Bethlehem, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bethlehem, Georgia
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Town
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| Motto(s):
"The little town under the star"
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Location in Barrow County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Georgia | |
| County | Barrow | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.302 sq mi (6.0052 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.3 sq mi (6.00 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.002 sq mi (0.0052 km2) | |
| Elevation | 860 ft (262 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 715 | |
| • Density | 310.9/sq mi (119.2/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
30620
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| Area codes | 770; 404; 678 | |
| FIPS code | 13-07612 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0331150 | |
Bethlehem is a small town in Barrow County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. In 2020, about 715 people lived there. The town is known for its special Christmas theme. Many streets have names related to the nativity of Jesus, like Mary, Joseph, and Manger.
Bethlehem is also famous for its post office. During the holidays, many people send their mail from Bethlehem. This is because the post office adds a special mark that says "from Bethlehem." This makes holiday cards and letters extra special!
Contents
About Bethlehem, Georgia
Bethlehem is located in southern Barrow County. It is about 4 miles (6 km) south of Winder, which is the county seat. The town is also about 24 miles (39 km) west of Athens, Georgia and 49 miles (79 km) east of Atlanta.
A Town with a Special Name
The town got its name from a local church, the Bethlehem Methodist Church. The church itself was named after the ancient town of Bethlehem. This is the town mentioned in the Bible as the birthplace of Jesus.
Bethlehem's Past
The land where Bethlehem now stands was once home to the Cherokee and Creek Native American tribes. European settlers first arrived in the area around 1786. The Bethlehem Methodist Church was started in 1796.
Later, a camp ground opened next to the church. This camp was used from 1851 to 1894. During the American Civil War, it became a place where soldiers gathered. The Confederate States Army's 16th Georgia Regiment was formed there. The camp also served as a safe place for people during the war.
The community of Bethlehem officially began in December 1883. It was a stop along a railroad line. The town was officially made a town in 1902. At first, it was part of Walton County. But in 1914, it became part of the new Barrow County.
Bethlehem's Climate
Bethlehem has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has four seasons. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are cool. July is usually the warmest month, with highs around 90°F (32°C). January is the coldest, with highs around 53°F (12°C). The town gets rain evenly throughout the year. March usually has the most rain, and May is often the driest.
| Climate data for Bethlehem, Georgia (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 53 (12) |
58 (14) |
66 (19) |
74 (23) |
81 (27) |
88 (31) |
90 (32) |
89 (32) |
83 (28) |
74 (23) |
65 (18) |
55 (13) |
73 (23) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 31 (−1) |
33 (1) |
39 (4) |
46 (8) |
55 (13) |
64 (18) |
67 (19) |
67 (19) |
60 (16) |
49 (9) |
40 (4) |
33 (1) |
49 (9) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.66 (118) |
4.46 (113) |
5.12 (130) |
3.57 (91) |
3.17 (81) |
4.26 (108) |
4.07 (103) |
3.95 (100) |
4.10 (104) |
3.67 (93) |
4.01 (102) |
3.72 (94) |
48.76 (1,237) |
| Source: US Climate Data | |||||||||||||
People in Bethlehem
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 209 | — | |
| 1920 | 246 | 17.7% | |
| 1930 | 209 | −15.0% | |
| 1940 | 242 | 15.8% | |
| 1950 | 240 | −0.8% | |
| 1960 | 297 | 23.8% | |
| 1970 | 304 | 2.4% | |
| 1980 | 281 | −7.6% | |
| 1990 | 348 | 23.8% | |
| 2000 | 716 | 105.7% | |
| 2010 | 601 | −16.1% | |
| 2020 | 715 | 19.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Bethlehem had 715 people living there. The town had 341 households and 241 families. About 32% of the people were under 18 years old. The median age was 32.3 years. The average household had about 3 people.
Bethlehem's Economy
The main employer in Bethlehem is Harrison Poultry. This company opened in 1958. It is the largest non-government employer in Barrow County, with about 1,000 workers.
Holiday Mail Tradition
Bethlehem's post office is very popular during the Christmas season. People love to send their holiday cards and letters from here. This is because mail sent from Bethlehem gets a special cancellation mark and cachet. This mark says "Greetings from Bethlehem."
The post office uses a special machine called a flier canceler to make this mark. This machine is over 100 years old! It is the only one still used by the U.S. Postal Service. The special mark also shows the Three Wise Men and the Star of Bethlehem.
Sending mail from Bethlehem has become a holiday tradition. The post office sends hundreds of thousands of letters each Christmas. You can even use hand-stamps at the post office to add "Christmas Greetings from Bethlehem" to your mail.
This tradition started in 1967. That year, the United States Postal Service released a special Christmas stamp at the Bethlehem post office. Many people wanted this stamp. The post office had to hire 43 extra workers to handle all the mail! In 1967, Bethlehem sent out about 500,000 cards and letters.
Arts and Culture
Bethlehem has a library inside its City Hall. This library is part of the Piedmont Regional Library System.
A nearby historic site is the Kilgore Mill Covered Bridge and Mill Site. This bridge was built in 1874. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It crosses the Apalachee River, which is the border between Barrow and Walton counties.
Every Christmas, Bethlehem hosts a nativity pageant at the town square. This takes place under a large, lit-up star. This star represents the Star of Bethlehem. The first star was put up in 1951. It was 15 feet (4.6 m) across. In 2009, it was replaced with a new 12-foot (3.7 m) star.
Parks and Recreation
The town has one park called the R. Harold Harrison Community Playground. It has a playground, a walking trail, and a covered picnic area. The closest state park is Fort Yargo State Park. It is about 7 miles (11 km) north of Bethlehem in Winder.
Education
Public schools in Bethlehem are managed by Barrow County Schools. Students in Bethlehem attend Bethlehem Elementary School, Haymon-Morris Middle School, and Apalachee High School. High school students can also apply to special college preparatory schools in Barrow County. These include Sims Academy of Innovation & Technology and the Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy.
There is also a private school in Bethlehem called Bethlehem Christian Academy. It serves students from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Transportation
Several main roads run through Bethlehem. Monroe Highway (SR 11) goes north to south. SR 316 (US 29) runs west to east. SR 81 also runs north to south. Many streets in Bethlehem have names related to the nativity of Jesus and the Bible. Examples include Angel Street, Joseph Street, Manger Avenue, and Star Street.
Bethlehem does not have public transportation. It also has limited sidewalks for walking. The closest airport is the Barrow County Airport in Winder. It is about 7 miles (11 km) away. The closest major airport is Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is about 58 miles (93 km) away.
Notable People
- Jody Hice, a U.S. representative for Georgia.
- Howard W. Odum, an American sociologist and author.
See also
In Spanish: Bethlehem (Georgia) para niños
