Plains, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Plains is a city in Sumter County, Georgia
, United States. The population was 776 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Americus
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
Jimmy Carter
was born in Plains at the Wise Sanitarium (now renamed the Lillian G. Carter Nursing Center
.) His wife Rosalyn Carter, his younger brother Billy Carter
, his younger sister, Ruth Carter Stapleton
, and first cousin Hugh Carter
were also born in Plains. The former president and his wife still live there.
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land. The city's boundary is in the shape of a circle
. Plains, Ga has a center longitude/latitude point which is -83.0813 / 33.4553.
Koinonia Farm, a non-profit multi-racial, multi-cultural Christian community where all possessions are mutually owned, is located nearby. Andersonville National Historic Site and the National Prisoner of War Museum are located in the vicinity of Plains. Georgia Southwestern State University
is located in the nearby town of Americus
, some students choosing to live and to worship in Plains. Westville
, a re-created town depicting the living history of mid-nineteenth century Georgia, is located in the nearby town of Lumpkin
in adjacent Stewart County
.
of 2000, there were 637 people, 215 households, and 136 families residing in the city. The population density
was 780.0 people per square mile (299.9/km²). There were 244 housing units at an average density of 298.8 per square mile (114.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.62% White, 59.81% African American, 1.26% from other races
, and 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.83% of the population.
There were 215 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 24.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 16.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 30.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 69.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 58.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,719, and the median income for a family was $29,375. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $16,406 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,602. About 22.2% of families and 25.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.2% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.
to shorten Plains of Dura to Plains. Plains was subsequently incorporated
in 1896. Plains' continued to experience growth fueled by cotton cultivation well into the early twentieth century. A substantial school and the pioneering Wise Sanitarium were both built in the 1920s. Despite differentiation into peanut cultivation, the Great Depression
deprived the community of much of its prosperity. Plains remained a quiet Southern town until Jimmy Carter
rose to political prominence in the 1970s.
Sumter County, Georgia
Sumter County is a county located in the southwest portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 26, 1831. As of 2000, the population was 33,200. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 32,532...
, United States. The population was 776 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Americus
Americus, Georgia
-Early years:Americus, Georgia was named and chartered by Sen. Lovett B. Smith in 1832.For its first two decades, Americus was a small courthouse town. The arrival of the railroad in 1854 and, three decades later, local attorney Samuel H. Hawkins' construction of the only privately financed...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Americus micropolitan area
The Americus 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 Americus....
.
Notable people
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
was born in Plains at the Wise Sanitarium (now renamed the Lillian G. Carter Nursing Center
Lillian G. Carter Nursing Center
The Lillian G. Carter Nursing Center formerly known as the Wise Sanitarium in Plains, Georgia is a hospital. It is probably best noted as the birthplace of Former United States President Jimmy Carter, who was born there on October 1, 1924....
.) His wife Rosalyn Carter, his younger brother Billy Carter
Billy Carter
William Alton "Billy" Carter III was an American businessman who promoted Billy Beer, was a candidate for Mayor of Plains, Georgia, and was the younger brother of United States President Jimmy Carter.-Early years:...
, his younger sister, Ruth Carter Stapleton
Ruth Carter Stapleton
Ruth Carter Stapleton was a sister of Jimmy Carter and was known in her own right as a Christian evangelist. She died of pancreatic cancer in 1983.- Early life :...
, and first cousin Hugh Carter
Hugh Carter
Hugh Alton Carter, Sr. was an American politician and businessman from GeorgiaBorn in Plains, Georgia, Carter served in the United States Army during World War II. Carter graduated from Georgia Southwestern State University, when the college was a two year college and then from the University of...
were also born in Plains. The former president and his wife still live there.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land. The city's boundary is in the shape of a circle
Circle
A circle is a simple shape of Euclidean geometry consisting of those points in a plane that are a given distance from a given point, the centre. The distance between any of the points and the centre is called the radius....
. Plains, Ga has a center longitude/latitude point which is -83.0813 / 33.4553.
Koinonia Farm, a non-profit multi-racial, multi-cultural Christian community where all possessions are mutually owned, is located nearby. Andersonville National Historic Site and the National Prisoner of War Museum are located in the vicinity of Plains. Georgia Southwestern State University
Georgia Southwestern State University
Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the University System of Georgia.-The College of Arts and Sciences:The College of Arts and Sciences at GSW offers undergraduate degrees in art Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the...
is located in the nearby town of Americus
Americus, Georgia
-Early years:Americus, Georgia was named and chartered by Sen. Lovett B. Smith in 1832.For its first two decades, Americus was a small courthouse town. The arrival of the railroad in 1854 and, three decades later, local attorney Samuel H. Hawkins' construction of the only privately financed...
, some students choosing to live and to worship in Plains. Westville
Westville (Georgia)
Westville is an open air museum recreating an 1850 working town in Lumpkin, Georgia, United States.A citizens group supported creation of the living history museum. More than 30 authentically furnished, restored antebellum buildings were moved here to create the village...
, a re-created town depicting the living history of mid-nineteenth century Georgia, is located in the nearby town of Lumpkin
Lumpkin, Georgia
Lumpkin is a city in, and the county seat of, Stewart County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,369 at the 2000 census.-History:This area of Georgia was inhabited by indigenous Native Americans for thousands of years before European contact...
in adjacent Stewart County
Stewart County, Georgia
Stewart County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 23, 1830. The 2010 Census reflected a population of 6,058. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 4,558. The county seat is Lumpkin.-History:...
.
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 637 people, 215 households, and 136 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 780.0 people per square mile (299.9/km²). There were 244 housing units at an average density of 298.8 per square mile (114.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.62% White, 59.81% African American, 1.26% 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 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.83% of the population.
There were 215 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 24.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 16.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 30.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 69.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 58.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,719, and the median income for a family was $29,375. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $16,406 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 $11,602. About 22.2% of families and 25.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.2% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.
History
Originally inhabited by the Muscogee people, by the 1840s three small settlements existed nearby: Plains of Dura, Magnolia Springs, and Lebanon. As railway access expanded into the region in response to increased cotton farming, these settlements coalesced closer to the new railway location. As businesses rapidly developed, local businessmen successfully petitioned the State LegislatureGeorgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
to shorten Plains of Dura to Plains. Plains was subsequently incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
in 1896. Plains' continued to experience growth fueled by cotton cultivation well into the early twentieth century. A substantial school and the pioneering Wise Sanitarium were both built in the 1920s. Despite differentiation into peanut cultivation, the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
deprived the community of much of its prosperity. Plains remained a quiet Southern town until Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
rose to political prominence in the 1970s.