Fitzgerald, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Fitzgerald is a city
in Ben Hill
in the U.S. state
of Georgia
, and is the county seat
of Ben Hill County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,053. Fitzgerald is the principal city of the Fitzgerald Micropolitan Statistical Area
, which includes all of Ben Hill and Irwin counties.
It was created in 1895, as a community for Civil War
veterans by Indianapolis
newspaper editor Philander H. Fitzgerald, a former drummer boy in the Union army
. The town is located less than 15 miles from the site of the capture of Confederate president Jefferson Davis
on May 10, 1865.
In recent years, the unofficial, and sometimes controversial mascot
of the city has become the Red Junglefowl
, a wild chicken native to the Indian subcontinent
. In the late 1960s, a small number were released into the woods surrounding the city and have thrived to this day.
Fitzgerald is also home to the famous Dorminy-Massee Bed and Breakfast. Built in 1915 by J. J. (Captain Jack) Dorminy for his family, this two-story, colonial-style home is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The bed and breakfast features eight bedrooms, each with a private bath, an elegant living room and parlor, and spacious grounds. The Inn is within walking distance of Fitzgerald's historic downtown area, as well as, The Blue and Gray Museum.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), of which, 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.55%) is water.
of 2000, there were 8,758 people, 3,448 households, and 2,210 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,208.8 people per square mile (466.4/km²). There were 3,968 housing units at an average density of 547.7 per square mile (211.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.27% African American, 47.27% White, 0.18% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 2.28% from other races
, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.43% of the population.
There were 3,448 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were married couples
living together, 23.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,805, and the median income for a family was $26,577. Males had a median income of $26,674 versus $17,211 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,775. About 26.7% of families and 31.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.8% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of two pre-schools, an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. The district has 217 full-time teachers and over 3,395 students.
team in the Georgia State League
being in the league's first season of operation in 1948 through 1952. The team was called the Fitzgerald Pioneers and the club had no affiliation with any major league club during the five seasons of operation in the Georgia State League. After the 1952 season the Fitzgerald Pioneers relocated to Sandersville and became the Sandersville Wacos and were affiliated with the then Milwaukee Braves for the 1953 season. After a season with no affiliation in 1954 the Sandersville Wacos became affiliated with the then New York Giants
and became known as the Sandersville Giants for their final two seasons of operations 1955–56. Fitzgerald got a replacement team for the Pioneers in 1953 when the Moultrie Giants of the Georgia-Florida League
moved to town. The Moultrie club was a charter member of the Georgia-Florida League when it began operations in 1946. The club began operations as an independent club with no affiliation with any major league baseball club and was known as the Moultrie Packers for the first two seasons of operations 1946-47. After the 1947 season the Moultrie club became an affiliate of the then Philadelphia A's and became known as the Moultrie A's for the 1948 and 1949 seasons. After a season as a Chicago Cubs
affiliate in 1950 the Moultrie Cubs became an independent club again and was known as the Moultrie To-Baks for the 1951 season before becoming affiliated with the New York Giants and becoming the Moultrie Giants for the 1952 season. After relocating to Fitzgerald and becoming an affiliate of the Cincinnati Redlegs, the new edition of the Fitzgerald Pioneers lasted one season the next year 1954 saw the team name changed to the Fitzgerald Redlegs. After two years in Fitzgerald the club relocated back to Moultrie and remained a Cincinnati Reds minor league team known as the Moultrie Reds for the next two years 1955 through 1956. Moultrie became a Phillies minor league team in 1957 but the club relocated during the season to Brunswick, Georgia
. The Brunswick Phillies were members of the Georgia-Florida during its final year of operations in 1958. After the Fitzgerald Redlegs left town the city was without a team for the 1955 season but the next year another long time member of the Georgia-Florida League relocated to Fitzgerald. The Cordele club relocated to Fitzgerald after ten seasons in Cordele. During the club's years in the city of Cordele the team was affiliated with four different major league baseball clubs. First with the Chicago White Sox
(the Cordele White Sox in 1946), then came three years as a Cleveland Indians
minor league club (the Cordele Indians 1947-49) then four years as a then Philadelphia A's minor league club (The Cordele A's 1950-1953) and finally two seasons as a Baltimore Orioles
minor league club (The Americus-Cordele Orioles 1954 Cordele Orioles in 1955). After the Cordele club came to town they changed affiliation back to the now Kansas City A's and the Fitzgerald A's played for the 1956 season. The next year the club changed affiliation again this time back the Baltimore Orioles and the club was known as the Fitzgerald Orioles for the 1957 season. The Fitzgerald club relocated to Dublin
following the 1957 season and remained a Baltimore Orioles farm team and became the Dublin Orioles for the Georgia-Florida League's last year of operation. Fitzgerald has not had a minor league in the 52 years since. The manager Earl Weaver
was a manager for of the Fitzgerald Orioles in 1957 and remained with them after they became the Dublin Orioles in 1958
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Ben Hill
Ben Hill County, Georgia
Ben Hill County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The constitutional amendment to create the county was proposed July 31, 1906 and ratified November 6, 1906. As of 2000, the population was 17,484. The 2007 Census Estimate placed the population at 17,650...
