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Washington, Georgia

Coordinates: 33°44′12.5″N 82°44′21.5″W / 33.736806°N 82.739306°W / 33.736806; -82.739306
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This article is about the city of Washington in Georgia. For other uses, see Washington (disambiguation).

Washington, Georgia
City
City of Washington
The Robert Toombs House State Historic Site
The Robert Toombs House State Historic Site
Location in Wilkes County and the state of Georgia
Location in Wilkes County and the state of Georgia
Washington is located in the United States
Washington
Washington
Location of Washington in the US
Coordinates: 33°44′12.5″N 82°44′21.5″W / 33.736806°N 82.739306°W / 33.736806; -82.739306
Country United States
State Georgia
CountyWilkes
Settled1774
Incorporated1804
Founded byStephen Heard
Named forGeorge Washington
Government
 • MayorAmes Barnett
 • CouncilWashington City Council
Area
 • Total
7.8 sq mi (20.3 km2)
 • Land7.8 sq mi (20.3 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
607 ft (185 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
4,134
 • Estimate 
(2016)[1]
3,978
 • Density548/sq mi (211.6/km2)
DemonymWashingtonian
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30673
Area code(s)706/762
FIPS code13-80704[2]
GNIS feature ID0356620[3]
Websitecityofwashingtonga.gov

Washington is the county seat of Wilkes County[4], Georgia, United States. Under its original name Heard's Fort, it was briefly the state capital, and is noted as the place where the Confederacy voted to dissolve itself, effectively ending the American Civil War. The population was 4,295 at the 2000 census. The city is often referred to as Washington-Wilkes, to distinguish it from other places named Washington.

Origins

Heard's Fort was established in 1774 by Stephen Heard. The settlement served as the temporary capital of Georgia from February 3, 1780, until early 1781.[5]

American Revolutionary War

The Battle of Kettle Creek, one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War to be fought in Georgia, was fought on February 14, 1779, in Wilkes County, about eight miles (13 km) from present day Washington. The battle resulted in a victory for the American Patriots who took 75 prisoners, and killed roughly 70 Loyalists, while losing 32 men.

American Civil War

Although no major battles of the Civil War were fought in or near Washington, the city has the distinction of being the location where Jefferson Davis held the last meeting with the Confederate cabinet. On April 3, 1865, with Union troops under Ulysses S. Grant poised to capture Richmond, Jefferson Davis escaped for Danville, Virginia, together with the Confederate cabinet. After leaving Danville, and continuing south, Davis met with his Confederate Cabinet for the last time on May 5, 1865 in Washington, along with a hand-picked escort led by Given Campbell, including his personal Body Guard Sgt. Joseph A Higgenbotham, Jr., of Amherst/Nelson County, Virginia. The meeting took place at the Heard house[6] (the Georgia Branch Bank Building), with fourteen officials present.

Historic sites

Several historic sites in Washington are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Wilkes County Courthouse, the Robert Toombs House State Historic Site, the Washington-Wilkes Historical Museum,[7] the Mary Willis Public Library,[8] and the recently restored historic Fitzpatrick Hotel, built in 1898.[9]

Washington's list of "firsts"

The city of Washington claims to be first in many historical events:

  • First Catholic parish in Georgia 1790
  • First city in the nation to be established in the name of George Washington, 1780
  • First Baptist church in upper Georgia at Fishing Creek, 1783[10]
  • First Methodist church in Georgia was organized at Grant's Meeting House[11] in Wilkes County, 1787[12]
  • First Presbyterian minister ordained in Georgia was John Springer in Wilkes County, 1790[13]
  • First Episcopal conference not under the Church of England, 1788
  • First successful cotton gin perfected and set up by Eli Whitney in Wilkes county, 1795.
  • First woman newspaper editor in U.S. was Sarah Porter Hillhouse[14] who became the editor of the Monitor in 1804 (inducted into Georgia Women of Achievement in 2006).
  • First cotton mill in Georgia erected on Upton Creek in Wilkes County, 1811
  • First stamp mill for gold in the world was invented and put into use near Washington by Jeremiah Griffin, 1831–32.
  • One of the first plastic garments ever cut in the world was in Wilkes County by Margo and Alfred Moses in February 1946.
  • First seat of government of the State of Georgia, 1780.
  • In 1777, Wilkes County became the first county in Georgia. Washington is the county seat of Wilkes County.
  • First (and only) Revolutionary War battle won by the patriots in Georgia: the Battle of Kettle Creek, Feb. 14, 1779.

Geography

Washington is located at 33°44′7″N 82°44′29″W / 33.73528°N 82.74139°W / 33.73528; -82.74139 (33.735394, −82.741420).[15]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20 km2), of which 7.8 square miles (20 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.25%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1810596—
182069516.6%
1850462—
18701,506—
18802,19946.0%
18902,63119.6%
19003,30025.4%
19103,065−7.1%
19204,20837.3%
19303,158−25.0%
19403,53712.0%
19503,8027.5%
19604,44016.8%
19704,094−7.8%
19804,66213.9%
19904,279−8.2%
20004,2950.4%
20104,134−3.7%
2016 (est.)3,978[1]−3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,134 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 60.4% Black, 35.3% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% from some other race and 1.7% from two or more races. 1.5% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 4,295 people, 1,778 households, and 1,162 families residing in the city. The population density was 547.5 people per square mile (211.5/km²). There were 1,974 housing units at an average density of 251.6 per square mile (97.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.04% White, 60.75% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 1,778 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 24.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,667, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $27,281 versus $21,230 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,659. About 17.6% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 23.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Wilkes County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of one primary school, one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school.[17] The district has 116 full-time teachers and over 1,858 students.[18]

Dr. Rosemary Caddell is the Superintendent of Schools.[19]

Culture

Washington is home to Robert Toombs House State Historic Site.[20]

One of Washington's most lingering mysteries is that of the lost Confederate gold.[21] As the last recorded location of the remaining Confederate gold, the Washington area is thought to be the site where it is buried. Worth roughly $100,000 when it disappeared in 1865, at 2016 prices its value would be around $3.6 million. The cable television channel A&E produced a documentary focusing on this legend.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "American FactFinder". 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. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ "Washington, Georgia". www.kudcom.com.
  6. ^ "Washington, Georgia". www.kudcom.com.
  7. ^ "Washington, Georgia". www.kudcom.com.
  8. ^ "General Info". n-georgia.com. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  9. ^ "The Fitzpatrick Hotel in Washington, Georgia - A Brief History". thefitzpatrickhotel.com.
  10. ^ "Washington, Georgia". www.kudcom.com.
  11. ^ "Washington, Georgia". www.kudcom.com.
  12. ^ "Washington, Georgia". www.kudcom.com.
  13. ^ "Washington, Georgia". www.kudcom.com.
  14. ^ "Washington, Georgia". www.kudcom.com.
  15. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  16. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  17. ^ Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  18. ^ School Stats, Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  19. ^ "Wilkes County Board of Education". Wilkes County Schools. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  20. ^ "Robert Toombs House State Historic Site". Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  21. ^ "Washington, Georgia - Lost Confederate Gold". www.kudcom.com.
  22. ^ Associated Press, Thomasville Times Enterprise, "Maj. Gen. Lloyd Brown, Retired Army Officer, Died in Washington," February 18, 1950

Further reading

Government
General information
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