Plains, Georgia
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Plains is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 573. It is well-known as the home of
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...
and his wife Rosalynn, who were the 39th president and first lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981.


History

Originally inhabited by the Muscogee people, three small settlements existed close to what would become Plains by the 1840s: Lebanon, Magnolia Springs, and Plains of Dura. In 1885, a significant turning point occurred when a major east–west railroad extended into the area and led to the three settlements being consolidated into one. As railway access expanded into the region in response to increased cotton farming, these settlements coalesced closer to the new railway location. As businesses rapidly developed, local businessmen successfully petitioned the Georgia State Legislature to shorten "Plains of Dura" to simply "Plains." The city was incorporated in 1896. Plains continued to experience growth fueled by cotton cultivation into the early 20th century. A substantial school and the pioneering Wise Sanitarium were both built in the 1920s. Despite branching into peanut cultivation, the community lost much of its prosperity during the
Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
. The city remained a small and quiet one until Plains native
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...
rose to political prominence as Georgia's governor in 1971, before becoming U.S. president from 1977 to 1981. During the 1976 presidential election and for many years afterwards, the city saw a giant influx in tourism due to Carter's name, with nearly 10,000 people (around 18 times the population of Plains) pouring into the community daily.


Geography

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 , all land. The city's boundary is in the shape of a circle. It is located in west-south-western Georgia, due south of
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
.


Climate

This area climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the
Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
system, Plains has a
humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.


Demographics

Plains is part of the Americus Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, there were 637 people, 215 households, and 136 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 244 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 38.62%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 59.81%
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 1.26% from other races, and 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.83% of the population. There were 215 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 24.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.31. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 16.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 30.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 69.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 58.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $26,719, and the median income for a family was $29,375. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $16,406 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $11,602. About 22.2% of families and 25.6% 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 ...
, including 47.2% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.


Education

The city is located in the Sumter County School District.
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Points of interest

Many of the town's attractions are centered around Jimmy Carter, including the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. Carter's high school, birthplace, campaign headquarters, former site of family business, his brother Billy's service station, and his burial site are all within a close vicinity of one another in the center of town. The iconic Smiling Peanut Statue, a gift to Carter from supporters in Evansville, Indiana, lies on the outskirts of town. His boyhood home is in nearby
Archery Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a Bow and arrow, bow to shooting, shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting ...
. Andersonville National Historic Site and the National Prisoner of War Museum are located in the vicinity of Plains. Georgia Southwestern State University is located in the nearby town of Americus. Westville, a re-created town depicting the living history of mid-19th-century Georgia, is located in the nearby town of Lumpkin.


Notable residents

President
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...
was born in Plains at the Wise Sanitarium, now renamed the Lillian G. Carter Nursing Center in honor of his mother. His wife Rosalynn and their daughter Amy were also born in Plains, as were his younger brother Billy, younger sister Gloria, youngest sister Ruth, and cousin Hugh. When he left office in 1981, Carter and his wife returned to live in the home in Plains they have occupied since 1961, where they both died. Rosalynn Carter died on November 19, 2023, and President Carter died on December 29, 2024. Both are interred on the grounds of their home, which is part of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park.


Gallery

File:Welcome to Plains Home of the 39th President.png, The Plains welcome sign, featuring the Seal of the president of the United States File:Plains, Georgia water tower.png, The Plains water tower File:17 02 044 carter.jpg, Carter's High School, now a visitor center and museum File:Giant sized smiling peanut, looking north - Smiling Peanut, South Side of Highway 49, Plains, Sumter County, GA HABS GA,131-PLAIN.V,2-1 (CT).tif, Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue File:CarterHQ.jpg, Carter campaign headquarters (2008) File:JimmyCarteronBicycle.jpg,
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...
cycling in Plains (2008) File:Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter gravesite.jpg, Burial site of Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter


References


External links


Official City Website


Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Plains {{authority control 1885 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) Americus, Georgia micropolitan area Cities in Georgia (U.S. state) Cities in Sumter County, Georgia Jimmy Carter Populated places established in 1885 Rosalynn Carter