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...
, and 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 Ben Hill County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,053. Fitzgerald is the principal city of the Fitzgerald Micropolitan Statistical Area
Fitzgerald micropolitan area
The Fitzgerald 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 Fitzgerald....
, which includes all of Ben Hill and Irwin counties.
It was created in 1895, as a community for 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...
veterans by Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
newspaper editor Philander H. Fitzgerald, a former drummer boy in the Union army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. The town is located less than 15 miles from the site of the capture of Confederate president Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
on May 10, 1865.
In recent years, the unofficial, and sometimes controversial mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
of the city has become the Red Junglefowl
Red Junglefowl
The Red Junglefowl is a tropical member of the Pheasant family. They are thought to be ancestors of the domestic chicken with some hybridisation with the Grey Junglefowl...
, a wild chicken native to the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
. In the late 1960s, a small number were released into the woods surrounding the city and have thrived to this day.
Fitzgerald is also home to the famous Dorminy-Massee Bed and Breakfast. Built in 1915 by J. J. (Captain Jack) Dorminy for his family, this two-story, colonial-style home is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The bed and breakfast features eight bedrooms, each with a private bath, an elegant living room and parlor, and spacious grounds. The Inn is within walking distance of Fitzgerald's historic downtown area, as well as, The Blue and Gray Museum.
Geography
Fitzgerald is located at 31°42′56"N 83°15′23"W (31.715432, -83.256464).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 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), of which, 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.55%) 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 8,758 people, 3,448 households, and 2,210 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 1,208.8 people per square mile (466.4/km²). There were 3,968 housing units at an average density of 547.7 per square mile (211.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.27% African American, 47.27% White, 0.18% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 2.28% 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 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.43% of the population.
There were 3,448 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% 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, 23.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,805, and the median income for a family was $26,577. Males had a median income of $26,674 versus $17,211 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 $12,775. About 26.7% of families and 31.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.8% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Ben Hill County School DistrictBen Hill County School District
The Ben Hill County School District is a public school district in Ben Hill County, Georgia, USA, based in Fitzgerald, Georgia. It serves the communities of Fitzgerald, and Queensland, Georgia.-Schools:...
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of two pre-schools, an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. The district has 217 full-time teachers and over 3,395 students.
- Ben Hill County PreK
- Ben Hill County Primary School
- Ben Hill County Elementary School
- Ben Hill County Even Start
- Ben Hill County Middle School
- Fitzgerald High School
Natives
Well-known natives include:- President of Brandeis UniversityBrandeis UniversityBrandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
and civil rights leader Morris Berthold Abram - Brainard CheneyBrainard CheneyBrainard Cheney was a novelist, playwright and essayist from Georgia associated primarily with the literary movement known as the Agrarians.-Biography:...
, author - GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Raymond G. Davis, USMC- World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
hero, Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient, Commander of the 3rd Marine Division in 1968-69 in VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and Assistant Commandant of the Marine CorpsAssistant Commandant of the Marine CorpsThe Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps is the second highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps, and serves as a deputy for the Commandant of the Marine Corps...
1971-72 - Blues musician Abner JayAbner JayAbner Jay was an American multi-instrumentalist, who is best known for performing eccentric, blues infused folk music, as a one man band. His idiosyncratic lyrics and style can also be considered within the realm of outsider music.-History:...
- Country singer Gene Register
- Frances MayesFrances MayesFrances Mayes is an American university professor, poet, memoirist, essayist, and novelist.Born and raised in Fitzgerald, Georgia, Mayes attended Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia, and obtained her BA from the University of Florida...
, author - Joe RelifordJoe RelifordJoe Louis Reliford was an African-American Minor League Baseball batboy who became the youngest person to participate in a professional baseball game on July 19, 1952. He was inserted into a game for the Fitzgerald Pioneers of the Georgia State League at the age of 12 years and 234 days...
