Grovetown, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grovetown, Georgia
City
Motto(s):  A community that cares
Location in Columbia County and the state of Georgia
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Columbia
Area
• Total	5.29 sq mi (13.69 km2)
• Land	5.27 sq mi (13.65 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	482 ft (147 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	15,577
• Density	2,954.67/sq mi (1,140.81/km2)
	est.
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	30813
Area code(s)	706
FIPS code	1335716
GNIS feature ID	356123

Grovetown is a city in Columbia County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Augusta metropolitan area, a larger group of cities and towns. It's also part of the Central Savannah River Area. In 2019, about 15,152 people lived here. The current mayor of Grovetown is Gary Jones.

Grovetown's Story: A Look at Its History

Early Days and Naming the Town

Before Grovetown got its name, the area was known as "Belair." This name was used from when the Georgia Railroad was built through the city until at least the 1860s. Grovetown officially became a city on January 1, 1881, when the Georgia Legislature gave it a charter.

The city's name likely came from the old Grove Baptist Church. This church was founded way back in 1808. A famous poet named Paul Hamilton Hayne, who wrote after the Civil War, moved nearby in the 1860s. He asked the United States Postal Service to open a post office in Grovetown. The first mail service started on September 28, 1877. Charles Clifford was the first postmaster, and he also worked at the train depot and owned the local store.

The Railroad Depot

The first train station in Grovetown was a small building put up around 1878–1879. A fancier, larger station was built in 1891. It cost over $5,000, which was a lot of money back then! This station served the people of Grovetown until 1970. That's when passenger trains stopped running on the Augusta–Atlanta line. The old station was taken down in 1973.

Summer Retreat and Community Life

In the past, many rich people from Augusta had summer homes in Grovetown. They came to escape the summer heat and sickness in the city. They would ride a special train called the "Picayune" to get there.

The Rosland Hotel, later known as the "Eagle," was built in the 1880s. It had a huge round room called a rotunda. This room was often used for church meetings, dinners, parties, and dances. Later, it became a boarding house (a place where people could rent rooms). It burned down in the 1970s. Today, a Church of Christ stands on that spot.

Several country stores were set up near the railroad crossing on Old Wrightsboro Road. One was S. F. Poole's store. It had a "philosophers' bench" outside. This was a place where older gentlemen would gather to talk about what was happening in town.

Notable Residents

Many interesting people lived in Grovetown during its early days. These included:

• Paul Hamilton Hayne, the poet.
• Stewart Phinizy and James Tobin, who were cotton brokers.
• Charles Phinizy, a banker and railroad president.
• Dr. H. H. Steiner, a doctor.
• John Dodge, a pharmacist and someone who loved harness racing. He even brought his horses from Ohio and built a big home and racetrack here!

Growth and Modern Grovetown

Grovetown started to grow very quickly when Camp Gordon (now Fort Eisenhower) was built in 1942. It changed from a small farming town into a busier place. Many military families looked for homes in Grovetown because it was so close to the fort. Over time, more and more retired military members also chose to live here. This helped the town's population grow and become stable.

Today, Grovetown has grown even more. Its population is around 15,000 people, much larger than the 3,596 people who lived here in 1990. The city now has many different stores, restaurants, schools, and churches. It also offers fun recreational places, a public safety department, two fire stations, water and sewer services, a senior center, and a museum.

Grovetown's Location and Environment

Where Grovetown Is Located

Grovetown is in the southern part of Columbia County. It is about 15 miles (24 km) east of downtown Augusta. The northern edge of Fort Eisenhower is just 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the city.

The total area of Grovetown is about 5.29 square miles (13.69 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit (0.01 square miles or 0.03 square kilometers) being water.

Weather in Grovetown

Grovetown has seen some interesting weather events. On October 31, 2019, an EF2 tornado hit the town. This is a strong type of tornado. Hurricane Helene also affected the town on September 27, 2024.

The hottest temperature ever recorded was 108 °F (42 °C). This happened twice: on August 10, 2007, and August 21, 1983. The coldest temperature recorded was −1 °F (−18 °C) on January 21, 1985.

Population Changes in Grovetown

As of the 2020 United States census, Grovetown had 15,577 people living there. There were 4,028 households and 2,986 families in the city.

Fun and Learning in Grovetown

Parks and Recreation Spots

Grovetown has several city parks where you can have fun.

• Liberty Park Community Center is a great place for activities.
• Goodale Park is named after Joseph Daniel "Danny" Goodale Jr., a Vietnam veteran.
• There's also Kiddie Park, perfect for younger kids.
• Historical Park helps you learn about the past.
• Friendship Park, also called Freedom Park, is located at the Veterans wall on Robinson Avenue.
• Wildflower Park is a beautiful spot at the corner of Robinson Avenue and Johns Street.

Schools in the Area

Grovetown has several schools within its city limits:

• Grovetown Middle School
• Grovetown Elementary School
• Grovetown High School
• Cedar Ridge Elementary School

Other schools are very close to the city:

• Columbia Middle School
• Brookwood Elementary School
• Euchee Creek Elementary School
• Baker Place Elementary School

Getting Around Grovetown

Roads and Highways

The main road serving Grovetown is Georgia State Route 223 (SR 223). It's known as Robinson Avenue for part of its way. Another important road is SR 388. Harlem–Grovetown Road connects the city to Harlem.

Railroad Tracks

There are also CSX Transportation railroad tracks that run through Grovetown. These tracks are mostly used by freight trains carrying goods.

See also

In Spanish: Grovetown para niños