Millen, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Millen, Georgia
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Downtown Millen, 2014
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Location in Jenkins County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Jenkins (since 1905) |
| Settled | 1835 |
| Incorporated | 1881 |
| Named for | McPherson B. Millen |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.60 sq mi (9.33 km2) |
| • Land | 3.58 sq mi (9.27 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,966 |
| • Density | 828.72/sq mi (319.97/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
30442
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| Area code(s) | 478 |
| FIPS code | 13-51520 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0356393 |
Millen is a city, and the county seat of Jenkins County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,120 at the 2010 census, down from 3,492 at the 2000 census.
The city is intersected by U.S. Route 25 and State Route 17, and the proposed Interstate 3 will pass nearby. The town is considered a speed trap because officers with the city’s police department will lie in wait for unsuspecting speeders within the city limits. Officers will be located off the side of the road running radar as soon as you enter the town on U.S. Route 25 coming from Augusta, headed towards Statesboro and Savannah.
Contents
History
Millen was first settled in 1835 along the border of what was then Burke and Screven counties. It was originally named "79" due to its approximate distance from the coastal city of Savannah, Georgia. Planters cultivated cotton as a commodity crop with the use of enslaved laborers.
In 1854 the Central of Georgia Railway and the Georgia Railroad connected at 79. The town became known as Millen's Junction after McPherson B. Millen, the superintendent of the Central of Georgia Railway.
During the Civil War, a site for a prison camp to house Union soldiers was chosen just outside Millen's Junction. Camp Lawton—also referred to as Fort Lawton—was built in what is today Magnolia Springs State Park; the location was favorable because the springs provided potable water and because of its proximity to the Augusta and Savannah Railroad. On December 3, 1864, Sherman's March to the Sea passed through Millen. Prior to the arrival of Union forces, Confederate soldiers evacuated the Camp Lawton prisoners to Savannah. The Union soldiers destroyed Millen's Junction after finding the prison camp and to avoid use of the railway junction.
The town was rebuilt after the war. In 1881 the city of Millen was incorporated by an act of the Georgia State Legislature, becoming the county seat of the newly created Jenkins County in 1905.
The Downtown Millen Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The county is largely rural and agricultural.
Geography
Millen is located at 32°48′N 81°57′W / 32.800°N 81.950°W (32.8055, -81.9422), on the Ogeechee River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km2), all of it land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 411 | — | |
| 1910 | 2,030 | 393.9% | |
| 1920 | 2,405 | 18.5% | |
| 1930 | 2,527 | 5.1% | |
| 1940 | 2,820 | 11.6% | |
| 1950 | 3,449 | 22.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,633 | 5.3% | |
| 1970 | 3,713 | 2.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,988 | 7.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,808 | −4.5% | |
| 2000 | 3,492 | −8.3% | |
| 2010 | 3,120 | −10.7% | |
| 2020 | 2,966 | −4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 999 | 33.68% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,773 | 59.78% |
| Native American | 7 | 0.24% |
| Asian | 8 | 0.27% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.1% |
| Other/Mixed | 73 | 2.46% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 103 | 3.47% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,966 people, 1,113 households, and 563 families residing in the city.
Education
Jenkins County School District
The Jenkins County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. The district has 119 full-time teachers and over 1,754 students.
- Jenkins County Elementary School
- Jenkins County Middle School
- Jenkins County High School
Notable people
- Jim Busby, baseball player who retired to Millen after his coaching career was over.
- Nathan Deal, 82nd governor of Georgia, born in Millen
- Melvin E. Thompson, 71st governor of Georgia, born in Millen
See also
In Spanish: Millen (Georgia) para niños
