Swainsboro, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Swainsboro, Georgia
City
United States Courthouse in Swainsboro
Flag Seal Logo
Nickname(s):  "Crossroads of the Great South"
Location in Emanuel County and the state of Georgia
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Emanuel
Area
• Total	12.94 sq mi (33.52 km2)
• Land	12.58 sq mi (32.58 km2)
• Water	0.36 sq mi (0.94 km2)
Elevation	325 ft (99 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,425
• Density	590.27/sq mi (227.91/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	30401
Area code(s)	478
FIPS code	13-74964
GNIS feature ID	0356574

Swainsboro is a city in Emanuel County, Georgia, United States. It is the main city and the county seat of Emanuel County. This means it's where the county's government offices are located. In 2020, about 7,425 people lived in Swainsboro.

History of Swainsboro

In 1822, the state of Georgia decided to create a new main town for Emanuel County. They named this town "Swainsborough." It was named after Stephen Swain, a state senator. He was the person who suggested creating Emanuel County in 1812.

The town's name was changed to "Paris" in 1854 when it officially became a city. However, just three years later, in 1857, the name was changed back to Swainsboro.

How Swainsboro Grew with Transportation

When Swainsboro was first established, like many other towns in rural Georgia, it relied on railroads for moving goods and people. Trains were a very important way to travel and trade.

In the 1930s, many of the city's streets and sidewalks were paved. This made it easier for cars and trucks to get around. Swainsboro became a very important place because two major national highways crossed there: U.S. 1 and U.S. 80.

• U.S. 1 was a main road that stretched all the way from Maine in the north to Key West in the south.
• U.S. 80 used to go from Tybee Island, Georgia on the East Coast to San Diego on the West Coast.

Because these two important highways met in Swainsboro, the city earned its nickname: "Crossroads of the Great South."

Where is Swainsboro Located?

Swainsboro is located almost in the middle of Emanuel County. Its exact location is 32 degrees, 35 minutes, 37 seconds North and 82 degrees, 19 minutes, 56 seconds West.

U.S. Route 80 goes right through the center of Swainsboro. U.S. Route 1 goes around the west side of the city.

• If you go east on US 80, you will reach Statesboro in about 36 miles (58 km).
• If you go west on US 80, you will reach Dublin in about 36 miles (58 km).
• If you go north on US 1, you will reach Augusta in about 62 miles (100 km).
• If you go south on US 1, you will reach Waycross in about 106 miles (171 km).

Another major highway, Interstate 16, is about 14 miles (23 km) south of Swainsboro. You can get there by taking US 1.

The city covers a total area of about 12.9 square miles (33.5 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 12.6 square miles (32.6 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.36 square miles (0.9 square kilometers), is water.

People Living in Swainsboro

The number of people living in Swainsboro has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown:

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,425 people living in Swainsboro. These people lived in 2,697 households, and 1,783 of these were families.

Diversity in Swainsboro (2020)

The table below shows the different groups of people living in Swainsboro in 2020:

Education in Swainsboro

Swainsboro has several schools and colleges that help students learn and grow.

Emanuel County School District

The Emanuel County School District is in charge of public schools from pre-school all the way to twelfth grade. It is managed by the Emanuel County Board of Education. The district has:

• Three elementary schools
• One middle school
• One high school
• Two academies

There are about 293 full-time teachers in the district, teaching over 4,664 students.

• Swainsboro Elementary School (SES)
• Swainsboro Primary School (SPS)
• Twin City Elementary School (TCE)
• Swainsboro Middle School (SMS)
• Emanuel County Institute (ECI)
• Swainsboro High School (SHS)
• David Emanuel Academy (DEA)

Colleges in Swainsboro

For students who want to continue their education after high school, Swainsboro is home to two colleges:

• East Georgia State College - Swainsboro Campus
• Southeastern Technical College - Swainsboro Campus

Famous People from Swainsboro

Many notable people have connections to Swainsboro, Georgia. Here are a few:

• Luck Flanders Gambrell - A generous person who supported many causes. She was married to David Gambrell, a former United States senator.
• Ray Guy - A famous American football player. He was a punter and won three Super Bowls. He is in the NFL Hall of Fame.
• Dwight Howard - A professional basketball player in the NBA. He was born in Swainsboro but grew up in Atlanta.
• Doug Johnson - A talented person who produces music, writes songs, and works as a record label executive. He was born in Swainsboro.
• Pat Mitchell - A well-known media personality and businesswoman.
• Tony Mitchell - A professional basketball player who played for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and the Milwaukee Bucks.
• George L. Smith II - A politician who served in the Georgia House of Representatives for many years (1944–1973). He was also the Speaker of the House several times.
• Ben Troupe - Born in Swainsboro, he played high school football in Augusta and was a standout player for the University of Florida football team.
• Larry Jon Wilson - A singer and songwriter who was born in Swainsboro.

See also

In Spanish: Swainsboro para niños