Buena Vista ( ) is a city in Marion County,

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, United States. It is part of the

Columbus, Georgia Columbus is a consolidated city-county located on the west-central border of the U.S. state of Georgia. Columbus lies on the Chattahoochee River directly across from Phenix City, Alabama. It is the county seat of Muscogee County, with which it ...

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...

. The population was 2,173 at the 2010 census. Formerly known as Pea Ridge, the city changed its name to Buena Vista in honor of Zachary Taylor's victory in the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

. The city is the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Marion County. It is the birthplace of

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

legend

Josh Gibson Joshua Gibson (December 21, 1911 – January 20, 1947) was an American baseball catcher primarily in the Negro leagues. Baseball historians consider Gibson among the best power hitters and catchers in baseball history. In 1972, he became the se ...

and

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

recipient

Luther H. Story Luther H. Story (July 20, 1931 – September 1, 1950) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. Story joined the US Army in October 1948. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 1, 1950 dur ...

History

Buena Vista was founded in 1830. In 1850, the seat of Marion County was transferred to Buena Vista from Tazewell. Buena Vista was incorporated as a town in 1850 and as a city in 1920.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it (0.91%) is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 1,585 people, 722 households, and 478 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 1,664 people, 645 households, and 377 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 756 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 63.40%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 25.84%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 0.18% Native American, 0.36%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.30%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 8.59% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.32% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 17.91% of the population. There were 645 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.4% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 26.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.23. In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $17,672, and the median income for a family was $21,738. Males had a median income of $19,306 versus $17,017 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $11,406. About 28.6% of families and 34.7% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 43.3% of those under age 18 and 32.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Marion County School District serves pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of one primary school (grades: pre-k through 5th) and a middle/high school (grades: 6th-12th). The district has 108 full-time teachers and over 1,686 students. *L. K. Moss Primary School *Marion County Middle High School—www.marion.k12.ga.us The Marion County School District is in the process of opening a new middle/high school. The structure will sit on 200 acres of land in the middle of the county and is scheduled to open for the 2012–13 school year.

Infrastructure

The city is served by

Georgia State Route 26 Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

Georgia State Route 41 State Route 41 (SR 41) is a state highway that runs south-to-north through portions of Calhoun, Randolph, Terrell, Webster, Marion, Talbot, Meriwether, and Coweta counties in the southwestern and west-central parts of the U.S. state of Ge ...

, and

Georgia State Route 137 State Route 137 (SR 137) is a southwest-to-northeast state highway in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The highway connects Cusseta with Buena Vista and Butler. It travels through the southeastern portion of Fort Ben ...

Notable people

- Negro leagues baseball player and

Hall of Famer A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or muse ...

* Roosevelt Jackson - oldest living Negro leagues baseball player (minor leagues only) *

Eddie Owens Martin Pasaquan is a compound near Buena Vista, Georgia. It was created by an eccentric folk artist named Eddie Owens Martin (1908–1986), who called himself St. EOM. An internationally renowned art site, it consists of six major structures including ...

-creator of

Pasaquan Pasaquan is a compound near Buena Vista, Georgia. It was created by an eccentric folk artist named Eddie Owens Martin (1908–1986), who called himself St. EOM. An internationally renowned art site, it consists of six major structures including ...

- Korean War

recipient.

Gallery

File:Marion County Courthouse (NRHP) Buena Vista, GA.JPG, The Marion County Courthouse is located in Buena Vista. It was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

on September 18, 1980. File:Buena Vista, GA City Hall.JPG, Buena Vista City Hall File:Buena Vista, GA Post Office (31803).JPG, Buena Vista Post Office ( ZIP code: 31803) File:Marion County, GA Public Library.JP
Marion County Public Library
File:Josh Gibson Water Tower; Buena Vista, GA.JPG, A water tower in Buena Vista proudly proclaims the town to be the " Home of Josh Gibson". The

was born in Buena Vista on December 21, 1911. File:Pasaquan (NRHP) Buena Vista, GA.JPG, "

" is a seven-acre compound near Buena Vista created by outsider artist, Eddie Owens Martin (1908-1986), known as "St. EOM". The site is maintained by the Pasaquan Preservation Society. It was added to the

on August 27, 2008. File:Shiloh-Marion Baptist Church and Cemetery (NRHP) Buena Vista, GA.JPG, The Shiloh-Marion Baptist Church and Cemetery, located just south of Buena Vista near the Webster County line, was added to the

on May 17, 1984. File:Drane-Stevens House (NRHP) Buena Vista, GA.JPG, The Drane-Stevens House, located in Buena Vista, was added to the

on July 28, 1999. File:Alfred and Jane Ables House (NRHP) Buena Vista, GA.JPG, The Alfred and Jane Ables House, located in Buena Vista, was added to the

on August 9, 2002.

References

{{authority control Cities in Georgia (U.S. state) Cities in Marion County, Georgia County seats in Georgia (U.S. state) Columbus metropolitan area, Georgia Outsider art