Eatonton, GA
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Eatonton is a city in and county seat of Putnam County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 6,307. It was named after
William Eaton William Eaton or Bill Eaton may refer to: * William Eaton (soldier) (1764–1811), United States Army soldier during the Barbary Wars * William Eaton (athlete) (1909–1938), British long-distance runner * William Eaton (guitarist), American luth ...
, an officer and diplomat involved in the First Barbary War. The name consists of his surname with the English suffix "ton," meaning "town".


History

The Rock Eagle Effigy Mound, a Native American
archaeological Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...
site, is located north of the city. It is one of two such sites east of the Mississippi River; both are in Putnam County. The mound and related earthwork constructions were made by Woodland culture peoples, perhaps as long ago as 1,000 to 3,000 years. The site is situated within a 1500-acre park administered by the University of Georgia, which also maintains a 4-H camp nearby. The Mound has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Following the American Revolutionary War, Eatonton was founded in 1807 as the seat of newly formed Putnam County. After the war, settlers were moving west and settling in the upland Piedmont region to develop cotton plantations. Eatonton was incorporated as a town in 1809 and as a city in 1879. In a 5-hour period in May 1919, five black churches and two black lodges in Eatonton were burned to the ground, but authorities did not charge anyone with arson. On November 22, 1992, an F4 tornado with winds up to 260 mph hit the south portions of the city. The storm caused $27,000,000 in damages to houses and businesses. The tornado killed five locals and injured 86 victims. In the 21st century, Eatonton is known as the "Dairy Capital of Georgia" (in honor of its major industry, dairy farming).


Geography

Eatonton is located at (33.326302, -83.387798). The city is located in the central part of the state along U.S. Routes 129 and
441 __NOTOC__ Year 441 ( CDXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Seleucus without colleague (or, less frequently, year ...
, which meet in and form the western boundary of the city. Via U.S. 129/441,
Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States Place names * Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...
is 22 mi (35 km) north. After leaving the city southward, U.S. 129 runs southwest 25 mi (40 km) to Gray and U.S. 441 runs southeast 21 mi (34 km) to Milledgeville. Georgia State Routes 16 and 44 are the main roads through the center of town, with GA-16 leading east 27 mi (43 km) to Sparta and west 18 mi (29 km) to Monticello, and GA-44 leading northeast 23 mi (37 km) to Greensboro. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.63%) 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 6,307 people, 2,559 households, and 1,756 families residing in the city.


2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,760 people, 2,553 households, and 1,817 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,723 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 35.50% White and 64.50% African American. There were 2,553 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% 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, 24.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.20. In the city, the population was spread out, with 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $23,391, and the median income for a family was $29,751. Males had a median income of $24,883 versus $18,193 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,951. About 20.4% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.5% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.


Education


Schools in the area

The Putnam County School District holds grades Headstart to grade twelve, and consists of one primary school, an elementary school, a middle school, a high school, and an alternative school. The district has 165 full-time teachers and more than 2,474 students. Gatewood Schools, a private Christian school in the area serves children in grades K3-12.School Stats
Retrieved June 25, 2010.
*Gatewood Schools (K3-12) *Putnam County Primary School *Putnam County Elementary School *Putnam County Middle School *Putnam County High School *Putnam County Achievement Academy


Notable people

Vincent Hancock Vincent Charles Hancock (born March 19, 1989, in Port Charlotte, Florida) is an American shooter and Olympian who won the gold medal in the men's skeet at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing (with a then Olympic record), 2012 Summer Olympics in ...
, Olympic gold medalist in men's skeet shooting at the 2008, 2012, and 2020 Summer Olympics and Gatewood Schools graduate, resides in Eatonton. Dwight York, American cult leader and founder of the Nuwaubian Nation, currently imprisoned at ADX Florence. The city is the birthplace of several noted writers, such as Joel Chandler Harris (journalist and author of the
Uncle Remus Uncle Remus is the fictional title character and narrator of a collection of African American folktales compiled and adapted by Joel Chandler Harris and published in book form in 1881. Harris was a journalist in post-Reconstruction era Atlanta, a ...
stories), 19th century poet Louise Prudden Hunt (Mrs. B. W. Hunt), Henry Grady Weaver, author of ''
The Mainspring of Human Progress ''The Mainspring of Human Progress'', by Henry Grady Weaver, is a libertarian history book published in 1947 by Talbot Books. In 1953, the Foundation for Economic Education printed a revised edition and has done all subsequent printings. The bo ...
,'' and Alice Walker, author of the novel '' The Color Purple'' and other fiction. Artist and leading scholar, curator, and promoter of African American art David Driskell was a native of Eatonton.
S. Truett Cathy Samuel Truett Cathy (March 14, 1921 September 8, 2014) was an American businessman, investor, author, and philanthropist. He founded the fast food restaurant chain Chick-fil-A in 1946. Early life Cathy was born on March 14, 1921, in Eatonto ...
, founder of
Chick-fil-A Chick-fil-A ( , a Word play, play on the American English pronunciation of "wikt:filet#Pronunciation, filet") is an American fast food restaurant chain which is the country's largest which specializes in chicken sandwiches. Headquartered in Coll ...
fast food restaurant and franchise, is a native of the town.
Thomas Adiel Sherwood Thomas Adiel Sherwood (October 3, 1791 – August 19, 1879) was an American author and college president of Marshall College. Biography Sherwood was born in Fort Edward, New York, on October 3, 1791. His father was major Adiel Sherwood, an offic ...
, Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court from 1873 to 1902, was born there."Missouri Jurist Born 96 Years Ago", ''The Missouri Herald'' (June 6, 1930), p. 1."Biographies of the Gentlemen Comprising the Democratic State Ticket", ''The St. Joseph Weekly Gazette'' (August 3, 1882), p. 7.


References


External links


City of Eatonton
{{Authority control Cities in Georgia (U.S. state) Cities in Putnam County, Georgia County seats in Georgia (U.S. state) 1807 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)