Blackshear, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Blackshear is a city in Pierce County
, Georgia
, United States
. The population was 3,283 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
of Pierce County
.
Blackshear is part of the Waycross
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), of which, 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.06%) is water.
fighting in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge and the Battle of Buford's Bridge. He served as a general during the War of 1812
. General Blackshear also served in the Georgia state legislature as Senator of Laurens County.
During the American Civil War
, the city became a temporary prisoner of war camp for more than 5,000 Union prisoners. Confederate Prison Camp This site is marked by a historical landmark sign.
The primary crop of this south Georgia community was once tobacco, and where the first brick tobacco warehouse in Georgia was built, known as the Brantley Brick.
of 2000, there were 3,283 people, 1,354 households, and 894 families residing in the city. The population density
was 766.6 people per square mile (296.2/km²). There were 1,518 housing units at an average density of 354.5 per square mile (136.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.03% White, 21.35% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races
, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 1,354 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples
living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,285, and the median income for a family was $38,414. Males had a median income of $30,263 versus $22,067 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,611. About 16.9% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. The district has 216 full-time teachers and over 3,240 students. Four schools in the district are located in Blackshear.
Pierce County, Georgia
Pierce County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 15,636. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 17,881. The county seat is Blackshear....
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,283 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Pierce County
Pierce County, Georgia
Pierce County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 15,636. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 17,881. The county seat is Blackshear....
.
Blackshear is part of the Waycross
Waycross, Georgia
Waycross is the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Ware County in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 14,725 at the 2010 Census. A small portion of the city extends into Pierce County. According the U.S...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Waycross micropolitan area
The Waycross Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Georgia, anchored by the city of Waycross....
.
Geography
Blackshear is located at 31°17′56"N 82°14′52"W (31.298941, -82.247726).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 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), of which, 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.06%) is water.
History
Blackshear was founded in December 1859 as a result of military forts, roads, and bridges being built through the interior of Georgia to the coast. The city was named in honor of General David Blackshear, who authorized the construction of these roads, bridges and some 11 forts for defense. He was a Patriot in the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
fighting in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge and the Battle of Buford's Bridge. He served as a general during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. General Blackshear also served in the Georgia state legislature as Senator of Laurens County.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the city became a temporary prisoner of war camp for more than 5,000 Union prisoners. Confederate Prison Camp This site is marked by a historical landmark sign.
The primary crop of this south Georgia community was once tobacco, and where the first brick tobacco warehouse in Georgia was built, known as the Brantley Brick.
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 3,283 people, 1,354 households, and 894 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 766.6 people per square mile (296.2/km²). There were 1,518 housing units at an average density of 354.5 per square mile (136.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.03% White, 21.35% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.43% 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 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 1,354 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% 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, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,285, and the median income for a family was $38,414. Males had a median income of $30,263 versus $22,067 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 $14,611. About 16.9% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.
Pierce County School District
The Pierce County School DistrictPierce County School District
The Pierce County School District is a public school district in Pierce County, Georgia, USA, based in Blackshear, Georgia. It serves the communities of Blackshear, Bristol, Jot Em Down Store, Mershon, Offerman, Otter Creek, Patterson and Waycross, Georgia....
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. The district has 216 full-time teachers and over 3,240 students. Four schools in the district are located in Blackshear.
- Blackshear Elementary School
- Midway Elementary School
- Pierce County Middle School
- Pierce County High SchoolPierce County High SchoolPierce County High School is a public high school located in Blackshear, Georgia, USA. The school is part of the Pierce County School District which serves Pierce County, Georgia.- Athletics :Pierce County won a state championship in Boy's Golf in 2009....
Notable residents
- Nikki DeLoachNikki DeLoachAshlee Nicole DeLoach is an American actress known as Nikki DeLoach.-Life and career:DeLoach was born in Waycross, Georgia. DeLoach was a member of the Georgia 4-H Performing Arts group Clovers & Company from 1991 to 1994. She then joined the The New Mickey Mouse Club in 1993.In 1998, she became a...
, actress & singer (b. 1979) Born in Waycross, but was raised in Blackshear, GA where she grew up. - Robert (Bob) House, fourth person in the U.S. to win $1 million dollars on Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
- Robert Briscoe Evans, actor, lived in Blackshear from 1968-1979. www.robertbriscoeevans.com; www.rainpace.com; www.ctgsc.org; www.socalartsprogram.com married to sherry lynn