Cochran, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cochran, Georgia
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Cochran Municipal Building
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| Nickname(s):
Castle City
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| Motto(s):
Your Southern Home
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Location in Bleckley County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States | ||||
| State | Georgia | ||||
| County | Bleckley | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 4.86 sq mi (12.58 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 4.69 sq mi (12.14 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 0.17 sq mi (0.44 km2) | ||||
| Elevation | 341 ft (104 m) | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,026 | ||||
| • Density | 1,072.56/sq mi (414.16/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||||
| ZIP code |
31014
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| Area code(s) | 478 | ||||
| FIPS code | 13-17328 | ||||
| GNIS feature ID | 0355210 | ||||
Cochran is a city in Bleckley County, Georgia, in the United States. In 2020, about 5,026 people lived there. It is the main city and county seat of Bleckley County.
Cochran got its name from Judge Arthur E. Cochran. The city was officially started on March 19, 1869. Judge Cochran helped a lot to develop this part of Georgia. He was the president of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad, which is now part of the Norfolk Southern Railway.
Before it was called Cochran, the area was known as Dykesboro. It was settled by B. B. Dykes, who owned the land where the town was built. The first people who moved here worked in the turpentine industry.
Cochran is home to Bleckley County High School and Middle Georgia State University. The city's nickname, Castle City, comes from the mascots of these schools. Their mascots are Barons, Royals, and Knights, which all relate to castles!
Three important places in Cochran are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Bleckley County Courthouse, the Cochran Municipal Building and School, and Hillcrest.
Contents
History of Cochran, Georgia
Cochran was first settled in the 1850s by a person named B. B. Dykes. At that time, it was known as Dykesboro. In 1869, the town was renamed Cochran. This was to honor Arthur Cochran, a railroad official. He was important because he brought the Macon and Brunswick Railroad to the town. Later, in 1912, Cochran became the main city for the new Bleckley County.
Geography and Location
Cochran is located in the central part of Georgia. You can find it at coordinates 32°23′12″N 83°21′2″W.
The city is along U.S. Route 23. This road goes northwest about 40 miles (64 km) to Macon. It also goes southeast about 18 miles (29 km) to Eastman. Another important road is Georgia State Route 26. It runs through the center of the city. This road leads northeast to Dudley and southwest to Hawkinsville.
The United States Census Bureau says that Cochran covers a total area of about 4.86 square miles (12.58 km2). Most of this area is land, about 4.69 square miles (12.14 km2). A small part, about 0.17 square miles (0.44 km2), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 1,531 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,638 | 7.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,021 | 23.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,267 | 12.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,464 | 8.7% | |
| 1950 | 3,357 | 36.2% | |
| 1960 | 4,714 | 40.4% | |
| 1970 | 5,161 | 9.5% | |
| 1980 | 5,121 | −0.8% | |
| 1990 | 4,390 | −14.3% | |
| 2000 | 4,455 | 1.5% | |
| 2010 | 5,150 | 15.6% | |
| 2020 | 5,026 | −2.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Cochran as of 2020:
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 2,612 | 51.97% |
| Black or African American | 1,854 | 36.89% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.06% |
| Asian | 112 | 2.23% |
| Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.08% |
| Other/Mixed | 133 | 2.65% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 308 | 6.13% |
In 2020, there were 5,026 people living in Cochran. There were 1,406 households and 814 families in the city.
Education in Cochran
Cochran has good schools for students of all ages.
Bleckley County School District
Students from kindergarten to twelfth grade in Bleckley County go to schools in the Bleckley County School District. This district has several schools:
- Bleckley County Learning Center
- Bleckley County Primary School (for younger kids)
- Bleckley County Elementary School
- Bleckley County Middle School
- Bleckley County Success Academy
- Bleckley County High School (for older students)
The district has about 151 full-time teachers. Over 2,355 students attend these schools.
Middle Georgia State University Campus
Middle Georgia State University is a public university. Its main campus is in Macon, Georgia. It was created in 2013 when two colleges, Middle Georgia College and Macon State College, joined together. The campus of Middle Georgia College in Cochran is now one of the campuses of Middle Georgia State University.
Fun Places to Visit
If you visit Cochran, there are some interesting places you can explore:
- Cochran-Bleckley Cotton & Peanut Museum: Learn about farming history.
- Terry L. Coleman Museum and Archives: Discover local history and records.
- Old Bleckley County Jail: See what an old jail looked like.
Famous People from Cochran
Many interesting people have come from Cochran:
- Amberle L. Husbands - A writer of exciting short stories and novels.
- Danny Mathis - A politician and coroner.
- Nancye Radmin (1938–2020) - A businesswoman who started a retail chain.
- Clarence Reid, also known as Blowfly - A musician and songwriter.
- Ed Roberts - A doctor and the founder of MITS. He created the Altair 8800 computer, which helped start the computer revolution. Bill Gates and Paul Allen worked for him.
- Obie Walker - A boxer who claimed the World Colored Heavyweight Championship in the 1930s.
- Amarius Mims - A football player for UGA, drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Cochran (Georgia) para niños
