Lithia Springs, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lithia Springs, Georgia
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Location in Douglas County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Douglas |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.49 sq mi (34.95 km2) |
| • Land | 13.44 sq mi (34.81 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,043 ft (318 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,644 |
| • Density | 1,238.21/sq mi (478.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
30122
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| Area code(s) | 770/678/470 |
| FIPS code | 13-46832 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0356358 |
Lithia Springs (pronounced li-THEE-uh) is a special kind of place in Douglas County, Georgia, United States. It's called an unincorporated community and a census-designated place. This means it's a recognized area, but it doesn't have its own city government.
Long ago, Lithia Springs was actually a city twice! It was first a city in 1882 but stopped being one in 1933. Then it became a city again in 1994. But in 2000, people voted to stop it from being a city once more. Now, the county helps manage the area.
The name "Lithia Springs" comes from its famous natural lithia mineral water springs. These springs have a special kind of water that people believed had healing powers. In 2020, about 16,644 people lived in Lithia Springs. The area uses the ZIP code 30122.
Contents
History of Lithia Springs
The story of Lithia Springs began with its natural spring. This spring had special "lithia water" that many people believed could help them feel better. People traveled from far away just to drink this water. Even the nearby city of Austell grew because of how popular the spring was.
The Sweet Water Hotel and Famous Visitors
In 1887, a judge named Bowden and some friends bought the springs. They started bottling and selling the "Bowden lithia spring water." That same year, a huge luxury hotel called the Sweet Water Hotel opened in Lithia Springs. It had 300 rooms!
The hotel and its special water were very famous. Important people like writer Mark Twain, members of the rich Vanderbilt family, and Presidents Cleveland, Taft, McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt all visited. They enjoyed the hotel's many features, including the "Lithia Vapor Baths."
The Piedmont Chautauqua Institute
In 1888, the Piedmont Chautauqua Institute opened in Lithia Springs. This was a place for learning and cultural events. Henry W. Grady, a famous newspaper editor, started it. He gave the institute the motto "Enlightenment of the People." In 1888 alone, over 30,000 visitors came to Lithia Springs!
Today, the only things left from that time are the natural springs. The historic lithia water is still bottled and sold. You can find it under the brand name Lithia in some restaurants and health food stores.
Geography of Lithia Springs
Lithia Springs is located in the top-right part of Douglas County. It shares borders with Cobb County to the north and east. To the south, it's bordered by roads like East County Line Road.
Sweetwater Creek flows through the eastern part of the area. This creek eventually flows into the Chattahoochee River. Sweetwater Creek State Park is also located along the southern edge of Lithia Springs.
Some parts of the city of Douglasville are actually inside the Lithia Springs area. These parts are near Interstate 20 and certain roads. The total area of Lithia Springs is about 13.49 square miles (34.95 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Population and People
Lithia Springs has grown a lot over the years. In 1980, about 9,145 people lived here. By 2020, the population had grown to 16,644 people.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 9,145 | — | |
| 1990 | 11,403 | 24.7% | |
| 2000 | 2,072 | −81.8% | |
| 2010 | 15,491 | 647.6% | |
| 2020 | 16,644 | 7.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 |
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Diversity in Lithia Springs
The community of Lithia Springs is home to people from many different backgrounds. The table below shows how the population has changed over time. It looks at different racial and ethnic groups living in the area.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 1,800 | 6,063 | 4,668 | 86.87% | 39.14% | 28.05% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 199 | 6,122 | 7,978 | 9.60% | 39.52% | 47.93% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 9 | 41 | 29 | 0.43% | 0.26% | 0.17% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 6 | 217 | 216 | 0.29% | 1.40% | 1.30% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 37 | 24 | 0.05% | 0.24% | 0.14% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 30 | 95 | 0.57% | ||
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 25 | 257 | 570 | 1.21% | 1.66% | 3.42% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 32 | 2,724 | 3,064 | 1.54% | 17.58% | 18.41% |
| Total | 2,072 | 15,491 | 16,644 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2020, there were 16,644 people living in Lithia Springs. These people lived in 6,435 households, with 4,159 of them being families.
Parks and Recreation
Lithia Springs has a great place for outdoor fun: Sweetwater Creek State Park.
Sweetwater Creek State Park
This park is the main outdoor area in Lithia Springs. It features the George Sparks Reservoir, which is managed by the City of East Point. The park offers many things to do:
- Hiking trails for exploring nature.
- Picnic areas for outdoor meals.
- Playgrounds for kids to enjoy.
- The ruins of the Manchester Mill. This old mill was destroyed during Sherman's Atlanta Campaign in 1864.
Sweetwater Creek State Park has also been a filming location for several movies. These include Avengers: Infinity War, The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, and No Good Deed.
In 2005, a big storm called Hurricane Dennis damaged a bridge in the park. The bridge was fixed, and the road reopened in 2006. You can find the park off Mount Vernon Road in Lithia Springs.
Woodrow Wilson Park/Lithia Springs Girls Ball Field
This used to be a small park near homes and apartments. It was known for being next to Sweetwater Creek. However, when there were heavy rains, the park would often flood. It was badly flooded in 2009. Because of this, the park has been taken down and is not planned to be rebuilt.
Schools in Lithia Springs
Lithia Springs is home to several schools. They are all part of the Douglas County School System.
- Annette Winn Elementary, located off US. Hwy 78.
- Lithia Springs Elementary, located off Junior High Dr.
- Sweetwater Elementary, located off E. County Line Rd.
- Turner Middle School, located next to Lithia Elementary.
- Chestnut Log Middle School, located off Hwy. 92.
- Lithia Springs Comprehensive High School, located across the street from Sweetwater Elementary.
Library
Lithia Springs has one public library. It is called the Betty C. Hagler Public Library, but many people know it as the Lithia Springs Public Library.
Economy
Lithia Springs is a place where several important computer data centers are located. These centers store and manage a lot of information for different companies.
Notable People from Lithia Springs
Many interesting people have connections to Lithia Springs:
- Ruth Blair - She was the first woman state historian of Georgia and grew up here.
- Sawyer Gipson-Long - A professional baseball player.
- Walton Goggins - An actor who moved to Lithia Springs when he was young.
- Lil Nas X - A famous rapper who was born in Lithia Springs.
- Elana Meyers - An Olympian who went to Lithia Springs High School.
- Calvin Pace - An NFL player who attended Lithia Springs High School from 1994 to 1998.
See also
In Spanish: Lithia Springs para niños
