Thomaston, Georgia

Thomaston is a city in and the county seat of Upson County,[6] Georgia, United States.[7] The population was 9,170 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Thomaston, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta - Sandy Springs (GA) - Gainesville (GA) - Alabama (partial) Combined Statistical Area.

City of Thomaston
City
Thomaston-Upson County Government Administration Complex
Motto(s): 
"One of the Best 100 Towns"[1]
Location in Upson County and the state of Georgia.
Coordinates: 32°54′N 84°20′W
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyUpson
Area
 • Total9.74 sq mi (25.22 km2)
 • Land9.53 sq mi (24.69 km2)
 • Water0.20 sq mi (0.53 km2)
Elevation
784 ft (239 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total9,170
 • Estimate 
(2018)[3]
8,740
 • Density916.82/sq mi (354.00/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30286
Area code(s)706
FIPS code13-76168[4]
GNIS feature ID0324093[5]
WebsiteOfficial City of Thomaston, Georgia Government Website

Thomaston is located on US Route 19 and State Route 3, which run north and south, and on State Routes 36 and 74, which run (more or less) east and west.

History
Upson County Courthouse built in 1908 in Thomaston, Georgia.

Thomaston was incorporated on January 1, 1825,[8] and designated as the seat of Upson County. The town was named for General Jett Thomas, an Indian fighter in the War of 1812.[9]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880570—
18901,181107.2%
19001,71445.1%
19101,645−4.0%
19202,50252.1%
19304,92296.7%
19406,39629.9%
19506,5802.9%
19609,33641.9%
197010,0247.4%
19809,682−3.4%
19909,127−5.7%
20009,4113.1%
20109,170−2.6%
Est. 20188,740[3]−4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 9,411 people, 3,862 households, and 2,386 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,039.4 people per square mile (401.5/km2). There were 4,152 housing units at an average density of 458.6 per square mile (177.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 62.75% White, 35.30% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population.

There were 3,862 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.0% were married couples living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,695, and the median income for a family was $33,093. Males had a median income of $31,168 versus $20,420 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,193. About 18.4% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.3% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

Health Care

Its principal hospital is the Upson Regional Medical Center at 801 West Gordon Street.

Industry

Industry in the city is driven primarily by manufacturing which makes up 36.5%. The second largest industry is educational, health, and social service comprising 21.0%. The third largest industry is retail trade at 11.6% of the total industry in Thomaston. The remaining portions of industry include agriculture, construction,wholesale trade, transportation, information, finance, management, administration, arts and entertainment, food service, recreation, accommodation, and public administration.

Arts and culture
Historical mural on Gordon St.

National Register of Historic Places

The Upson County courthouse was built in 1908, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[11]

  • Pettigrew-White-Stamps House

Annual events

Thomaston hosts an annual Emancipation Proclamation Celebration each May. It is the nation's oldest and longest running emancipation celebration of its kind.[8]

Parks and recreation
  • Sprewell Bluff Park, located on the Flint River
  • The Greatest Generation Recreational Park

Education

Thomaston-Upson County School District

The Thomaston-Upson County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.[12] The district has 279 full-time teachers and over 5,009 students.[13]

  • Upson-Lee Elementary School
  • Upson-Lee Primary School
  • Upson-Lee Middle School
  • Upson-Lee High School
  • Upson-Lee Pre-k
  • Upson-Lee Alternative School

Colleges and universities

Southern Crescent Technical College is located in Thomaston, and is a two-year technical school.[14][15]

Notable people
John Brown Gordon portrait by Mathew Brady.

References
  1. "Official City of Thomaston, Georgia Government Website". Official City of Thomaston, Georgia Government Website. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  2. "2018 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  7. "Profile for Thomaston, Georgia, GA". ePodunk. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  8. "Thomaston". Georgia Gov. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  9. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 225. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. "Thomaston". Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  12. Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  13. School Stats, Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  14. "Thomaston". Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  15. "Flint River Campus". Southern Crescent Technical College. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2012.


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