, Youngest professional baseball player - 1936 Summer Olympics1936 Summer OlympicsThe 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
trackTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
star Forrest TownsForrest TownsForrest Grady "Spec" Towns was an American track and field athlete. He was the 1936 Olympic champion in the 110 m hurdles, and broke the World Record in that event three times.... - Brian Brown, photographer and historian; creator of Vanishing South Georgia
Sports
Fitzgerald was home to a minor league baseballMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team in the Georgia State League
Georgia State League
The Georgia State League was an American Class D minor league in professional baseball that existed in 1906, 1914, 1920-21 and 1948-56. During its last incarnation, it existed alongside two nearby Class D circuits, the Georgia-Florida League and the Georgia-Alabama League.The version of the GSL...
being in the league's first season of operation in 1948 through 1952. The team was called the Fitzgerald Pioneers and the club had no affiliation with any major league club during the five seasons of operation in the Georgia State League. After the 1952 season the Fitzgerald Pioneers relocated to Sandersville and became the Sandersville Wacos and were affiliated with the then Milwaukee Braves for the 1953 season. After a season with no affiliation in 1954 the Sandersville Wacos became affiliated with the then New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and became known as the Sandersville Giants for their final two seasons of operations 1955–56. Fitzgerald got a replacement team for the Pioneers in 1953 when the Moultrie Giants of the Georgia-Florida League
Georgia-Florida League
The Georgia-Florida League was a minor baseball league that existed from 1935 through 1958 and in 1962–1963...
moved to town. The Moultrie club was a charter member of the Georgia-Florida League when it began operations in 1946. The club began operations as an independent club with no affiliation with any major league baseball club and was known as the Moultrie Packers for the first two seasons of operations 1946-47. After the 1947 season the Moultrie club became an affiliate of the then Philadelphia A's and became known as the Moultrie A's for the 1948 and 1949 seasons. After a season as a Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
affiliate in 1950 the Moultrie Cubs became an independent club again and was known as the Moultrie To-Baks for the 1951 season before becoming affiliated with the New York Giants and becoming the Moultrie Giants for the 1952 season. After relocating to Fitzgerald and becoming an affiliate of the Cincinnati Redlegs, the new edition of the Fitzgerald Pioneers lasted one season the next year 1954 saw the team name changed to the Fitzgerald Redlegs. After two years in Fitzgerald the club relocated back to Moultrie and remained a Cincinnati Reds minor league team known as the Moultrie Reds for the next two years 1955 through 1956. Moultrie became a Phillies minor league team in 1957 but the club relocated during the season to Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick is the major urban and economic center in southeastern Georgia in the United States. The municipality is located on a harbor near the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles north of Florida and 70 miles south of South Carolina. Brunswick is bordered on the east by the Atlantic...
. The Brunswick Phillies were members of the Georgia-Florida during its final year of operations in 1958. After the Fitzgerald Redlegs left town the city was without a team for the 1955 season but the next year another long time member of the Georgia-Florida League relocated to Fitzgerald. The Cordele club relocated to Fitzgerald after ten seasons in Cordele. During the club's years in the city of Cordele the team was affiliated with four different major league baseball clubs. First with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(the Cordele White Sox in 1946), then came three years as a Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
minor league club (the Cordele Indians 1947-49) then four years as a then Philadelphia A's minor league club (The Cordele A's 1950-1953) and finally two seasons as a Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
minor league club (The Americus-Cordele Orioles 1954 Cordele Orioles in 1955). After the Cordele club came to town they changed affiliation back to the now Kansas City A's and the Fitzgerald A's played for the 1956 season. The next year the club changed affiliation again this time back the Baltimore Orioles and the club was known as the Fitzgerald Orioles for the 1957 season. The Fitzgerald club relocated to Dublin
Dublin, Georgia
Dublin is a city in Laurens County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 16,201. The city is the county seat of Laurens County.-History:The original settlement was named after the city Dublin, Ireland....
following the 1957 season and remained a Baltimore Orioles farm team and became the Dublin Orioles for the Georgia-Florida League's last year of operation. Fitzgerald has not had a minor league in the 52 years since. The manager Earl Weaver
Earl Weaver
Earl Sidney Weaver is a former Major League Baseball manager. He spent his entire 17-year managerial career with the Baltimore Orioles . Weaver was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.-Playing career:After playing for Beaumont High School in St...
was a manager for of the Fitzgerald Orioles in 1957 and remained with them after they became the Dublin Orioles in 1958