Oak Park, Georgia

Oak Park is a city in Emanuel County, Georgia, United States. In 1934 the town got national attention when it elected a municipal government that entirely consisted of women. The population was 484 at the 2010 census,[5] up from 366 in 2000.

Oak Park, Georgia
City
Location in Emanuel County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°22′15″N 82°18′36″W
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Emanuel
Area [1]
• Total	7.22 sq mi (18.71 km^2)
• Land	7.07 sq mi (18.30 km^2)
• Water	0.16 sq mi (0.41 km^2)
Elevation	259 ft (79 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	484
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	470
• Density	66.51/sq mi (25.68/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	30401
Area code(s)	478
FIPS code	13-57232[3]
GNIS feature ID	0332536[4]
Website	www.oakparkga.org

History

In 1914 a murder–suicide committed by local farmer J.A. Eubanks got national news coverage.[6][7] He murdered his wife and two daughters with an axe, set fire to some farm buildings, and shot himself in the head. Before killing himself, he woke a neighbor and told them what he had done. He did leave a suicide note.[6] Several structures were destroyed in the fire, including houses of others. He had even cut the rope for the well bucket to keep the fire from being put out.[7]

In a December 14, 1934 municipal election, Oak Park elected a mayor and five-person town council composed entirely of women.[8] The election of an all-woman government was a first for Georgia, and novel enough that the event was covered by Associated Press[8] and United Press[9] news stories, both calling it "Petticoat Rule".[8][9] It was not a surprise to the town however, as the all-woman slate had been nominated by men when the previous mayor retired[9] and no men volunteered to replace him.[8]

Some in the town apparently dissented, as the jail was set ablaze the night before the election[9] and dynamite blasts were set off after it, damaging buildings.[8] Despite that, Mrs. Solomon S. Youmans (the wife of a local physician) was elected mayor, and the council consisted of Mrs. J.D. Tyson, Mrs. G.C. Corbin, Mrs. J.J. Powell, Mrs. G.C. Williamson and Miss Ada Belle Thompson.[9]

Geography

Oak Park is located in southern Emanuel County at 32°22′15″N 82°18′36″W (32.370747, -82.309915),[10] along U.S. Route 1. Interstate 16 passes through the northern part of the town, 3 miles (5 km) north of the original town center, with access to US 1 from Exit 90. I-16 leads east 77 miles (124 km) to Savannah and west 88 miles (142 km) to Macon, while US 1 leads north 18 miles (29 km) to Swainsboro, the Emanuel County seat, and south 11 miles (18 km) to Lyons.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Oak Park has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.7 km²), of which 7.1 square miles (18.3 km²) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km²), or 2.17%, is water.[5]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	144		—
1920	195		35.4%
1930	291		49.2%
1940	208		−28.5%
1950	308		48.1%
1960	302		−1.9%
1970	226		−25.2%
1980	256		13.3%
1990	269		5.1%
2000	366		36.1%
2010	484		32.2%
Est. 2019	470	[2]	−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 366 people, 148 households, and 103 families residing in the town. The population density was 51.3 people per square mile (19.8/km²). There were 199 housing units at an average density of 27.9 per square mile (10.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.98% White, 0.82% African American, 8.20% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.11% of the population.

There were 148 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,808, and the median income for a family was $33,333. Males had a median income of $30,625, versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,317. About 14.0% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

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 2008-01-31.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Oak Park town, Georgia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
6. Associated Press (March 20, 1914). "Georgia Farmer Murders Family; Shoots Self". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
7. "In Maniacal Fury Man Slays Four". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. March 21, 1914. p. 5. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
8. Associated Press (December 15, 1934). "Petticoat Rule Supplanting Men in Georgia Town". Palm Beach Post-Times. Palm Beach, Florida. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
9. United Press (January 2, 1935). "Petticoat Rule is Adopted by Georgia Town". Mount Carmel Item. Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. p. 5. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

External links

• "City of Oak Park official website". Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2020.