Grovetown, Georgia

Grovetown, Georgia
City
Motto(s): A community that cares

Location in Columbia County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 33°26′58″N 82°11′49″W / 33.44944°N 82.19694°W / 33.44944; -82.19694Coordinates: 33°26′58″N 82°11′49″W / 33.44944°N 82.19694°W / 33.44944; -82.19694
Country United States
State Georgia
County Columbia
Government
 • Mayor Gary Jones[1]
Area
 • Total 4.83 sq mi (12.52 km2)
 • Land 4.82 sq mi (12.49 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation 482 ft (147 m)
Population (2013)
 • Total 12,389[2]
 • Estimate (2016)[3] 13,463
 • Density 2,326/sq mi (898.0/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code 30813
Area code(s) 706
FIPS code 13-35716[4]
GNIS feature ID 356123[5]
Website Official website

Grovetown is a city in Columbia County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Augusta metropolitan area and the Central Savannah River Area. In the 2013 United States Census estimates, it had a population of 12,389.[2] The mayor is Gary Jones.[1]

Geography

Grovetown is located in southern Columbia County at 33°26′58″N 82°11′49″W / 33.44944°N 82.19694°W / 33.44944; -82.19694 (33.449324, -82.196972).[6] Downtown Augusta is 15 miles (24 km) east. The northern boundary of Fort Gordon is 2 miles (3 km) south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Grovetown has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.5 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.23%, is water.[7]

Transportation

Grovetown is mainly served by Georgia State Route 223 (SR 223), known as Robinson Avenue from just northwest of Fort Gordon's Gate 2 to the intersection with Harlem–Grovetown Road, and SR 388, known as Wrightsboro Road past this point. At this intersection, SR 388 takes on the Wrightsboro Road name until it meets Katherine Street. At this intersection, the highway turns left onto Horizon South Parkway, while Wrightsboro Road continues toward Augusta. Harlem–Grovetown Road connects the city with Harlem.

There are other important highways outside the city limits. Interstate 20 (I-20; Carl Sanders Highway), which heads west to Atlanta and east to Augusta and Columbia, South Carolina, is approximately 2 mi (3.2 km) to the north. US 78/US 278/SR 10, known as Gordon Highway, is located just south of the city limits north of Fort Gordon's Gate 2, and travels between Harlem and Augusta. SR 383 (Jimmie Dyess Parkway), is approximately 5 mi (8.0 km) to the east and connects Fort Gordon's Gate 1 to Evans. SR 232 (Columbia Road) is north of I-20 and connects the Appling area with Martinez and Augusta. US 221/SR 47 travels through Harlem. They connect Wrens and Harlem with Appling and northern Columbia County.

While there is no airport or other facility in Grovetown itself, the Augusta Regional Airport (also known as Bush Field) is approximately 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Grovetown. Also, Daniel Field, a public use airport is approximately 11 miles (18 km) to the east.

There are railroad tracks of CSX that extend through Grovetown. Freight trains mostly use these tracks.

Although there is no bus station in Grovetown, an intercity bus station is on Fort Gordon. The public may access the base for certain services and events.

History

From the building of the Georgia Railroad, which travels through the city until at least the 1860s, the community was known as "Belair".[8] The city was chartered by the Georgia Legislature and officially incorporated on January 1, 1881.[8] The name of the small village purportedly came from the old Grove Baptist Church that was founded in 1808. A poet famous in the post-Civil War era, Paul Hamilton Hayne, moved to Copse Hill in the Parham Road area in the 1860s. He solicited the United States Postal Service to establish the Grovetown post office. The first U.S. mail service was inaugurated on September 28, 1877, with Charles Clifford as postmaster. Mr. Clifford was also the train depot agent and the owner of the corner store.[9]

The first railroad depot was a small structure built in 1878-79. The last depot was an ornate structure built in 1891 at a cost of $5,041.74. It served the citizens of Grovetown until 1970, when passenger trains no longer traveled on the Augusta–Atlanta line. It was demolished in 1973.[9]

Many wealthy and influential Augusta residents had summer homes in Grovetown, escaping the heat and disease of the city. They commuted on the old "Picayune" train, relying on its frequent service. The Rosland Hotel, later known as the "Eagle", was built in the 1880s. Its huge rotunda was frequently used for church gatherings, suppers, parties, and dances. It later became a boarding house and burned in the 1970s. The Church of Christ is now located on the site.[9]

