Eatonton, Georgia

Eatonton is a city in and the 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, an officer and diplomat involved in the First Barbary War. The name consists of his surname with the English suffix "ton", meaning "town".

History

Early Years

The first historically recognized society in Eatonton was a Creek Indian town called, Cusseta in 1790. During, this period, the chief of the Cusseta was Birdtail. In 1790, he signed the Treaty of New York on behalf of his people. The treaty aimed to establish peace and foster friendly relations between the Creek Nation and the United States. 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.

Dairy Capital

In the 21st century, Eatonton is known as the "Dairy Capital of Georgia" (in honor of its major industry, dairy farming).

After the Civil War in 1864, Putnam County faced significant economic hardship as the wealth of its once thriving plantations declined or disappeared entirely. Throughout the 19th century, Putnam sought ways to rebuild it's economy. In 1876, a former New York banker named Benjamin Hunt had relocated in Putnam and brought fifteen dairy cows establishing Panola Farm. Panola Farm was an experimental dairy facility that became a cornerstone in the development of Eatonton's dairy industry, helping to reshape Putnam agricultural future. By 1901 Putnam was the third leading dairy county in Georgia, shipping cream to Athens and butter to Atlanta.

By 1909, The Eatonton Co-Operative Creamery was founded. Local farmers came together and produced various dairy products like milk, cream, butter etc. In 1946 Eatonton Co-Operative Creamery sold 1,406,000.00 of dairy products which in today would be over 20 million.

In addition to the dairy industry flourishing the city of Eatonton holds a festival celebrating local dairy farmers called ''The Dairy Festival''. The first Dairy Festival was held in 1953. For more than seventy years, Eatonton continues to celebrate it's dairy heritage with an annul Dairy Festival Parade, held during the first weekend of June.

Rock Eagle

The Rock Eagle Effigy Mound, a Native American archaeological 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. The purpose of Rock Eagle was to provide recreation and education for children involved in the 4-H Clubs throughout Georgia.

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.

The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Eatonton

Farmers and Merchants Bank is an independent community bank located in Eatonton Georgia. Chartered October 26, 1922 with capital of $25,000. The local bank had eight board members.. The building cost at the time was $6,250. Banking hours were from 10:00AM-4:00PM from Monday - Friday. Today Farmers and Merchants Bank continues as the largest financial institution and the oldest bank in Putnam County. In addition Farmers and Merchants bank is one out of three community banks located in Putnam. The other two banks are The Farmers Bank in Greensboro, Georgia and First Bank of Coastal Georgia located in Pembroke, Georgia. All three banks still stand as independent banks as of 2025.

Briarpatch Farms

Briarpatch Farms was a farm community that consisted of farmers who farmed cotton, dairy, and timber. Originally the farm community was called Chancellorsville homestead, Inc. However FSA (Farm Service Agency) renamed the farmland to Briarpatch Farm Project. Located north eastern portion of Putnam, sat on 12,000 acres of land. Briarpatch residents were given a homestead which included land, a home, farm buildings, and government stock. Each family had running water and electricity. In order for a farmer to become a settler in Briarpatch they had to be "thrifty, honest, have civic pride, and furnish three references from local citizens' February 7th, 1935 the first couple of families moved into their homes. By June 1935 fifty more families moved in. By this time Briarpatch had their own workshop, cannery, poultry house, and other buildings in business. They would celebrate holidays together such as the 4th of July. Over the years the Briarpatch community had created their own baseball team and a small library. In December 1935 ten more houses were built on Briarpatch. Between 1936-1937 The Briarpatch community had evolved, they had created a Woman's Club, Briarpatch Farmer's Organization, Girls Cooking and Sewing Club, and a non- denominational Sunday school.

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, which meet in and form the western boundary of the city. Via U.S. 129/441, Madison 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

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,307 people, 2,559 households, and 1,756 families residing in the city.

Education

Schools in the area

Education in late 1890s

In 1893 United States statistics showed that during that time only thirty one percent of all children between the ages sixteen and eighteen attended school. In Putnam county, only twelve percent of children attend school. Eatonton Academy, at the time was a free public school. Eatonton Academy was built in 1895. There curriculum consisted of Music, art, elocution, and physical culture. Putnam public school system consisted of fourteen white schools and twenty four colored schools. At the time the county only operated on a six month term that began in January. In 1893, there were 1,097 white students who attended shcool and 3,800 colored students who attended school.

Education in the 1900s

The Georgia Compulsory school Law of 1916 required children ages eight through fourteen to attend school twelve weeks out of the year. During that year Eatonton High School was built which is now known as The Plaza Arts Center. Eatonton High school closed in 200 and went under renovation, and reopened to the public in March 2008.

Late summer in 1937, government officials had contracted to build a new school called New Phoenix School on Briarpatch Farms. The cost to build the school was $2,500, it was named New Phoenix School.

In 1956 Putnam opened Butler- Baker High School. It was a school for African American students. It served students from first grade through twelfth grade. By 1969 school segregation ended in Eatonton, Georgia causing for both colored and white schools to integrate.

In 1968 Putnam County High school in Eatonton, Georgia opened in 1968 however in the early 2010s a brand new Putnam County High School was built.

In the fall of 1992 Putnam County Elementary school opened.

Now 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, Olympic gold medalist in men's skeet shooting at the 2008, 2012, and 2020 Summer Olympics and Gatewood Schools graduate, resides in Eatonton.

The city is the birthplace of noted writers: Joel Chandler Harris, journalist and author of the Uncle Remus stories, 19th century poet Louise Prudden Hunt (Mrs. B. W. Hunt), Henry Grady Weaver, author of '' The Mainspring of Human Progress'', 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, founder of Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant and franchise, is a native of the town.

Thomas Adiel Sherwood, 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)