Eatontonis a city in and thecounty seatofPutnam County,Georgia,United States.[4]As of the2020 census,the city had a population of 6,307. It was named afterWilliam Eaton,an officer and diplomat involved in theFirst Barbary War.[5]The name consists of his surname with theEnglishsuffix "ton", meaning "town".
Eatonton | |
|---|---|
 Putnam County Courthouse in Eatonton | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location inPutnam Countyand the state ofGeorgia | |
  Eatonton  Eatonton | |
| Coordinates:33°19′35″N83°23′16″W/ 33.32639°N 83.38778°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| County | Putnam |
| Area | |
• Total | 20.61 sq mi (53.38 km2) |
| • Land | 20.51 sq mi (53.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2) |
| Elevation | 568 ft (173 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,307 |
| • Density | 307.52/sq mi (118.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5(Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4(EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 31024 |
| Area code | 706 |
| FIPS code | 13-26084[2] |
| GNISfeature ID | 0331628[3] |
| Website | City of Eatonton |
History
editTheRock Eagle Effigy Mound,aNative Americanarchaeologicalsite, is located north of the city. It is one of two such sites east of the Mississippi River; both are in Putnam County. The mound and related earthwork constructions were made byWoodland culturepeoples, perhaps as long ago as 1,000 to 3,000 years. The site is situated within a 1500-acre park administered by the University of Georgia, which also maintains a 4-H camp nearby. The Mound has been listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.
Following theAmerican Revolutionary War,Eatonton was founded in 1807 as the seat of newly formed Putnam County. After the war, settlers were moving west and settling in the upland Piedmont region to develop cotton plantations. Eatonton was incorporated as a town in 1809 and as a city in 1879.[6]
In a 5-hour period in May 1919, five black churches and two black lodges in Eatonton were burned to the ground, but authorities did not charge anyone with arson.[7]
OnNovember 22, 1992,an F4 tornado with winds up to 260 mph hit the south portions of the city. The storm caused $27,000,000 in damages to houses and businesses. The tornado killed five locals and injured 86 victims.[8]
In the 21st century, Eatonton is known as the "Dairy Capital of Georgia" (in honor of its major industry,dairy farming).
Geography
editEatonton is located at33°19′35″N83°23′16″W/ 33.32639°N 83.38778°W(33.326302, -83.387798).[9]
The city is located in the central part of the state along U.S. Routes129and441,which meet in and form the western boundary of the city. Via U.S. 129/441,Madisonis 22 mi (35 km) north. After leaving the city southward, U.S. 129 runs southwest 25 mi (40 km) toGrayand U.S. 441 runs southeast 21 mi (34 km) toMilledgeville.Georgia State Routes16and44are the main roads through the center of town, with GA-16 leading east 27 mi (43 km) toSpartaand west 18 mi (29 km) toMonticello,and GA-44 leading northeast 23 mi (37 km) toGreensboro.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the city has a total area of 20.7 square miles (54 km2), of which 20.6 square miles (53 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.63%) is water.
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 516 | — | |
| 1860 | 2,009 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,240 | −38.3% | |
| 1880 | 1,371 | 10.6% | |
| 1890 | 1,682 | 22.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,823 | 8.4% | |
| 1910 | 2,036 | 11.7% | |
| 1920 | 2,519 | 23.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,876 | −25.5% | |
| 1940 | 2,399 | 27.9% | |
| 1950 | 2,749 | 14.6% | |
| 1960 | 3,612 | 31.4% | |
| 1970 | 4,125 | 14.2% | |
| 1980 | 4,833 | 17.2% | |
| 1990 | 4,737 | −2.0% | |
| 2000 | 6,764 | 42.8% | |
| 2010 | 6,480 | −4.2% | |
| 2020 | 6,307 | −2.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White(non-Hispanic) | 1,976 | 31.33% |
| Black or African American(non-Hispanic) | 3,553 | 56.33% |
| Native American | 10 | 0.16% |
| Asian | 26 | 0.41% |
| Other/Mixed | 158 | 2.51% |
| HispanicorLatino | 584 | 9.26% |
As of the2020 United States census,there were 6,307 people, 2,559 households, and 1,756 families residing in the city.
Education
editSchools in the area
editThePutnam County School Districtholds grades Headstart to grade twelve, and consists of one primary school, an elementary school, a middle school, a high school, and an alternative school.[12]The district has 165 full-time teachers and more than 2,474 students. Gatewood Schools, a private Christian school in the area serves children in grades K3-12.[13]
- Gatewood Schools (K3-12)
- Putnam County Primary School
- Putnam County Elementary School
- Putnam County Middle School
- Putnam County High School
- Putnam County Achievement Academy
Notable people
editVincent Hancock,Olympic gold medalist in men's skeet shooting at the 2008, 2012, and 2020 Summer Olympics and Gatewood Schools graduate, resides in Eatonton.[14]
The city is the birthplace of noted writers:Joel Chandler Harris,journalist and author of theUncle Remusstories, 19th century poet Louise Prudden Hunt (Mrs. B. W. Hunt), Henry Grady Weaver, author ofThe Mainspring of Human Progress,andAlice Walker,author of the novelThe Color Purpleand other fiction.
Artist and leading scholar, curator, and promoter of African American artDavid Driskellwas a native of Eatonton.
S. Truett Cathy,founder ofChick-fil-Afast food restaurant and franchise, is a native of the town.
Thomas Adiel Sherwood,Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court from 1873 to 1902, was born there.[15][16]
References
edit- ^"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedDecember 18,2021.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
- ^"US Board on Geographic Names".United States Geological Survey.October 25, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
- ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon July 12, 2012.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
- ^Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975).Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins(PDF).Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 68.ISBN0-915430-00-2.
- ^Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013).Historical Gazetteer of the United States.Routledge. p. 228.ISBN978-1135948597.RetrievedNovember 30,2013.
- ^McWhirter, Cameron (2011).Red Summer The Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Black America.Henry Holt and Company. p.53.ISBN9780805089066.
- ^Brown, Ronald (1993).The Widespread November 21-23, 1992, Tornado Outbreak: Houston to Raleigh and Gulf Coast to Ohio Valley.p. 18.
- ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.February 12, 2011.RetrievedApril 23,2011.
- ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
- ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.RetrievedDecember 18,2021.
- ^Georgia Board of Education[permanent dead link],Retrieved June 25, 2010.
- ^School Stats,Retrieved June 25, 2010.
- ^first Olympic champion to repeat in men's skeet "U.S. wins gold in men's and women's skeet shooting at Tokyo games".CBS News. July 31, 2012.RetrievedJuly 26,2021.
{{cite web}}:Check|url=value (help) - ^"Missouri Jurist Born 96 Years Ago",The Missouri Herald(June 6, 1930), p. 1.
- ^"Biographies of the Gentlemen Comprising the Democratic State Ticket",The St. Joseph Weekly Gazette(August 3, 1882), p. 7.
External links
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