Powder Springs, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Powder Springs, Georgia
City
Powder Springs City Hall
Motto(s):  "Small enough to know you...Large enough to serve you"
Location in Cobb County and the state of Georgia
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Cobb
Area
• Total	7.44 sq mi (19.26 km2)
• Land	7.43 sq mi (19.23 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	945 ft (288 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,887
• Density	2,274.04/sq mi (878.03/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	30127
Area code(s)	770/678/470
FIPS code	13-62524
GNIS feature ID	0356480

Powder Springs is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, USA. In 2020, about 16,887 people lived there. The city is home to Walter H. Cantrell Stadium, a large sports venue. It can hold 12,000 fans for football and soccer games.

History of Powder Springs

Powder Springs started as a town called Springville in 1838. It was built on land that once belonged to two Cherokee leaders.

Gold Rush and Early Settlers

About 10 years before Springville was founded, people found gold in Georgia. Many European-American settlers came to the area hoping to find gold. They didn't find much gold in the local mines. Around this time, the Cherokee people were forced to leave their homes. They were moved to a new territory west of the Mississippi River. This sad journey is known as the Trail of Tears.

How Powder Springs Got Its Name

Springville was renamed Powder Springs in 1859. The city has seven special springs. The water in these springs contains many different minerals. These minerals turn the sand around the springs black, like gunpowder. This is why the area was first called Gunpowder Springs.

Powder Springs During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, a small battle happened near Powder Springs. This was on June 20, 1864, at Lattermore's Mills. It was part of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain and General Sherman's plan to capture Atlanta. Many enslaved people in the area escaped to join Sherman's army and become free.

First African-American Mayor

In 2015, the city made history by electing its first black mayor, Al Thurman. He was the first African-American mayor elected in Cobb County. Several other small towns in Georgia also elected African-American mayors that year.

Geography of Powder Springs

Powder Springs is located in the southwestern part of Cobb County. It is at 33°51′57″N 84°40′49″W / 33.86583°N 84.68028°W / 33.86583; -84.68028.

Location and Size

U.S. Route 278 (C. H. James Parkway) runs through the city. This road leads southeast to Austell (about 5 miles away). It also goes northwest to Dallas (about 11 miles away). Downtown Atlanta is about 22 miles to the east.

The city covers a total area of about 7.44 square miles (19.26 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area is water.

Population of Powder Springs

As of the 2020 United States census, Powder Springs had 16,887 people living there. There were 5,125 households and 3,899 families.

Diversity in Powder Springs

The city is home to people from many different backgrounds.

Parks and Recreation

Powder Springs has several places for outdoor fun and activities.

• Powder Springs Park
• Powder Springs Trail System
• Silver Comet Trail

Education in Powder Springs

Powder Springs City Hall

Public schools in Powder Springs are part of the Cobb County School District.

High Schools

• McEachern High School is built on a former Native American burial ground. It was also once the site of the Seventh District Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) School.
• The administrative building at McEachern High School is named after the late Georgia Senator Richard B. Russell. He attended the Seventh District A&M School.
• Hillgrove High School is another high school in Powder Springs.

Middle and Elementary Schools

Powder Springs also has several middle and elementary schools:

• Tapp Middle School
• Dobbins Middle School
• Lovinggood Middle School
• Powder Springs Elementary School
• Varner Elementary
• Compton Elementary
• Kemp Elementary
• Still Elementary
• Vaughan Elementary

Media

The Bright Side is a local newspaper that serves Powder Springs. It also covers news for several other small cities nearby.

Notable People from Powder Springs

Many talented people have come from Powder Springs. Here are a few:

• Rory Anderson (born 1992), a former NFL football player.
• Gregg Bishop, a film director, screenwriter, and producer.
• Pat Cannon (1904–1966), a former United States Representative from Florida.
• Kenyan Drake (born 1994), a running back in the National Football League. He won several championships in college football.
• Chuma Edoga (born 1997), an offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons.
• Evan Engram (born 1994), a tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Mark Lee (born 1973), guitarist for the Christian rock band Third Day.
• Jason Lively (born 1967), an actor.
• Robyn Lively (born 1972), an actress.
• Shaquell Moore (born 1996), a professional soccer player for Nashville SC. He also plays for the U.S. Men's National Team.
• Myles Rowe (born 2000), a professional racing driver. He won the 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship.
• Taylor Trammell (born 1997), an outfielder for the Seattle Mariners.

Images for kids

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  Powder Springs City Hall

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  Location in Cobb County and the state of Georgia

• 

  Powder Springs City Hall

See also

In Spanish: Powder Springs para niños