Comer, Georgia

Comer, Georgia
City
Motto(s): "Make Our Town Your Town"[1]
Location in Madison County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 34°3′47″N 83°7′30″W / 34.06306°N 83.12500°W / 34.06306; -83.12500Coordinates: 34°3′47″N 83°7′30″W / 34.06306°N 83.12500°W / 34.06306; -83.12500
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Madison
Area
• City	3.2 sq mi (8.2 km2)
• Land	3.1 sq mi (8.0 km2)
• Water	.1 sq mi (.2 km2)
• Urban	2 sq mi (2.59 km2)
Elevation	702 ft (214 m)
Population (2010)Census
• City	1,126
• Estimate (2016)[2]	1,159
• Density	332/sq mi (128.3/km2)
• Estimated 2017 Population	2,000
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	30629
Area code(s)	706
FIPS code	13-19084[3]
GNIS feature ID	0312868[4]
Website	http://www.cityofcomer.com
Motto "Make Our Town Your Town"

Comer is a city in Madison County, Georgia, United States. Comer is the largest city in Madison County based on population and total land area, with an annual population growth rate of approximately 3%.

The City of Comer is included in the Athens-Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta- Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, Georgia Combined Statistical Area. The City of Comer is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.

The City of Comer's motto is "Make Our Town Your Town".

Comer is unusual among small towns in Georgia because it is actually a planned community. When the town was platted out, an engineer named A. W. Jones was hired to draw out the map of the town, and lay out the streets.

History

The present City of Comer was incorporated by an Act of the Georgia Legislature on January 1, 1893.^[5] The community was named after A. J. Comer, a pioneer citizen.^[6]

Geography

Comer is located at 34°03′47″N 83°07′30″W / 34.062921°N 83.124952°W / 34.062921; -83.124952.^[7] (twenty miles east of Athens) at the intersection of Georgia State Routes 72, 98, and 22.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all land. Watson Mill is the nearest state park.

The City of Comer is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.

Education

Children in the City of Comer are zoned to attend the following schools for the Comer School Zone, Madison County School District.

• Comer Elementary School (CES), Home of the Comer Comets
• Madison County Middle School (MCMS), Home of the Mustangs
• Madison County High School (MCHS), Home of the Red Raiders
• Broad River Collage and Career Academy

The J. Knox Gholston Foundation, a charitable organization that provides for the education of children within the city limits of the City of Comer in Madison County, GA. The Foundation is interested in capital and instructional projects that advance academic achievement. The Foundation may also consider at times other charitable organizations serving Comer, GA.

The J. Knox Gholston Foundation application deadline is June 1 of every year. Applicants will be notified of grant decisions by letter within 1 to 2 months after the deadline. Grants from the J. Knox Gholston Foundation are primarily 1 year in duration. On occasion, multi-year support is awarded.

The Gholston Fund known locally is an education-directed trust set up by J. Knox Gholston before his death to continue his legacy of funding local education projects. The Fund recently gave a large sum to Comer Elementary School to help fund their large-scale renovation and the addition of the school library.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,052 people, 391 households, and 251 families residing in the city. The population density was 330.6 people per square mile (127.7/km²). There were 424 housing units at an average density of 133.2 per square mile (51.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.95% White, 20.25% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.

There were 391 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.04.

Main street

In the city, the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 73.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,059, and the median income for a family was $40,750. Males had a median income of $33,333 versus $22,969 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,742. About 12.4% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 24.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Comer is divided into four city districts, each represented by a single elected city council member, elected at-large city mayor, as well as an elected county commissioner who serves one of five county districts.

Public safety

• The City of Comer is served by the Comer Police Department for Law Enforcement Services. The department is led by Police Chief Jeffrey K. Roberts and has 6 employees.
• The City of Comer is served by the Comer Volunteer Fire Department for Fire Services. The department is led by Fire Chief Johnny Bridges.
• The City of Comer is served by the Madison County Emergency Medical Service for EMS basic and advance life support services. The department is led by Director Bobby Smith, who is also the Madison County EMA Director.
• The City of Comer is served by the Madison County Rescue Service for basic crash rescue and advanced technical Rescue services. The department is led by Rescue Chief Mark Perry.

Public housing

The City of Comer has two separate sets of government public housing units. Managed and run by the Comer Housing Authority.

Comer Housing Authority - East (Spring Circle)

Comer Housing Authority - West (Ivy Street)

Each housing unit has approximately 15 apartment units.

Community

Public utilities and maintenance

• City of Comer Water and Sewer Department - Public Works Superintendent: Willis Gabriel
• City of Comer Streets and Sanitation Department - Public Works Superintendent: Willis Gabriel

Electric service in the City of Comer is provided by Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company and one customer-owned electric cooperatives, Jackson EMC. Water utility is provided by the City of Comer Water and Sewer Department. Sewer service is provided to approximately 70% of the city. Garbage is provided by AAA sanitation through city contract to all of the city residence. Natural gas is supplied by Atlanta Gas Light through various marketers within the deregulated market. Telephone and hardline internet service in provided by either Windstream or Charter Communications depending on where you live at in the city. Windstream covers approximately 95% of the city with Charter overlapping and cover approximately 50% of the city. The street and sanitation department also provides street side limb pick up every 2 weeks.

Healthcare

Comer Health & Rehabilitation Center is a 24/7 short or long term personal care facility that offers physical therapy, in-house wound care and restorative care. Comer Health and rehab is a subsidy of Ethica Health & Retirement services. Approximately 175-bed long term care facility.

There is no Hospital care in the City of Comer and most residence travel to nearby Athens, Georgia to either Athens Regional Medical Center or Saint Mary's Hospital. Some residence travel to nearby Elberton, Georgia to Elbert Memorial Hospital.

Tourism

• Watson Mill Bridge State Park

See also

• List of schools in Madison Country
• Smithonia

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Comer, Georgia.

• City of Comer Georgia Website Portal style website, Government, Business, Library, Recreation and more
• City-Data.com Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Comer