Smithville, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Smithville, Georgia
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Smithville Governmental Building and Library
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Location in Lee County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Lee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.54 sq mi (6.59 km2) |
| • Land | 2.54 sq mi (6.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 593 |
| • Density | 233.10/sq mi (89.98/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
31787
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| Area code(s) | 229 |
| FIPS code | 13-71464 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0356540 |
Smithville is a small city located in Lee County, Georgia, in the United States. In 2020, about 593 people lived there. Smithville is also part of the larger Albany metropolitan area.
Contents
A Look Back: Smithville's History
Smithville got its name from the local Smith family. A post office opened in Smithville in 1871. The city was officially recognized as a town in 1863 by the Georgia General Assembly. This is like a state government making it an official place.
Exploring Smithville's Geography
Smithville is in the northwestern part of Lee County. It is located at coordinates 31°54′7″N 84°15′19″W / 31.90194°N 84.25528°W. The northern edge of the city touches the border of Sumter County.
A major road, U.S. Route 19, runs through the western side of Smithville. This road goes south about 12 miles to Leesburg. Leesburg is the main town for Lee County. U.S. Route 19 also goes north about 13 miles to Americus.
Another road, Georgia State Route 118, goes right through the middle of Smithville. It leads east about 12 miles to Leslie. It also goes southwest about 14 miles to Dawson.
The city covers a total area of about 6.5 square kilometers (2.5 square miles). All of this area is land. Muckaloochee Creek forms the northeastern border of Smithville. This creek flows south into Muckalee Creek. Both creeks are part of the Flint River system.
Who Lives in Smithville? Demographics
The population of Smithville has changed over the years. Here's how many people have lived there during different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 320 | — | |
| 1900 | 597 | — | |
| 1910 | 574 | −3.9% | |
| 1920 | 761 | 32.6% | |
| 1930 | 777 | 2.1% | |
| 1940 | 619 | −20.3% | |
| 1950 | 676 | 9.2% | |
| 1960 | 732 | 8.3% | |
| 1970 | 713 | −2.6% | |
| 1980 | 867 | 21.6% | |
| 1990 | 804 | −7.3% | |
| 2000 | 774 | −3.7% | |
| 2010 | 575 | −25.7% | |
| 2020 | 593 | 3.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
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Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Smithville in 2020:
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 163 | 27.49% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 403 | 67.96% |
| Native American | 2 | 0.34% |
| Asian | 5 | 0.84% |
| Other/Mixed | 8 | 1.35% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12 | 2.02% |
In 2020, there were 593 people living in Smithville. These people lived in 239 households, which are like homes or apartments. Out of these, 143 were families.
Education in Smithville
Public schools in Smithville are managed by the Lee County School District. Students living in Smithville usually go to Lee County High School.
Famous People from Smithville
Many interesting people have come from Smithville:
- Bessie Jones (1902-1984) was a famous gospel and folk singer.
- Bill McAfee (1907-1958) was a baseball player and also served as the mayor of Smithville.
- William J. Sears (1874-1944) was a congressman from Florida.
- Jeffery Waters (1989-2019) was the second African American to become a Command Master Chief. This is a very important leadership role in the Naval Air Station Jacksonville (from 2016 to 2019).
- Ja'Lia Taylor (1989–Present) was the first woman to run for Mayor of Smithville. She was also the first African American to get a PhD in Special Education from Smithville, Georgia. She founded the KimRose Brown Academy and Rare Genetics by Lia Jai'.
- Hudson Woodbridge (1904-1981), also known as Tampa Red, was a musician. He is honored in the Blues Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Dismuke Public Safety Building, houses the Smithville Police Department
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Smithville Post Office
See also
In Spanish: Smithville (Georgia) para niños
