Donalsonville, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donalsonville, Georgia
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Donalsonville City Hall
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| Motto(s):
The Gateway to Lake Seminole
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Location in Seminole County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Seminole |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.99 sq mi (10.34 km2) |
| • Land | 3.97 sq mi (10.29 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 148 ft (45 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,833 |
| • Density | 713.42/sq mi (275.43/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
39845
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| Area code(s) | 229 |
| FIPS code | 13-23368 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0331568 |
| Website | Official website: http://www.donalsonvillega.org/ |
Donalsonville is a city in and the county seat of Seminole County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,650 at the 2010 census.
Contents
History
Donalsonville was originally part of Decatur County. It is named after John Ernest Donalson (1846–1920), also known as Jonathan or John E. Donalson, a prominent businessman of the area. Donalson built the first lumber mill in Donalsonville, Donalson Lumber Company. He also built homes and a commissary for the workers of the mill. The lumber company paved the way for the town's growth.
Donalsonville was first chartered as a town in Georgia on December 8, 1897. When Seminole County was formed in January 1920, Donalsonville was named as its county seat. By August 1922, the Town of Donalsonville became known as the City of Donalsonville, with the charter passing on August 19, 1922.
The Seminole County Courthouse was erected in 1922 and is still standing today. The Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Wolfe)
Geography
Donalsonville is located at 31°2′27″N 84°52′42″W / 31.04083°N 84.87833°W.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10 km2), of which 4.0 square miles (10 km2) is land and 0.25% is water. The city is located 20 minutes north of Lake Seminole, 62 miles (100 km) south of Albany, 36 miles (58 km) east of Dothan, Alabama and 107 miles (172 km) west of Valdosta.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 519 | — | |
| 1910 | 747 | 43.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,031 | 38.0% | |
| 1930 | 1,183 | 14.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,718 | 45.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,569 | 49.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,621 | 2.0% | |
| 1970 | 2,907 | 10.9% | |
| 1980 | 3,320 | 14.2% | |
| 1990 | 2,761 | −16.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,796 | 1.3% | |
| 2010 | 2,650 | −5.2% | |
| 2020 | 2,833 | 6.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 904 | 31.91% |
| Black or African American | 1,734 | 61.21% |
| Native American | 1 | 0.04% |
| Asian | 59 | 2.08% |
| Other/Mixed | 53 | 1.87% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 82 | 2.89% |
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 2,833 people, 872 households, and 542 families residing in the city.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 2,650 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 61.4% Black, 34.1% White, 0.0% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.3% from some other race and 1.2% from two or more races. 2.1% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Employment
According to 2012 data from the Donalsonville Chamber of Commerce, the top five employers in the city are as follows:
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Donalsonville Hospital, Inc. | 350 |
| Ponder Enterprises Inc. | 250 |
| Lewis M. Carter, Inc. | 150 |
| American Peanut Growers Group, LLC | 80 |
| JH Harvey Company | 30 |
Culture
Agriculture, art and music reflect the tone of the city. The Olive Theatre is in an old building downtown which has been renovated and periodically hosts local talent in addition to several plays, concerts, talent contests and other artistic events. Hand-painted murals are present on a few of the downtown buildings and depict the main industry in the county, agriculture.
The former "Harvest Festival", now "Georgia's Big Fish Festival", is a part of Donalsonville’s culture as well. This festival is held each October to educate visitors, support and promote the many sporting and recreational opportunities available at nearby Lake Seminole.
There are many other attractions that are held in and around the City as well including the Christmas Tour of Homes, the PRCA Rodeo, mug track racing, occasional street dances, outdoor concerts, movie nights, indoor concerts, karaoke, parades, book signings, and more.
Religion
By the 1900s, the need for churches arose. The first church was erected in Donalsonville in 1850, the Friendship United Methodist Church. In the beginning the Methodist Church served as a meeting place for all Protestant denominations. Later, the First Presbyterian Church of Donalsonville was established in January 1898 with 25 members. On August 4, 1902, 18 people helped to create the First Baptist Church of Donalsonville. The Church of The Nazarene, originally called “The Holiness Church,” was established in October 1902. The meetings of the Church of the Nazarene were actually held in a member’s house until 1903, when a building was erected. The first black church in Donalsonville was created in 1895, the Live Oak African Methodist Episcopal Church. The people of Donalsonville saw the need to create churches to worship and with this vision came a number of churches, eventually totaling thirteen. (City-Data.com)
Economy
Donalsonville has about a 63% high school graduate rate with about 52% in the work force. The biggest industries are education, health, and social services. (Georgia.gov) The average median income for households according to the U.S. Census report in 2000 was $20,687 and median family income was $25,679, with the average household size around 2 and family size around 3 people.
Education
The Seminole County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of one elementary school and one middle-high school. The district has 120 full-time teachers and over 1,754 students.
- Seminole County Elementary School
- Seminole County Middle/High School
Public Library
Donalsonville is home to the Seminole County Public Library. The library serves the citizens of Donalsonville and Seminole County with a collection of print and audiovisual materials. The library is located at 103 W. 4th Street in Donalsonville.
Notable people
- Alfred Corn, poet and essayist, born Bainbridge and lived in Donalsonville and Valdosta
- Bacarri Rambo - Former Miami Dolphins safety
- Phillip Daniels - Former NFL player, current Assistant Defensive Line Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles
Images for kids
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Friendship United Methodist Church
See also
In Spanish: Donalsonville (Georgia) para niños