Several country stores were established on Old Wrightsboro Road near the railroad crossing. One was S. F. Poole's store, where the gazebo now stands at the corner with Robinson Avenue, with a "philosophers' bench" by the door. During the early days, many famous residents lived in the Grovetown area: Hayne, the literary figure; Stewart Phinizy and James Tobin, cotton brokers; Charles Phinizy, banker and railroad president; Dr. H. H. Steiner, physician; and John Dodge, pharmacist and harness racing enthusiast. Dodge brought his stable from Ohio and built a large home and racetrack.[9]

With the construction of Camp Gordon in 1942, Grovetown experienced rapid growth; it was no longer a small agricultural town. Many military families looked to Grovetown for housing. Gradually, more and more retired military saw the benefits of living in the small town and population began to grow and stabilize.[9]

Annexation and multi-housing construction has increased the population of the formerly quiet town. Currently, Grovetown has a population of approximately 12,400,[2] up from the 1990 census figure of 3,596. A variety of stores, dining establishments, schools, and churches add to the town's culture. Services include recreational facilities, a public safety department, two fire stations, water and sewer services, a senior center, and museum.[9]

Museum

Grovetown city officials were in the process of building a new city hall in 1997. The land was purchased, but a dilapidated historical home built in the late 19th century stood in the way. During a city council meeting, the mayor stated that they had decided to torch the building and give the city fire department a training experience.

Rosa Lee Owens, a teacher and a city resident, asked permission to address the issue. She related that the historic building was a part of Grovetown history and the building should be preserved rather than destroyed. She proposed having the building relocated on the property and restored as a museum to preserve the past. After some discussion, both pro and con, the mayor and city council decided to accept her proposal.

The city budget did not include restoration funds for the historical home to become a city museum. Consequently, mayor Dennis Trudeau was determined to move forward as he applied for, and received, a grant to establish the Grovetown Museum, the first museum in Columbia County. Owens contacted the Fort Gordon museum curator for advice to design floor plans for exhibits. She then contacted Harlem High School to implement a project to build exhibit cases; she paid for all necessary supplies for nine cases. Instead of purchasing locks and handles for the cases, screws were used to hold the case doors. She then bargained with Montgomery Ward to buy unfinished cases and was able to use the local police department's community servants for putting them together. By this time, a number of citizens offered support. Charles Lord, a local historian, began collecting and organizing exhibits. Others volunteered their time and effort to prepare for the grand opening in March 2000. City officials organized a Grovetown Museum Board with by-laws for operating the facility. Volunteers served as weekend tour guides originally. Later the museum was included in the city budget.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1900527—
19105585.9%
1920425−23.8%
1930267−37.2%
19601,396—
19703,169127.0%
19803,3846.8%
19903,5966.3%
20006,08969.3%
201011,21684.2%
Est. 201613,463[3]20.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[4] there were 6,089 people, 2,159 households, and 1,597 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,111.9 people per square mile (816.3/km²). There were 2,473 housing units at an average density of 857.7 per square mile (331.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.95% White, 19.94% African American, 0.56% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.28% Pacific Islander, 3.05% from other races, and 3.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.25% of the population.

There were 2,159 households out of which 47.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city, the population was spread out with 33.6% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 36.3% from 25 to 44, 14.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,382, and the median income for a family was $32,546. Males had a median income of $28,432 versus $21,489 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,256. About 16.3% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

Grovetown High School, Grovetown Middle School, Columbia Middle School, Grovetown Elementary School, Brookwood Elementary School, Cedar Ridge Elementary School, and Euchee Creek Elementary School serve the city.[11]

Parks

Grovetown has some city parks. They include the Liberty Park Community Center on Newmantown Road[12] and Goodale Park on Wrightsboro Road,[13] which is named after Joseph Daniel "Danny" Goodale Jr., a Vietnam veteran who died in 1969.[14][15]

See also

Georgia (U.S. state) portal

References

  1. 1 2 "Gary Jones". Cityofgrovetown.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Grovetown (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ "GNIS Detail – Grovetown". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Grovetown city, Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Grovetown". Georgia.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "City History". Cityofgrovetown.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Education". Cityofgrovetown.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Liberty Park Community Center". Cityofgrovetown.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Goodale Park". Cityofgrovetown.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Grovetown remembers fallen soldier". The Augusta Chronicle. May 26, 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Joseph D Goodale Jr –Army". Virtual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
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