Baxley is a city in Appling County,

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 4,942. The city is the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

of Appling County.

History

Baxley was first settled as a result of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad being built through Appling County in 1870. Originally, it was a railroad depot known as Station Number 7, but soon was named Baxley (after one of the community's first settlers, Wilson Baxley of

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

). Baxley incorporated in 1875.

Geography

Baxley is approximately east of Douglas, north of Waycross and southwest of Glennville. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , of which , or 0.16%, is water.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,942 people, 1,436 households, and 1,068 families residing in the city.

Economy

The Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Power Plant is located north of the city along U.S. Route 1, on the banks of the

Altamaha River The Altamaha River is a major river in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It flows generally eastward for from its Source (river or stream), origin at the confluence of the Oconee River and Ocmulgee River towards the Atlantic Oce ...

. It is the area's largest employer. International Forest Products Limited operates a sawmill employing over 50 people.

Education

Appling County K-12 students are in the Appling County School District, which consists of four elementary schools (three include a preschool), a middle school and a high school. The district has 210 full-time teachers and over 3,303 students. *Altamaha Elementary School *Appling County Primary School *Appling County Elementary School *Fourth District Elementary School *Appling County Middle School * Appling County High School

Notable people

* Robert Butler, painter best known for his portrayals of the woods and backwaters around Florida's Everglades; member of the African-American artists' group The Highwaymen * Byron Buxton, Major League Baseball outfielder; second overall pick (drafted by the Minnesota Twins) in the 2012 MLB draft; 2022

All-Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...

* Dexter Carter, running back for

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...

and

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

from 1990 to 1996; born in Baxley and graduated from Appling County High School * Frankie King, NBA guard for Los Angeles Lakers (1995); born in Baxley * The Lacs, country/rap music group; from Baxley * Caroline Miller, Georgia's first

Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prizes () are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters". They were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fo ...

-winning novelist; received the award for '' Lamb in His Bosom'' in 1934 * Jamie Nails, NFL guard for

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...

(1997–2000) and Miami Dolphins (2002–2003); born in Baxley * Janisse Ray, author of ''Ecology of a Cracker Childhood'' (1999), a memoir about growing up in Baxley which includes description of the ecosystem of the vanishing longleaf pine that once covered the area * Carl Simpson, defensive tackle for

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...

(1993–1997),

Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...

(1998–1999), and Las Vegas Outlaws (2001) * Harry Skipper, defensive back in the CFL, Montreal Concordes and Saskatchewan Roughriders, 1983–1989 * Vonzell Solomon, nicknamed Baby V, singer and actress * Michael Timpson, wide receiver for

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...

(1989–1994),

(1995–1996), and

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...

(1997); born in Baxley

References

External links

City of Baxley official website
{{authority control Cities in Georgia (U.S. state) Cities in Appling County, Georgia County seats in Georgia (U.S. state) 1875 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) Populated places established in 1875