Washington, Georgia

Washington is the county seat of Wilkes County,[5] Georgia, United States. Under its original name Heard's Fort, it was briefly designated as the state capital during the American Revolutionary War. It is noted as the place where the Confederacy voted to dissolve itself, effectively ending the American Civil War.

Washington, Georgia
City
City of Washington
Location in Wilkes County and the state of Georgia
Washington
Location of Washington in the US
Coordinates: 33°44′12.5″N 82°44′21.5″W
Country United States
State Georgia
CountyWilkes
Settled1774
Incorporated1804
Founded byStephen Heard
Named forGeorge Washington
Government
 • MayorBill DeGolian
 • CouncilWashington City Council
Area
 • Total7.75 sq mi (20.08 km2)
 • Land7.70 sq mi (19.94 km2)
 • Water0.05 sq mi (0.14 km2)
Elevation
607 ft (185 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total4,134
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
3,963
 • Density514.81/sq mi (198.77/km2)
Demonym(s)Washingtonian
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30673
Area code(s)706/762
FIPS code13-80704[3]
GNIS feature ID0356620[4]
Websitecityofwashingtonga.gov

The population was 4,134 as of the 2010 census. The city is often referred to as Washington-Wilkes, to distinguish it from other places named Washington.

History

Heard's Fort was established in 1774 by colonist Stephen Heard. The settlement served as the temporary capital of the new state of Georgia from February 3, 1780, until early 1781.[6]

American Revolutionary War

The Battle of Kettle Creek, one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War to be fought in Georgia, was fought on February 14, 1779, in Wilkes County, about eight miles (13 km) from present-day Washington. The American Patriots were victorious, taking 75 prisoners and killing roughly 70 Loyalists, while losing 32 of their own men.

American Civil War

As a child, Alexander H. Stephens had studied at the school in Washington presided over by Presbyterian minister Alexander Hamilton Webster. He later became a politician and was elected as Vice-President of the Confederacy.

No major battles of the Civil War were fought in or near Washington, but the city is notable as the site where Confederate President Jefferson Davis held his last meeting with his cabinet. On April 3, 1865, with Union troops under General Ulysses S. Grant poised to capture the capital at Richmond, Virginia, Davis escaped for Danville, together with the Confederate cabinet.

After leaving Danville, and continuing south, Davis met with his Cabinet for the last time on May 5, 1865 in Washington, along with a hand-picked escort led by Given Campbell, including his personal body guard, Sgt. Joseph A Higgenbotham, Jr., of Amherst/Nelson County, Virginia. The meeting took place at the Heard house[7] (now used as the Georgia Branch Bank Building), with fourteen officials present.

Historic sites

Several historic sites in Washington are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Wilkes County Courthouse, the Robert Toombs House State Historic Site, the Washington-Wilkes Historical Museum,[8] the Mary Willis Public Library,[9] and the recently restored historic Fitzpatrick Hotel, built in 1898.[10]

Geography

Washington is located at 33°44′7″N 82°44′29″W (33.735394, −82.741420).[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20 km2), of which 7.8 square miles (20 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.25%) is water.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1810596—
182069516.6%
1850462—
18701,506—
18802,19946.0%
18902,63119.6%
19003,30025.4%
19103,065−7.1%
19204,20837.3%
19303,158−25.0%
19403,53712.0%
19503,8027.5%
19604,44016.8%
19704,094−7.8%
19804,66213.9%
19904,279−8.2%
20004,2950.4%
20104,134−3.7%
Est. 20193,963[2]−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,134 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 60.4% Black, 35.3% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% from some other race and 1.7% from two or more races. 1.5% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 4,295 people, 1,778 households, and 1,162 families living in the city. The population density was 547.5 people per square mile (211.5/km2). There were 1,974 housing units at an average density of 251.6 per square mile (97.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 38.04% White, 60.75% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 1,778 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 24.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,667, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $27,281 versus $21,230 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,659. About 17.6% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 23.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Wilkes County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of one primary school, one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school.[13] The district has 116 full-time teachers and over 1,858 students.[14]

Dr. Rosemary Caddell is the Superintendent of Schools.[15]

One of Washington's most lingering mysteries is that of the lost Confederate gold.[16] As the last recorded location of the remaining Confederate gold, the Washington area is thought to be the site where it is buried. Worth roughly $100,000 when it disappeared in 1865, at 2016 prices its value would be around $3.6 million. The cable television channel A&E produced a documentary focusing on this legend.

Notable people
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See also

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. "Washington, Georgia". www.kudcom.com.
  7. "Washington, Georgia". www.kudcom.com.
  8. "Washington, Georgia". www.kudcom.com.
  9. "General Info". n-georgia.com. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  10. "The Fitzpatrick Hotel in Washington, Georgia - A Brief History". thefitzpatrickhotel.com.
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  14. School Stats, Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  15. "Wilkes County Board of Education". Wilkes County Schools. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  16. "Washington, Georgia - Lost Confederate Gold". www.kudcom.com.
  17. Associated Press, Thomasville Times Enterprise, "Maj. Gen. Lloyd Brown, Retired Army Officer, Died in Washington," February 18, 1950

Further reading
Government
General information
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