Plainfield, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Plainfield, Georgia
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 Plainfield, Georgia
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Dodge |
| Elevation | 364 ft (111 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 478 |
| GNIS feature ID | 332702 |
Plainfield is a small, quiet community in Dodge County, Georgia, in the United States. It is an "unincorporated community." This means it does not have its own city government. Instead, it is part of the larger county. You can find Plainfield near Georgia State Route 117, about 7.4 miles (11.9 km) northeast of Eastman.
Contents
The Story of Plainfield
Plainfield began as a farming area in the northeast part of Dodge County. It grew around a railroad station that opened in 1909.
The "Wiggle and Twist" Train
The local train was called the Wrightsville and Tennille Railroad. People often called it the "Wiggle and Twist." This train made a daily trip from Dublin. It traveled through towns like Rentz, Cadwell, and Plainfield. Its final stop was Eastman. The railroad helped Plainfield connect with other places.
Growing as a Community
Plainfield started to grow with the railroad.
- A post office opened in 1909. It served the community for many years, closing on October 5, 2002.
- A jail was built in 1910, but it was destroyed by fire soon after.
- The Bank of Plainfield opened in 1911. It was a very important place in town until it closed in 1921. A small room at the back of the bank was even used as a jail.
Becoming an Official Town
Plainfield became an official town on August 7, 1912. This happened when the General Assembly of Georgia approved it. The town's boundaries were set. They extended 1000 yards (about 914 meters) in every direction from the bank.
In 1912, the town council decided to build a guardhouse. This was a small building used to hold people who broke rules. A cotton gin and warehouse were also built in 1909. They helped process cotton from 1913 to 1939.
Plainfield Baptist Church
Plainfield Baptist Church was started on June 22, 1913. It began at a special meeting held at the Plainfield Warehouse Company. The church officially joined the Dodge County Baptist Association in October 1913. The land for the church was given by Dr. E. L. Smith. He was the president of the bank.
Plainfield's Peak and Decline
At its busiest time, Plainfield had many important services. It had a church, a school, a drug store, and a bank. There were also doctors and several other stores. In 1920, Plainfield had about 1,500 people living there. But by 1940, the population had dropped to 673.
The "Wiggle and Twist" train station closed in October 1941. A fire station was started in 1986 and is still active today. Plainfield Baptist Church also continues to serve the community. The last store in town, Lee Supply Company, closed in 2002. This was the same year the post office closed.
