Poulan, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Poulan
|
|
|---|---|
Poulan City Hall and Police Station
|
|
Location in Worth County and the state of Georgia
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Worth |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.67 sq mi (4.33 km2) |
| • Land | 1.67 sq mi (4.33 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 381 ft (116 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 760 |
| • Density | 454.27/sq mi (175.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
31781
|
| Area code(s) | 229 |
| FIPS code | 13-62496 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0321100 |
Poulan is a small city located in Worth County, Georgia, in the United States. In 2020, about 760 people lived there. Poulan is part of the larger Albany, Georgia metropolitan area.
The city is known for its police department's traffic enforcement. This has been a topic of discussion in the area.
Contents
Poulan's History
Poulan became an official town in 1889, thanks to the Georgia General Assembly. The city was named after Judge W. A. Poulan.
It was first settled in 1877, along the Brunswick and Albany railroad line. You can still see old buildings like a former bank and pharmacy on Broad Street.
Poulan is also special because it has the only two historical properties in Worth County that are officially registered. These are the Poulan Library and a place called Possum Poke.
Traffic Enforcement in Poulan
The Poulan Police Department has often been mentioned in news reports for its methods of enforcing traffic laws, especially regarding speeding. This has been a topic of interest since 2009.
People living in Poulan have sometimes shared their worries about these methods. However, police leaders have said that officers are not given specific goals for how many speeding tickets they should give out.
In 2014, a local resident put up a sign to warn drivers about the traffic enforcement on U.S. Route 82. The sign was later taken down in 2015.
News reports in 2023 and 2024 continued to discuss the police department's traffic enforcement. City officials have stated that the money collected from traffic fines helps the city's budget because Poulan has a small tax base. Georgia law limits how much of a police department's budget can come from speeding fines.
COVID-19 Measures
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Worth County Sheriff gave special authority to Poulan Police officers. This allowed them to help enforce county rules related to COVID-19 within the city of Poulan.
Poulan's Geography
Poulan is located at 31°30′49″N 83°47′28″W / 31.51361°N 83.79111°W. The city covers an area of about 1.7 square miles (4.3 square kilometers), and all of it is land.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 474 | — | |
| 1910 | 652 | 37.6% | |
| 1920 | 586 | −10.1% | |
| 1930 | 611 | 4.3% | |
| 1940 | 670 | 9.7% | |
| 1950 | 750 | 11.9% | |
| 1960 | 736 | −1.9% | |
| 1970 | 766 | 4.1% | |
| 1980 | 818 | 6.8% | |
| 1990 | 962 | 17.6% | |
| 2000 | 946 | −1.7% | |
| 2010 | 851 | −10.0% | |
| 2020 | 760 | −10.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
|||
In 2000, there were 946 people living in Poulan. By 2020, the population had decreased to 760 people.
Famous People from Poulan
- Howell Heflin (1921–2005) – A well-known politician.
- Chase Osborn (1860–1949) – Also a politician.
See also
In Spanish: Poulan para niños
