Austell, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Austell is a city in Cobb County
in the U.S. state
of Georgia
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,581.
because the water contained lithium carbonate
and in 1888 it was bottled and sold under the brand name Bowden Lithia spring water
. The demand for land in the area of the spring grew and eventually Mr. G. O. Mozely subdividided 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of his land and laid the town down in squares with streets 50 feet (15.2 m) wide. Not long after, Georgia Pacific, now a division of Southern Railway, chose austell to not only be the site of a station but to be the dividing point for two major lines that would converge there. The lines to Birmingham and Chattanooga.
In 2009, Sweetwater Creek flooded, destroying many homes and businesses in Austell.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²), of which 0.18% is water.
. It lies on Sweetwater Creek
and just north of I20
. The city is relatively flat, with few large hills.
being 2.4 miles (3.9 km) to the Southwest.
with hot, humid summers and mild, but occasionally cold winters by the standards of the southern United States. The city experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, with a July daily average of 89 °F (31.7 °C). In a normal summer it's not unusual for temperatures to exceed 90 °F (32 °C). Winters are mild, windy, with some warm, sunny days and occasional snow, with a January average high of 50 °F (10 °C) and low of 30 °F (-1.1 °C). Occasionally, high temperatures will struggle to reach 40 °F (4.4 °C), and nights can dip into the teens. Subzero temperatures are very uncommon and only occur every decade or so.
of 2000, there were 5,359 people, 2,009 households, and 1,386 families residing in the city. The population density
was 942.1 people per square mile (363.6/km²). There were 2,144 housing units at an average density of 376.9 per square mile (145.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.42% White, 24.58% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 6.40% from other races
, and 2.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.07% of the population.
There were 2,009 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples
living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 37.0% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,933, and the median income for a family was $39,635. Males had a median income of $31,750 versus $22,944 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,924. About 11.0% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
, a large tourist attraction, is located in Unincorporated Cobb County but is located just outside Austell and has an Austell mailing address.
The Collar Community Center located near downtown is used for civic organizations and local get-togethers.
South Cobb Recreation Center is a 21000 square feet (1,951 m²) facility that offers a gym, two multipurpose rooms, a caterers kitchen, six offices, a conference room, three restrooms and a lobby. It has an occupational capacity of 939.
, whose headquarters are in Marietta. The school district serves 106,719 students in a total of 114 schools.
There are several private schools in the area as well: Cumberland Christian Academy,
Good Shepherd Learning Center ,
Goddard School .
Cobb County, Georgia
Cobb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat and largest city is Marietta, which is located in the center of the county. The county was named for Thomas Willis Cobb, who in the early 19th century was a United States representative and senator from Georgia...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,581.
History
Austell used to be known as Salt Springs, and was frequented by hunters who would trap and hunt game on their way to the salt licks. Some enterprising hunters claimed the areas waters had medicinal properties and it became a mecca for the sick. So popular was the healing spring's water that it brought people to the area to settle. The spring was later named Lithia SpringsLithia Springs, Georgia
Lithia Springs is an unincorporated area, formerly incorporated as a city, located in northeastern Douglas County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,072. The city is named for its historic Lithia Springs springs.Incorporated in 1882, Lithia...
because the water contained lithium carbonate
Lithium carbonate
Lithium carbonate is a chemical compound of lithium, carbon, and oxygen with the formula Li2CO3. This colorless salt is widely used in the processing of metal oxides and has received attention for its use in psychiatry. It is found in nature as the rare mineral zabuyelite.-Properties:Like almost...
and in 1888 it was bottled and sold under the brand name Bowden Lithia spring water
Lithia spring water
Lithia Springs Water is a brand of mineral water that contains naturally occurring lithium carbonate. LITHIA is sourced from Lithia Springs, Georgia located on the border of Cobb and Douglas counties, only 12 miles from the city of Atlanta. The water contains a very high mineral content as...
. The demand for land in the area of the spring grew and eventually Mr. G. O. Mozely subdividided 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of his land and laid the town down in squares with streets 50 feet (15.2 m) wide. Not long after, Georgia Pacific, now a division of Southern Railway, chose austell to not only be the site of a station but to be the dividing point for two major lines that would converge there. The lines to Birmingham and Chattanooga.
In 2009, Sweetwater Creek flooded, destroying many homes and businesses in Austell.
