Barnesville, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barnesville,Georgia
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Barnesville City Hall
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| Nickname(s):
Buggy Town
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Location in Lamar County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Georgia | ||
| County | Lamar | ||
| Barnes' Store | 1826 | ||
| Barnesville | June 1831 | ||
| Incorporated City of Barnesville | February 20, 1854 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | City Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 6.12 sq mi (15.86 km2) | ||
| • Land | 6.07 sq mi (15.73 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 850 ft (259 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,292 | ||
| • Density | 1,035.89/sq mi (399.95/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
30204
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| Area code(s) | 770 | ||
| FIPS code | 13-05344 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0331094 | ||
Barnesville is a city in Lamar County, Georgia, in the United States. In 2020, about 6,292 people lived there. It's the main city, or county seat, of Lamar County. Barnesville is about 37 miles northwest of Macon and 60 miles south of Atlanta.
Barnesville was once known as the "Buggy Capital of the South." Around the year 1900, the town made about 9,000 buggies each year! To celebrate this history, Barnesville hosts an annual "Buggy Days" festival every September.
Contents
History of Barnesville
Barnesville was started in 1826. It was named after Gideon Barnes, who owned a local tavern. During the Civil War, Barnesville became an important place for hospitals. Local families helped care for injured soldiers in their homes. They had a very good success rate in helping soldiers recover.
One famous person who was treated here was Major General William B. Bate. He was injured in Atlanta in 1864. After the war, General Bate became the governor of Tennessee and later served in the United States Senate. He often talked about how kind the people of Barnesville were and how much they helped him get better.
In the early 1900s, an educator named Helena B. Cobb started the Helena B. Cobb Institute in Barnesville. This school was like Booker T. Washington's Tuskegee Institute. It helped educate African American girls and was the only school for women within the CME Church. In 1920, Barnesville became the main city for the newly formed Lamar County.
Powerful Weather Events
On April 28, 2011, a strong tornado hit Barnesville. It was an EF3 tornado with winds of 140 miles per hour (230 km/h). The tornado destroyed several homes and a gas station. Sadly, two people died in Barnesville because of this storm. This tornado was part of a much larger series of storms called the 2011 Super Outbreak.
Where is Barnesville?
Barnesville is located in the southern part of Lamar County. It sits on a low ridge, about 850 feet (260 m) above sea level. A higher point called Hog Mountain is to the north of the city.
Several major roads pass near Barnesville. U.S. Route 41 goes around the city. This highway connects Barnesville to Griffin to the northwest and Forsyth to the east. U.S. Route 341 also starts near Barnesville and goes southeast to Perry.
Interestingly, Barnesville is located on the Eastern Continental Divide. This means that rain falling on one side of the city flows towards the Atlantic Ocean, while rain on the other side flows towards the Gulf of Mexico!
People of Barnesville
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 754 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,962 | 160.2% | |
| 1890 | 1,839 | −6.3% | |
| 1900 | 3,036 | 65.1% | |
| 1910 | 3,068 | 1.1% | |
| 1920 | 3,059 | −0.3% | |
| 1930 | 3,236 | 5.8% | |
| 1940 | 3,535 | 9.2% | |
| 1950 | 4,185 | 18.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,919 | 17.5% | |
| 1970 | 4,935 | 0.3% | |
| 1980 | 4,887 | −1.0% | |
| 1990 | 4,747 | −2.9% | |
| 2000 | 5,972 | 25.8% | |
| 2010 | 6,755 | 13.1% | |
| 2020 | 6,292 | −6.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-19801990 |
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As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,292 people living in Barnesville. The city had 2,056 households.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 3,260 | 51.81% |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,584 | 41.07% |
| Other/Mixed | 230 | 3.66% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 168 | 2.67% |
| Asian | 45 | 0.72% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.05% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.03% |
Schools in Barnesville
Barnesville has several schools for students of all ages.
Public Schools
The Lamar County School District serves students from pre-school all the way to twelfth grade. It has:
- Lamar County Elementary School
- Lamar County Primary School
- Lamar County Middle School
- Lamar County Comprehensive High School
Private Schools
There are also private schools in the area:
- St. George's Episcopal School (K-12)
- Rock Springs Christian Academy
- Covenant Heart Academy
Higher Education
For students who want to go to college, Gordon State College is located in Barnesville.
Fun Events and Festivals
The Barnesville-Lamar County Chamber of Commerce organizes three fun festivals each year.
- The BBQ & Blues Festival happens on the last weekend of April. It features a cooking competition, food, crafts, and live music.
- The Summer in the Sticks Country Music Concert is held on the third Saturday in July. You can enjoy live bands, food, and crafts.
- The Buggy Days Festival celebrates Barnesville's history as the "Buggy Capital of the South." This festival takes place on the third full weekend in September.
Famous People from Barnesville
Some notable people have come from Barnesville, including:
- Wayne Cochran - a musician
- Louise Smith - a NASCAR driver
- John T. Walker - a Bishop of Washington
- Craig Ogletree - an NFL athlete
See also
In Spanish: Barnesville (Georgia) para niños
