Blakely, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Blakely is a town in Early County, Georgia
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,068. This town is the county seat
of Early County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, this town has a total area of 17.6 square miles (45.6 km²), of which, 17.5 square miles (45.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.74%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,696 people, 2,060 households, and 1,413 families residing in this town. The population density
was 326.0 people per square mile (125.9/km²). There were 2,251 housing units at an average density of 128.8 per square mile (49.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.34% White, 59.97% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were 2,060 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples
living together, 29.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,250, and the median income for a family was $24,107. Males had a median income of $24,861 versus $16,116 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,012. About 29.6% of families and 33.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.7% of those under age 18 and 22.7% of those age 65 or over.
factory
which produced peanut
paste (which is in turn used by other manufacturers in other foods). Officials from the FBI and FDA say the plant's officials and workers were suspected of spreading salmonella
bacteria in 2007-2009 by knowingly allowing products that had tested positive to be re-tested as negatives (giving a false-negative second result) and then allowing them to be shipped out despite the fact they could have been positive. This likely contributed to numerous illnesses and at least eight deaths (which caused the FDA and FBI to get involved and launched a U.S. Justice Department criminal investigation probe), and caused several lawsuits and a massive nationwide recall
of many products by several companies. The company has since shut the plant and laid-off all of the plant’s roughly 50 employees for the duration of the investigation, causing further economic hardship
for the town on top of the 2009 recession.
Since the closure of the Peanut Corp. plant it has been established that much of the tainted peanut paste was produced in the Texas facility, instead of the Blakely Plant, and Early County is continuing to embrace its Peanut heritage into the future.
Also of note is the establishment of Early County 2055 headquarters on Court Square in Blakely. 2055 is a long-term development plan for the revitalization of the city and county spearheaded by the Charles Rice Family and Foundation.
Blakely is the home to the Early County School System and is home to a newly renovated football stadium and gymnasium. Blakely also opened a new sportsplex, named in memorial and honor of local coach Ray Knight, which hosts multiple softball and baseball fields, multi-purpose fields, and is operated by the Blakely-Early County Recreation Department.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 156 full-time teachers and over 2,764 students.
Early County, Georgia
Early County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818 and was named for Peter Early. As of 2010, the population is 11,008. The county seat is Blakely.-Geography:...
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,068. This town 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 Early County
Early County, Georgia
Early County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818 and was named for Peter Early. As of 2010, the population is 11,008. The county seat is Blakely.-Geography:...
.
Geography
Blakely is located at 31°22′36"N 84°56′2"W (31.376728, -84.933873).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...
, this town has a total area of 17.6 square miles (45.6 km²), of which, 17.5 square miles (45.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.74%) is water.
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 5,696 people, 2,060 households, and 1,413 families residing in this town. 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 326.0 people per square mile (125.9/km²). There were 2,251 housing units at an average density of 128.8 per square mile (49.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.34% White, 59.97% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.40% 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 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were 2,060 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% 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, 29.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,250, and the median income for a family was $24,107. Males had a median income of $24,861 versus $16,116 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 $12,012. About 29.6% of families and 33.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.7% of those under age 18 and 22.7% of those age 65 or over.
Other
Blakely is the site of a now-closed Peanut Corporation of AmericaPeanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America was a peanut-processing business founded in 1977 and headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia. The company was forced out of business after being found to be the source of a massive salmonella outbreak in the United States during 2008 and 2009.PCA operated processing...
factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
which produced peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
paste (which is in turn used by other manufacturers in other foods). Officials from the FBI and FDA say the plant's officials and workers were suspected of spreading salmonella
Salmonella
Salmonella is a genus of rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, predominantly motile enterobacteria with diameters around 0.7 to 1.5 µm, lengths from 2 to 5 µm, and flagella which grade in all directions . They are chemoorganotrophs, obtaining their energy from oxidation and reduction...
bacteria in 2007-2009 by knowingly allowing products that had tested positive to be re-tested as negatives (giving a false-negative second result) and then allowing them to be shipped out despite the fact they could have been positive. This likely contributed to numerous illnesses and at least eight deaths (which caused the FDA and FBI to get involved and launched a U.S. Justice Department criminal investigation probe), and caused several lawsuits and a massive nationwide recall
Product recall
A product recall is a request to return to the maker a batch or an entire production run of a product, usually due to the discovery of safety issues. The recall is an effort to limit liability for corporate negligence and to improve or avoid damage to publicity...
of many products by several companies. The company has since shut the plant and laid-off all of the plant’s roughly 50 employees for the duration of the investigation, causing further economic hardship
Hardship
A hardship may mean:*hardship clause in contract law*undue hardship in employment law and other areas*extreme hardship in immigration law*hardship post in a foreign service*hardship in life...
for the town on top of the 2009 recession.
Since the closure of the Peanut Corp. plant it has been established that much of the tainted peanut paste was produced in the Texas facility, instead of the Blakely Plant, and Early County is continuing to embrace its Peanut heritage into the future.
Also of note is the establishment of Early County 2055 headquarters on Court Square in Blakely. 2055 is a long-term development plan for the revitalization of the city and county spearheaded by the Charles Rice Family and Foundation.
Blakely is the home to the Early County School System and is home to a newly renovated football stadium and gymnasium. Blakely also opened a new sportsplex, named in memorial and honor of local coach Ray Knight, which hosts multiple softball and baseball fields, multi-purpose fields, and is operated by the Blakely-Early County Recreation Department.
Early County School District
The Early County School DistrictEarly County School District
The Early County School District is a public school district in Early County, Georgia, USA, based in Blakely, Georgia. It serves the communities of Arlington, Blakely, Damascus, and Jakin, Georgia.-Schools:...
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 156 full-time teachers and over 2,764 students.
- Early County Elementary School
- Early County Middle School
- Early County High School
External links
- Early County 2055 - a non-profit corporation established by native son Charles Barton Rice and Catherine B. Rice to support the revitalization, economic development and preservation of Blakely and Early County, Ga.
- Blakely - Early County Chamber of Commerce - Chamber of Commerce for Blakely and surrounding communities of Jakin, Arlington and Damascus.
- Early County Board of Education-a School System serve the cities of Blakely and surrounding communities of Jakin, Arlington, and Damascus
- Early County News-a newspaper Founded by the Fleming Family in 1859