asian	47	1.18%
Pacific Islander	1	0.03%
Other/Mixed	90	2.26%
Hispanic or Latino	89	2.24%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,980 people and 1,449 households in the city. ^[19]

Economy

The Georgia Department of Corrections operates the Pulaski State Prison in Hawkinsville. ^[20]

The United States Postal Service operates the Hawkinsville Post Office. ^[21]

Arts and culture

National Register of Historic Places

Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Pulaski County, Georgia

• Hawkinsville Opera House, constructed in 1907, has served as an entertainment venue, religious gathering place, and government center. ^[22]
• Hawkinsville Public School, constructed between 1936 and 1969. ^[23]
• Merritt-Ragan House, a Queen-Anne style home built in 1840. ^[24]
• Pulaski County Courthouse, constructed in 1874. ^[25]
• Taylor Hall, moved to Hawkinsville in 1836. ^[26]
• St. Thomas African Methodist Episcopal Church, constructed between 1908 and 1912. ^[27]
• R.J. Taylor Memorial Hospital, which operated from 1938 to 1976. ^{[28] [29]}
• Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District. ^[30]

Education

Pulaski County School District

The Pulaski County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve. It consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 95.70 full-time teachers and 1,341 students. ^[31]

• Pulaski County Elementary School
• Pulaski County Middle School
• Hawkinsville High School

Central Georgia Technical College

Central Georgia Technical College operates the Sam Way, Sr. Hawkinsville Workforce Development Center. The Center offers an array of educational opportunities, including adult education, dual enrollment courses, and continuing education. ^[32]

Infrastructure

Highways include: ^[33]

• U.S. Route 129
• U.S. Route 341
• Georgia State Route 26
• Georgia State Route 27
• Georgia State Route 257
• Georgia State Route 230

Notable people

• Exxon Valdez Captain Joseph Hazelwood was born in Hawkinsville. ^[34]
• Charles Johnson, former defensive end for the Carolina Panthers, was born in Hawkinsville. ^[35]
• Jeezy (musician and businessman) was born in Columbia, South Carolina but was raised in Hawkinsville. ^{[36] [37]}
• Eva C. Mitchell, professor of education at Hampton University from 1930 to 1960, born in Hawkinsville. ^[38]
• Robert Henry Scarborough Jr. (former Vice Admiral of the United States Coast Guard) was born and raised in Hawkinsville. ^[39]
• Tom Forkner, co-founder of Waffle House, was born in Hawkinsville. ^[40]
• Inez Tannenbaum, former South Carolina Superintendent of Education and chairperson of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission was born in Hawkinsville. ^[41]

References

1. "City Commissioners". Hawkinsville-Pulaski County. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
3. "State, County and City FIPS Reference Table". United States Department of Transportation . Retrieved April 27, 2025.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey . Retrieved April 27, 2025.
5. "Middle Georgia | Region 6 | Georgia Department of Economic Development". georgia.org. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
6. "Geography: County Creation and County Seat" (PDF). Retrieved April 21, 2025.
7. Decennial Census, DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171), Table P1 , 2020. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
8. "Hawkinsville, Georgia | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation". www.achp.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
9. "Transportation & Location | Hawkinsville-Pulaski Economic Development". www.hawkinsvillega.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
10. "Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District" . National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
11. "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
12. "Hawkinsville, Georgia | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation". www.achp.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
13. Taylor, George (September 4, 2011). "Slosheye Trail Marker, Hawkinsville, GA". George Lansing Taylor Collection Main Gallery.
14. "Georgia : great in agriculture, industrial and natural resources, rich in history, scenic beauty and spots of tourists' interest - Digital Library of Georgia". dlg.usg.edu. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
15. "About – Harness Hawkinsville" . Retrieved April 30, 2025.
16. "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
17. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
18. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
19. "Profile of general population and housing characteristics" U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. Decennial Census, DEC Demographic Profile, Table DP1, 2020, Retrieved April 26,2025
20. "Pulaski State Prison Archived 2011-05-23 at the Wayback Machine ." Georgia Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 14, 2010.
21. "Post Office Location - HAWKINSVILLE Archived 2012-06-16 at the Wayback Machine ." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on September 14, 2010.
22. "Hawkinsville City Hall-Auditorium". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
23. "Hawkinsville Public school". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
24. "Merritt-Ragan House" National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
25. "Pulaski County Courthouse". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
26. "Taylor Hall". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
27. "St. Thomas African Methodist Episcopal Church" . National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
28. Summary of Proposed National Register/Georgia Register Nomination. Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. Retrieved April 21, 2025
29. "Taylor Memorial Hospital building added to National Register of Historic Places". WMAZ. October 7, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
30. "Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
31. "Search for Public School Districts - District Detail for". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
32. "Hawkinsville Workforce Development Center | Central Georgia Technical College". www.centralgatech.edu. December 19, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
33. Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Digital Map. Hawkinsville-Pulaski County. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
34. Behar, Richard. "Joe's Bad Trip". Time . July 24, 1989.
35. "Hawkinsville paints the town blue for Charles Johnson". WMAZ. February 1, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
36. StudySC (January 11, 2022). "Jeezy". studysc.org. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
37. "Young Jeezy gives back to his hometown of Hawkinsville". WMAZ. August 10, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
38. "Educator Eva C. Mitchell". Daily Press. February 15, 1990. p. 24. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
39. “Vice Admiral Robert H. Scarborough.” United States Coast Guard. Retrieved April 26,2025
40. Slotnik, Daniel E. (April 29, 2017). "Thomas Forkner, Waffle House Co-Founder, Dies at 98". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 8, 2025.
41. "Nomination of Inez M. Tenenbaum to be chairman and commissioner for the consumer product safety commission". www.congress.gov. Retrieved April 22, 2025.

External links

• Georgia (U.S. state) portal

• Hawkinsville Chamber of Commerce