Claxton, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Claxton, Georgia
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The city hall in Claxton
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| Nickname(s):
"The Fruitcake Capital of the World"
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Location in Evans County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Evans |
| Founded | May 1890 |
| Incorporated | April 1894 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.75 sq mi (4.54 km2) |
| • Land | 1.74 sq mi (4.50 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 184 ft (56 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,602 |
| • Density | 1,497.12/sq mi (577.90/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
30414, 30417
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| Area code(s) | 912 |
| FIPS code | 13-16600 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0312697 |
Claxton is a city in Evans County, Georgia, United States. It's often called "The Fruitcake Capital of the World." In 2020, about 2,602 people lived there. Claxton is also the county seat, which means it's where the main government offices for Evans County are located.
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History of Claxton
Claxton officially became a town in April 1894. But its story began a few years earlier.
How Claxton Started
In May 1890, there were only a few homes where Claxton is now. A man named W.R. Hendricks had a big piece of land there. He and his family wanted a train station built on their land. Railroad companies didn't think it was needed.
So, W.R. Hendricks made a deal. He offered to dig a well and install a pump for free. This way, trains could stop for water. The railroad agreed, and construction started in June 1890.
W.R. Hendricks' mother helped a lot. She first offered free land to anyone who would build a house. Then she changed her plan. She offered to sell one lot and give the next one for free to those who wanted to build. Many people took her up on this offer.
Naming the Town
As the town grew, people wanted a post office. They tried to name it "Hendricks" after the family. But there was already a post office with that name in Upson County.
So, they suggested two other names: "Jenny" and "Claxton." Postal officials chose "Claxton," and the post office opened in 1890.
There's a bit of a mystery about where the name "Claxton" came from. Some local historians think it was named after a famous actress, Kate Claxton. Others believe it honored Philander Priestly Claxton, a well-known educator.
First Map of Claxton
Soon after the post office opened, a man named D.C. Newton drew the first map of Claxton. He used a piece of brown wrapping paper! On it, he drew the streets and marked out the lots. He also added street names.
No one knows exactly where this original map is now. But it's believed to have stayed with his family for a long time.
Geography and Climate
Claxton is right in the middle of Evans County. It's next to the city of Hagan to the west.
Location and Roads
Two major roads, U.S. Routes 280 and 301, cross in the center of Claxton.
- US 280 goes east about 52 miles (84 km) to Savannah. It goes west about 36 miles (58 km) to Vidalia.
- US 301 goes north about 22 miles (35 km) to Statesboro. It goes south about 48 miles (77 km) to Jesup.
Land and Water
Claxton covers about 1.75 square miles (4.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.01 square miles (0.04 square kilometers), is water.
The city is in the coastal plain region of Georgia. This area has many types of trees. You can find pine, oak, sycamore, chinaberry, live oak, sweetgum, and poplar trees here.
Weather in Claxton
Claxton has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot and humid summers. In July, the average high temperature is 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius). The average low is 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).
Winters are mild. In January, the average high is 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius). The average low is 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius). Snowstorms are rare, but they can happen sometimes.
| Climate data for Claxton, Georgia | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) |
86 (30) |
89 (32) |
96 (36) |
98 (37) |
106 (41) |
107 (42) |
105 (41) |
104 (40) |
96 (36) |
87 (31) |
84 (29) |
107 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 61 (16) |
66 (19) |
73 (23) |
78 (26) |
86 (30) |
91 (33) |
94 (34) |
92 (33) |
87 (31) |
80 (27) |
71 (22) |
63 (17) |
79 (26) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 36 (2) |
39 (4) |
44 (7) |
50 (10) |
59 (15) |
67 (19) |
71 (22) |
70 (21) |
65 (18) |
54 (12) |
45 (7) |
38 (3) |
53 (12) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −2 (−19) |
13 (−11) |
16 (−9) |
28 (−2) |
41 (5) |
48 (9) |
58 (14) |
56 (13) |
45 (7) |
30 (−1) |
22 (−6) |
13 (−11) |
−2 (−19) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.36 (111) |
3.57 (91) |
3.25 (83) |
2.95 (75) |
3.21 (82) |
5.12 (130) |
4.68 (119) |
5.41 (137) |
3.73 (95) |
3.87 (98) |
2.49 (63) |
3.17 (81) |
45.81 (1,165) |
| Source: The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
People of Claxton
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Claxton has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population from 1900 to 2020:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 553 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,008 | 82.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,265 | 25.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,584 | 25.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,808 | 14.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,923 | 6.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,672 | 38.9% | |
| 1970 | 2,669 | −0.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,694 | 0.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,464 | −8.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,276 | −7.6% | |
| 2010 | 2,393 | 5.1% | |
| 2020 | 2,602 | 8.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Racial Makeup in 2020
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 2,602 people living in Claxton. There were 908 households and 660 families.
Here's a breakdown of the racial groups:
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 989 | 38.01% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,124 | 43.2% |
| Asian | 24 | 0.92% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 76 | 2.92% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 388 | 14.91% |
Education in Claxton
The Evans County School District manages public education in Claxton. Dr. Marty Waters is the current superintendent.
All schools in Claxton are fully approved by important groups like the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
- Claxton Elementary School
- Claxton Middle School
- Claxton High School
There is also a private school called Pinewood Christian Academy. It was started in Bellville, Georgia, in 1970. It teaches students from Pre-K4 all the way to 12th grade.
Claxton Fruit Cake
Claxton is famous for its Claxton Fruit Cake. These fruitcakes are made by the Claxton Bakery and the Georgia Fruitcake Company. They are shipped all over the world!
Local Media
Claxton and Evans County have their own local radio and newspaper.
- WCLA Radio broadcasts on 93.7 FM and 1470 AM. For many years, WCLA was known as the "World's Only Drive-In Radio Station." It was located in the big screen of Claxton's Tos Drive-In Theatre.
- The Claxton Enterprise newspaper has been published since 1912. This was even before Evans County was created!
- Comcast Xfinity provides local cable television service.
- WLFH-FM (88.9) and WMCD-FM (107.3) are also licensed to Claxton. However, their main offices or studios are outside Evans County.
Claxton Meteorite
A Mailbox Hit by a Meteorite
On December 10, 1984, something amazing happened in Claxton. A meteorite fell from space and hit a mailbox! This mailbox became very famous. It was later sold for $83,000. It's said to be the only mailbox ever hit by a meteorite.
Scientists studied the meteorite. They classified it as an L6 type.
Notable People from Claxton
- Curtis G. Hames: A heart specialist who found out what caused heart attacks in the soil of coastal Georgia.
- Joe Odom: A musician who was featured in the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
See also
In Spanish: Claxton (Georgia) para niños
