Bainbridge, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bainbridge, Georgia
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Bainbridge City Hall
|
|||
|
|||
| Motto(s):
"Georgia's First Inland Port"
|
|||
Location in Decatur County and the state of Georgia
|
|||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Georgia | ||
| County | Decatur | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 21.00 sq mi (54.40 km2) | ||
| • Land | 19.78 sq mi (51.22 km2) | ||
| • Water | 1.23 sq mi (3.18 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 121 ft (37 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • City | 14,468 | ||
| • Density | 731.59/sq mi (282.47/km2) | ||
| • Metro | 27,842 | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
39817, 39819
|
||
| Area code(s) | 229 | ||
| FIPS code | 13-04896 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0354431 | ||
.JPG)
Bainbridge is a city in Decatur County, Georgia, United States. It is the main city of Decatur County. In 2020, about 14,468 people lived there. This was more than the 12,697 people counted in 2010. Bainbridge is also a key city in the larger Tallahassee—Bainbridge, FL-GA Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
- Discovering Bainbridge: A Look at Its Past
- Exploring Bainbridge's Location and Rivers
- Who Lives in Bainbridge? Understanding the Population
- Bainbridge's Economy: Jobs and Industry
- Arts, Culture, and Fun Events in Bainbridge
- Learning in Bainbridge: Schools and Education
- Parks and Recreation: Staying Active in Bainbridge
- Getting Around: Transportation in Bainbridge
- Famous People from Bainbridge
- See also
Discovering Bainbridge: A Look at Its Past
The first European settlement in the Bainbridge area was a trading post. James Burges set it up in the late 1700s. This is why the area was first called Burges's Bluff. The city was later named after William Bainbridge, a U.S. Navy Commodore. He commanded the famous ship USS Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides." Bainbridge officially became a city on December 22, 1829.
Becoming a County Seat
In 1824, Bainbridge was chosen as the main town for the new Decatur County. This meant it became the center for local government.
Facing Natural Disasters
On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael hit Bainbridge. The storm caused a lot of damage across the city. Many trees and power lines fell. Buildings also had structural damage. Many homes were severely affected by the storm.
Exploring Bainbridge's Location and Rivers
Bainbridge is located in the middle of Decatur County in southwestern Georgia. Major roads like U.S. Routes 27 and 84 pass near the city. These roads help people travel to nearby cities. For example, U.S. Route 27 goes south to Tallahassee and north to Columbus. U.S. Route 84 goes east to Thomasville and northwest to Dothan, Alabama.
Waterways and Their Importance
Bainbridge is on the Flint River. This river flows southwest to meet the Chattahoochee. These two rivers then form the Apalachicola River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
At the point where the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers meet, there is the Jim Woodruff Dam. This dam creates Lake Seminole. The dam also has a system of locks. These locks allow large boats called barges to travel between Bainbridge and the Gulf of Mexico. This makes Bainbridge an important inland port.
Who Lives in Bainbridge? Understanding the Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,869 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,351 | −27.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,436 | 6.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,668 | 16.2% | |
| 1900 | 2,641 | 58.3% | |
| 1910 | 4,217 | 59.7% | |
| 1920 | 4,792 | 13.6% | |
| 1930 | 6,141 | 28.2% | |
| 1940 | 6,352 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 7,562 | 19.0% | |
| 1960 | 12,714 | 68.1% | |
| 1970 | 10,887 | −14.4% | |
| 1980 | 10,553 | −3.1% | |
| 1990 | 10,712 | 1.5% | |
| 2000 | 11,722 | 9.4% | |
| 2010 | 12,697 | 8.3% | |
| 2020 | 14,468 | 13.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
|||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 5,106 | 35.29% |
| Black or African American | 8,106 | 56.03% |
| Native American | 31 | 0.21% |
| Asian | 117 | 0.81% |
| Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 336 | 2.32% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 768 | 5.31% |
In 2020, the city of Bainbridge had 14,468 people. There were 4,471 households, which are groups of people living together. Also, there were 3,111 families living in the city.
Bainbridge's Economy: Jobs and Industry
In December 2019, a gun manufacturer from Brazil called Taurus decided to move to Bainbridge. The company received a large financial package to help with the move. In return, Taurus planned to create 300 new jobs in the city.
Arts, Culture, and Fun Events in Bainbridge
Bainbridge offers several ways to enjoy arts and culture.
Art Galleries and Theaters
- The Firehouse Gallery is an art gallery where you can see different artworks.
- The Bainbridge Little Theatre puts on plays and shows for the community.
Yearly Celebrations and Festivals
- River Town Days is a popular event held every year in March.
- The Swine Time Festival and the Decatur County Fall Festival and Fair are also annual traditions.
Historic Places to Visit
- The Decatur County Courthouse was built in 1902. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its historical importance.
- The First African Missionary Baptist Church is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Local Library Services
The Decatur County Gilbert H. Gragg Library is located in Bainbridge. This library serves all the people in Decatur County. It also acts as the main office for the Southwest Georgia Regional Library system.
Learning in Bainbridge: Schools and Education
Bainbridge is part of the Decatur County School District. This district provides education from pre-kindergarten all the way to 12th grade.
Public Schools in the District
The district has many schools for different age groups:
- Jones-Wheat Primary School (Pre-K to 2nd grade)
- West Bainbridge Primary School (Pre-K to 2nd grade)
- Hutto Elementary School (3rd to 5th grade)
- Bainbridge Middle School (6th to 8th grade)
- Bainbridge High School (9th to 12th grade)
The Decatur County School District has about 384 full-time teachers. They teach over 5,782 students.
Other Schools in the Area
- Grace Christian Academy offers classes from Pre-K to 12th grade.
- Spring Creek Charter Academy serves students from Pre-K to 10th grade.
Parks and Recreation: Staying Active in Bainbridge
The Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA opened its doors on September 15, 1986. It provides a place for people to exercise and participate in community activities.
Getting Around: Transportation in Bainbridge
Bainbridge is a seaport, which means it has facilities for ships. It is connected to the Gulf of Mexico through Florida's Apalachicola River. These port facilities are called Port Bainbridge. They are managed by the Georgia Ports Authority.
The Decatur County Industrial Air Park is about 6 miles northwest of the city. This airport provides services for smaller, general aviation planes.
Famous People from Bainbridge
Many notable people have connections to Bainbridge:
- James Butler – An NFL football player.
- Alfred Corn – A poet and essayist.
- Marvin Griffin – A former governor of Georgia.
- Miriam Hopkins – An actress nominated for an Academy Award.
- Paul Kwilecki – A documentary photographer.
- Jason Lancaster – A singer and guitarist.
- Dameon Pierce – An NFL football player for the Houston Texans.
- Brian Powell – A former MLB baseball pitcher.
- David Ross – An MLB baseball catcher and two-time World Series champion. He also appeared on Dancing with the Stars.
- Kirby Smart – The head football coach for the University of Georgia.
- Travis Smith – A former drummer for the band Trivium.
- Young Stribling – A professional heavyweight boxer.
See also
In Spanish: Bainbridge (Georgia) para niños
