Ashburn, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ashburn, Georgia
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City
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Ashburn City Hall
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| Nickname(s):
Peanut Capital of the World
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Location in Turner County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Turner |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.80 sq mi (12.43 km2) |
| • Land | 4.75 sq mi (12.29 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.14 km2) |
| Elevation | 427 ft (130 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,291 |
| • Density | 904.13/sq mi (349.12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
31714
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| Area code(s) | 229 |
| FIPS code | 13-03236 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0354404 |
| Website | https://www.cityofashburn.net |
The city of Ashburn is a small city in the state of Georgia, United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, of Turner County, Georgia. In 2020, about 4,291 people lived there.
Ashburn is famous for its peanuts. It is even called the "Peanut Capital of the World." The city also hosts a fun fire ant festival every year.
Contents
History of Ashburn, Georgia
The area where Ashburn is located was first settled in 1888. It was originally called Marion. In 1890, the town officially became a city and changed its name to Ashburn. It was named after W. W. Ashburn, who was an important early resident.
In 1905, Ashburn became the county seat of Turner County. This means it became the main center for the county's government and activities.
Ashburn's Famous Peanut Statue
Ashburn is well-known for its giant Peanut Statue. This statue was first built in 1975. In 1998, it was even recognized as an official state monument.
Sadly, in 2018, a big storm called Hurricane Michael destroyed the original statue. But the people of Ashburn rebuilt it! The new peanut statue looks a bit smaller than the first one. The brick tower that held the original peanut was reused for the new statue, along with its crown. The brick tower is 15 feet tall.
The local newspaper for Ashburn is called The Wiregrass Farmer.
Geography and Location
Ashburn is located in south-central Georgia. Its exact location is 31°42′16″N 83°39′14″W / 31.70444°N 83.65389°W.
The United States Census Bureau says that Ashburn covers a total area of about 4.6 square miles (12.43 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.
Population and People
Ashburn has seen its population change over the years. Here's how many people have lived there during different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 403 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,301 | 222.8% | |
| 1910 | 2,214 | 70.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,116 | −4.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,073 | −2.0% | |
| 1940 | 2,266 | 9.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,918 | 28.8% | |
| 1960 | 3,291 | 12.8% | |
| 1970 | 4,209 | 27.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,766 | 13.2% | |
| 1990 | 4,827 | 1.3% | |
| 2000 | 4,419 | −8.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,152 | −6.0% | |
| 2020 | 4,291 | 3.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
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As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,291 people living in Ashburn. These people lived in about 1,500 households.
Who Lives in Ashburn?
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Ashburn based on the 2020 census:
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,109 | 25.84% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,831 | 65.98% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.07% |
| Asian | 37 | 0.86% |
| Other/Mixed | 119 | 2.77% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 192 | 4.47% |
Education in Ashburn
Students in Ashburn attend schools that are part of the Turner County School District. This district provides education from pre-school all the way through twelfth grade.
Schools in Turner County
The school district has several schools for students of different ages:
- Turner County Elementary School
- Turner County Middle School
- Turner County High School
The district has about 126 full-time teachers. They teach over 1,145 students in total.
Ashburn's Public Library
Ashburn also has a public library. It is called the Victoria Evans Memorial Library. It's a great place for students and residents to read and learn.
Exciting Events in Ashburn
Ashburn hosts a special event every year called the Fire Ant Festival. It takes place on the fourth weekend of March.
The festival is full of fun activities for everyone:
- An art show where local artists display their work.
- Exciting carnival rides.
- A car show featuring cool vehicles.
- A strawberry cook-off and a BBQ competition.
- A health show to learn about staying healthy.
- A fireworks display to end the festival with a bang!
Some unique events are also part of the festival, like the Fire Ant Call, Find the Fire Ant game, a Fire Ant 5k race, and the Miss Fire Ant Pageant.
Notable People from Ashburn
Ashburn has been home to several important people:
- Henry T. Elrod - A brave World War II fighter pilot. He was given the Medal of Honor after he passed away for his heroic actions.
- Nora Lawrence Smith - She was an editor and publisher for the Wiregrass Farmer newspaper for many years.
- Betty Shingler Talmadge - She served as the First Lady of Georgia.
- Ben Thomas - A former defensive lineman who played football for Auburn University and in the National Football League.
Images for kids
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The original peanut statue
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Peanut statue rebuilt in 2023
See also
In Spanish: Ashburn (Georgia) para niños