Geography
33°48′57"N 84°38′10"W (33.815905, -84.636242).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²), of which 0.18% is water.
Topography
Austell is located at western edge of the Atlanta Metropolitan near the south border of Cobb County and north border of Douglas CountyDouglas County
Douglas County is any of twelve counties in the United States, all of which are named for Stephen A. Douglas, a Senator from Illinois from 1847 to 1861 and the Democratic Party nominee for President in 1860:* Douglas County, Colorado* Douglas County, Georgia...
. It lies on Sweetwater Creek
Sweetwater Creek
Sweetwater Creek may refer to:* Sweetwater Creek , a novel by Anne Rivers Siddons* Sweetwater Creek, Florida, an unincorporated community in Hillsborough County, Florida* Sweetwater Creek , Georgia...
and just north of I20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
. The city is relatively flat, with few large hills.
Adjacent Localities
Despite being largely surrounded by unincorporated Cobb County, several cities are near austell such as Mableton which lies just over 3 miles (4.8 km) to the East, Powder Springs which is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) to the Northwest, and Lithia SpringsLithia Springs, Georgia
Lithia Springs is an unincorporated area, formerly incorporated as a city, located in northeastern Douglas County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,072. The city is named for its historic Lithia Springs springs.Incorporated in 1882, Lithia...
being 2.4 miles (3.9 km) to the Southwest.
Climate
According to the Köppen classification, Austell has a has a humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
with hot, humid summers and mild, but occasionally cold winters by the standards of the southern United States. The city experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, with a July daily average of 89 °F (31.7 °C). In a normal summer it's not unusual for temperatures to exceed 90 °F (32 °C). Winters are mild, windy, with some warm, sunny days and occasional snow, with a January average high of 50 °F (10 °C) and low of 30 °F (-1.1 °C). Occasionally, high temperatures will struggle to reach 40 °F (4.4 °C), and nights can dip into the teens. Subzero temperatures are very uncommon and only occur every decade or so.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,359 people, 2,009 households, and 1,386 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 942.1 people per square mile (363.6/km²). There were 2,144 housing units at an average density of 376.9 per square mile (145.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.42% White, 24.58% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 6.40% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.07% of the population.
There were 2,009 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 37.0% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,933, and the median income for a family was $39,635. Males had a median income of $31,750 versus $22,944 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,924. About 11.0% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The Economy of Austell has been largely tied with the rail depot, transferring people and goods, and being in close proximity to Atlanta has allowed many residents to commute to Atlanta in persuit of higher paying, more abundant jobs.Points of Interest
Six Flags Over GeorgiaSix Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia is a theme park located west of Atlanta, in unincorporated Cobb County. Opened in 1967, it is the second park in the Six Flags chain, after the original opening in 1961 in Texas....
, a large tourist attraction, is located in Unincorporated Cobb County but is located just outside Austell and has an Austell mailing address.
The Collar Community Center located near downtown is used for civic organizations and local get-togethers.
South Cobb Recreation Center is a 21000 square feet (1,951 m²) facility that offers a gym, two multipurpose rooms, a caterers kitchen, six offices, a conference room, three restrooms and a lobby. It has an occupational capacity of 939.
Sports
During summer, softball games are nearly a continual occurrence with city leagues having 30 games and 450 players. In addition to cheer leading, 32 teams of over 500 youths are sponsored by the Sweetwater Vally Youth Association. Five lighted fields accommodate baseball and softball aficionados. Collar park and Washington street park both have tennis courts.Parks & Recreation
The Austell Parks and Recreation Department maintains five recreational facilities and seven parks Berry Park, a passive park, Collar Park and Legion Park which are both community parks, and Pine Street, Stephens, Washington Street and Berry Park which are neighborhood parks. Combined, they all cover an area of 36.2 acres (146,496.3 m²).Government
The city of Austell currently has 7 elected officials: Mayor, representatives of four wards and two representatives at-large.Education
Public education in Cobb County is handled by the Cobb County School DistrictCobb County School District
The Cobb County School District is the county government agency which operates public schools in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. The school district includes all of Cobb County except for the Marietta City Schools. It is the second-largest school system in Georgia and among the largest in...
, whose headquarters are in Marietta. The school district serves 106,719 students in a total of 114 schools.
There are several private schools in the area as well: Cumberland Christian Academy,
Good Shepherd Learning Center ,
Goddard School .