Archery, Georgia

Archery is an unincorporated community in Webster County, in the U.S. state of Georgia.[1] The community lies about 3 miles (4.8 km) from Plains.[2]

Archery, Georgia
Unincorporated community
Archery, Georgia Location in Georgia (US state) Show map of Georgia (U.S. state) Archery, Georgia Location in United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 32°01′33″N 84°26′01″W
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Webster
Elevation	476 ft (145 m)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	31880
Area code(s)	229
GNIS feature ID	326158[1]

Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States, grew up in Archery on a farm which is now known as the "Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm" and is part of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site.[3]

History

Jimmy Carter in 1937

Archery was laid out in 1913.[4] The community was named by William D. Johnson, an A.M.E. bishop, after the "Sublime Order of Archery", an A.M.E. social service organization benefiting poor blacks.[5] The historic railroad community was originally built up chiefly by African Americans, who then formed a majority of its population.[6] A large share of the residents engaged in sharecropping.[7] Archery was first electrified in 1938.[8] Amenities in the community included a train depot, schoolhouse, and country store.[5]

U.S. President Jimmy Carter grew up at Archery on his family's farm from age four, in 1928, until he left for college in 1941.[3] In Carter's time, the population consisted of approximately 25 black families and 2 white families, namely the Watsons and Carters.[5] President Carter recalled in 1976 that Bishop Johnson was "the best-educated, most famous, the most widely traveled, and the richest member of the community".[9] The Carter family remained at Archery until 1949; ownership of the Carter property was transferred to the National Park Service in 1994.[10]

Arts and culture

The Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm, open to visitors, has been restored to its original rustic appearance.[11] SAM Shortline Railway, a heritage railway open to the public, makes a stop on its route at the Archery Depot where visitors lead a self-guided tour.[12]

References

1. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. September 25, 1979. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
2. "Timeline". Jimmy Carter NHS Education Program. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
3. "Jimmy Carter National Historic Site". National Park Service. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
4. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 7. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
5. "Archery". Historic Markers Across Georgia. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
6. "Trading Cards". National Park Service. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
7. "Jimmy Carter National Historic Site". National Park Planner. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
8. Balmer, Randall (May 13, 2014). Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter. Basic Books. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-465-05695-8.
9. Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. September 23, 1976. p. 23.
10. "Jimmy Carter Boyhood Home and Farm". Society of Architectural Historians. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
11. Lambert, Marjie (November 20, 2012). "Georgia rail excursion is built around the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
12. "Archery Depot". SAM Shortline Railroad. Retrieved March 31, 2018.