Damascus, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Damascus, Georgia
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Damascus City Hall and Police Department
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Location in Early County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Early |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.77 sq mi (4.58 km2) |
| • Land | 1.76 sq mi (4.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 220 ft (67 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 212 |
| • Density | 120.39/sq mi (46.48/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
31741, 39841
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| Area code(s) | 229 |
| FIPS code | 13-21436 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0355426 |
Damascus is a small city in Early County, Georgia, United States. In 2020, about 212 people lived there. This number was a bit lower than in 2010, when 254 people lived in Damascus.
Contents
History of Damascus
The city of Damascus was once known by a different name: Kestler. In 1914, the government of Georgia officially changed its name to Damascus.
The new name came from a nearby place called Old Damascus. That older town was named after the famous city of Damascus, Syria. Old Damascus was eventually bypassed when a new railroad line was built through the area. This often happened when new transportation routes changed where people lived and worked.
Recent Weather Events
Damascus has experienced some strong storms. In 2021, a powerful tornado hit the area just south of the town. It caused a lot of damage and injured five people.
Later, in June 2023, another tornado struck the town itself. This storm destroyed one home and caused minor injuries to three people.
Geography of Damascus
Damascus is located in the eastern part of Early County. You can find it at these coordinates: 31°17′55″N 84°43′3″W / 31.29861°N 84.71750°W.
Roads and Routes
Two main roads pass through Damascus. Georgia State Route 45 goes north from Damascus for about 10 miles to Arlington. If you go south on this road, you'll reach Colquitt in about 9 miles.
Georgia State Route 200 also runs through the center of town. It goes east for about 24 miles to Newton. If you head northwest on this road, you'll get to Blakely in about 15 miles. Blakely is the main town and county seat of Early County.
Land and Water Area
The United States Census Bureau measures the size of cities. Damascus covers a total area of about 4.6 square kilometers (1.77 square miles). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.02 square kilometers (0.01 square miles), is water. This means less than half a percent of the city's area is water.
Population Changes in Damascus
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 413 | — | |
| 1920 | 373 | −9.7% | |
| 1930 | 436 | 16.9% | |
| 1940 | 477 | 9.4% | |
| 1950 | 402 | −15.7% | |
| 1960 | 297 | −26.1% | |
| 1970 | 272 | −8.4% | |
| 1980 | 403 | 48.2% | |
| 1990 | 290 | −28.0% | |
| 2000 | 277 | −4.5% | |
| 2010 | 254 | −8.3% | |
| 2020 | 212 | −16.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
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The population of Damascus has changed over the years. In 1910, there were 413 people. The population grew to its highest point in 1940 with 477 residents. Since then, the number of people living in Damascus has generally decreased. By 2020, the population was 212.
Education in Damascus
Students in Damascus attend public schools run by the Early County School District. This district operates three schools in Blakely:
- Early County Elementary School
- Early County Middle School
- Early County High School
Damascus is also home to Southwest Georgia Academy. This is a private school that opened in 1970. It is part of the Georgia Independent School Association. The school is built on the land where Damascus High School used to be.
Gallery
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Early County Fire Damascus District fire station
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Damascus Post Office
Notable People from Damascus
Some well-known people have come from Damascus:
- Robbie Robinson: A famous bodybuilder and actor. He won the Mr. Universe competition three times.
- Shawn Williams (American football): A professional football player who played for the Atlanta Falcons.
See also
In Spanish: Damascus (Georgia) para niños
