Swainsboro, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Swainsboro is a city located in Emanuel County, Georgia
. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,943. The city is the county seat
of Emanuel County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 12.7 square miles (32.9 km²), of which 12.4 square miles (32.1 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) is water.
of 2000, there were 6,943 people, 2,685 households, and 1,836 families residing in the city. The population density
was 560.5 people per square mile (216.4/km²). There were 3,051 housing units at an average density of 246.3 per square mile (95.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.06% White, 49.68% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,685 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples
living together, 25.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 81.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,268, and the median income for a family was $26,789. Males had a median income of $26,193 versus $17,425 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,617. 32.1% of the population and 28.8% of families were below the poverty line. 45.7% of those under the age of 18 and 28.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
to Key West
, and U.S. 80, at that time, ran from Tybee
to San Diego
.
, run by the Emanuel County Board of Education, holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of three elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and two academies. The district has 293 full-time teachers and over 4,664 students.
Emanuel County, Georgia
Emanuel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 21,837. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,469. The county seat is Swainsboro.-History:...
. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,943. 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 Emanuel County
Emanuel County, Georgia
Emanuel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 21,837. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,469. The county seat is Swainsboro.-History:...
.
Geography
Swainsboro is located at 32°35'37" North, 82°19'56" West (32.593743, -82.332146).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 12.7 square miles (32.9 km²), of which 12.4 square miles (32.1 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) 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 6,943 people, 2,685 households, and 1,836 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 560.5 people per square mile (216.4/km²). There were 3,051 housing units at an average density of 246.3 per square mile (95.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.06% White, 49.68% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,685 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% 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, 25.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 81.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,268, and the median income for a family was $26,789. Males had a median income of $26,193 versus $17,425 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 $14,617. 32.1% of the population and 28.8% of families were below the poverty line. 45.7% of those under the age of 18 and 28.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
History
It was in 1822 that the town of Swainsboro was established by the legislature as the county seat of Emanuel County. The town was named in recognition of Stephen Swain, the state senator who introduced the bill for the county's creation in 1812. The town's name was changed to Paris at its incorporation on February 18, 1854, but three years later reverted to its current name.Transportation
Early in its corporate life, much like other rural Georgia towns, Swainsboro depended on railroads for transportation. However, in the 1930s, many of the town's streets and sidewalks were paved, and Swainsboro found itself at the intersection of two major national highways, U.S. 1 and U.S. 80, thus earning its city motto: "Where Main Streets Meet". U.S. 1 was the principal highway from MaineMaine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
to Key West
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
, and U.S. 80, at that time, ran from Tybee
Tybee Island, Georgia
Tybee Island is an island and city in Chatham County, Georgia near the city of Savannah in the southeastern United States. It is the easternmost point in the state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,990. Tybee Island is an island and city in Chatham County, Georgia near...
to San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Emanuel County School District
The Emanuel County School DistrictEmanuel County School District
The Emanuel County School District is a public school district in Emanuel County, Georgia, USA, based in Swainsboro, Georgia. It serves the communities of Adrian, Garfield, Nunez, Oak Park, Stillmore, Summertown, Swainsboro, and Twin City, Georgia.-Schools:...
, run by the Emanuel County Board of Education, holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of three elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and two academies. The district has 293 full-time teachers and over 4,664 students.
- Adrian School of Performing Arts
- Swainsboro Elementary School
- Swainsboro Primary School
- Twin City Elementary School
- Swainsboro Middle School
- Emanuel County Institute
- Swainsboro High School
Higher Education
- East Georgia CollegeEast Georgia CollegeEast Georgia College is a state college of the University System of Georgia. Located in the rural city of Swainsboro, the college serves Emanuel, Bulloch, and surrounding counties throughout east-central and southeast Georgia.-History:...
- Swainsboro Campus - Southeastern Technical CollegeSoutheastern Technical CollegeSoutheastern Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. Southeastern Tech's main campus is located in Vidalia, with satellite campuses in Glennville and Swainsboro, and distance learning centers in other counties of its service region...
- Swainsboro Campus
Notable people
- Scott Cochran, editor/owner of US Rider News, a motorcycle magazine which covers the United States; author of Motorcycle Journeys Through the American South
- Larry J. "Butch" Parish - Current member, Georgia House of Representatives (R)
- Judge William McWhorter - Former UGA football letterman, also State Court Judge in Emanuel County
- Greg Waters - Former UGA football letterman
- Rocky Trice - Former University of South Carolina basketball player
- Bill EnglishBill EnglishSimon William "Bill" English is the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure of New Zealand.English entered parliament in 1990 as a National party MP representing the Wallace electorate...
- Former member, Georgia House Senate (D) - Larry Jon WilsonLarry Jon WilsonLarry Jon Wilson was an American country singer, guitarist and musician. He recorded "Through the Eyes of Little Children" and "I Betcha Heaven's on a Dirt Road".-Biography:...
- Singer-songwriter, born in Swainsboro - John Randolph Coleman Karrh Sr. - Former member, Georgia House Of Representatives (D)
- Luck Flanders Gambrell - wife of former U.S. Senator David H. GambrellDavid H. GambrellDavid Henry Gambrell is a Georgia attorney who represented his state in the United States Senate from 1971 through 1972.-Education and legal career:Gambrell was born in Atlanta, GA, on December 20, 1929....
, donated 190 acre (0.7689034 km²) of land for East Georgia College in 1971 - Ben TroupeBen TroupeBenjamin LaShaun Troupe is a former American college and professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League for five seasons in the early 2000s...
- born in Swainsboro, played high school ball in AugustaAugusta, GeorgiaAugusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
- former University of Florida footballFlorida Gators footballThe Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
standout - Rufus HannahRufus HannahRufus Hannah , also known as Rufus the Stunt Bum, is an American advocate for homeless rights who became known for his role in the early Bumfights videos: in 2000, while himself a homeless alcoholic, he was paid $5 to be filmed running headfirst into a stack of milk crates.Hannah has fathered five...
aka "Rufus the Stunt Bum" - Born and raised in Swainsboro, was famous for his role in the controversial BumfightsBumfightsBumfights is a film series produced by Indecline Films. The videos feature teenagers, homeless men in the San Diego, San Francisco and Las Vegas metropolitan areas fighting and attempting amateur stunts in exchange for money, alcohol, and other incentives...
series - Ray GuyRay GuyWilliam Ray Guy is a retired American football punter for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. Coming from the University of Southern Mississippi, he was the only pure punter ever to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft when the Oakland Raiders selected him in 1973.Guy was a key member of...
- retired NFL punter and three time Super Bowl Champion