Tifton, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tifton, Georgia
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Tifton City Hall
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| Nickname(s):
Friendly City
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Location in Tift County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Tift |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.04 sq mi (33.76 km2) |
| • Land | 12.84 sq mi (33.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0.19 sq mi (0.50 km2) |
| Elevation | 354 ft (108 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,045 |
| • Density | 1,327.18/sq mi (512.43/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
31793-31794
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| Area code(s) | 229 |
| FIPS code | 13-76476 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0324159 |
| Website | http://www.tifton.net |
Tifton is a city in Tift County, Georgia, United States. The population was 17,045 at the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Tift County.
The area's public schools are administered by the Tift County School District. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College has its main campus in Tifton. Southern Regional Technical College and the University of Georgia also have Tifton campuses.
Sites in the area include the Coastal Plain Research Arboretum, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, and the Georgia Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village. The Tifton Commercial Historic District and the Tifton Residential Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Geography
Tifton is located in south central Georgia along Interstate 75, which runs north to south through the city, leading north 167 mi (269 km) to Atlanta and south 45 mi (72 km) to Valdosta. Other highways that pass through the city include U.S. Route 41, U.S. Route 82, U.S. Route 319, and Georgia State Route 125.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Major highways
Interstate 75
U.S. Highway 41
U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 319
State Route 125
Airports
- Henry Tift Myers Airport is a public airport located two miles (3 km) southeast of Tifton, serving the general aviation community, with no scheduled commercial airline service.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 1,384 | — | |
| 1910 | 2,381 | 72.0% | |
| 1920 | 3,005 | 26.2% | |
| 1930 | 3,390 | 12.8% | |
| 1940 | 5,228 | 54.2% | |
| 1950 | 6,831 | 30.7% | |
| 1960 | 9,903 | 45.0% | |
| 1970 | 12,179 | 23.0% | |
| 1980 | 13,749 | 12.9% | |
| 1990 | 14,215 | 3.4% | |
| 2000 | 15,060 | 5.9% | |
| 2010 | 16,350 | 8.6% | |
| 2020 | 17,045 | 4.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 7,367 | 43.22% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 6,349 | 37.25% |
| Native American | 29 | 0.17% |
| Asian | 434 | 2.55% |
| Other/Mixed | 575 | 3.37% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,291 | 13.44% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,045 people, 5,906 households, and 3,779 families residing in the city.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 16,350 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 49.4% White, 36.0% Black, 0.1% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 1.1% from two or more races. 11.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
History
Tifton was founded in 1872 at an important railroad junction in Berrien County. The community was named for local sawmill owner Henry H. Tift. Tifton was incorporated as a city in 1890. In 1905, it was designated county seat of the newly formed Tift County.
Progress met the south when President Eisenhower called for a modern road system that would allow travelers to get from place to place safely and in record time: the interstate highways. The interstate was a major contributor to the demise of many downtowns. New areas of development came alongside these roadways as they were built.
Since World War II, many women had joined the workforce and did not have the time or luxury of staying home with children while father was at work. Quietly, the community's focus on town activities shifted from the town center to the new suburbs. Hotels were being built along the interstate to accommodate the travelers. Service stations and shopping areas were going where the development was occurring, on the interstate. The location along a major junction of highways made Tifton the ideal location for medical services serving a large (HSA 4140) geographic area.
Points of interest
- Coastal Plain Research Arboretum
- Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
- Georgia Agrirama
Until recently, Tifton was the home of the world's second largest magnolia tree, which was located in Magnolia Tree Park. In 2004, the tree was burned in a fire. The cause of the fire has never been given by local authorities. Currently, the tree and observation area are blocked from visitors by a gate. Although it no longer grows, the tree still stands. It is not known where the new second largest magnolia tree resides.
Georgia Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village
The Georgia Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village, formerly known as Agrirama, is located in Tifton, Georgia. It opened on July 4, 1976. The grounds consist of five areas: a traditional farm community of the 1870s, an 1890s progressive farmstead, an industrial sites complex, rural town, and national peanut complex; and the Museum of Agriculture Center. Over 35 structures have been relocated to the 95-acre (380,000 m2) site and faithfully restored or preserved. Costumed interpreters explain and demonstrate the lifestyle and activities of this time in Georgia’s history.
Historic districts
The Tifton Residential Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 30, 2008. It is bounded generally by 14th Street, Goff Street, 2nd Street and Forrest Avenue at coordinates 31°27′35″N 83°30′25″W / 31.45972°N 83.50694°W. The Tifton Commercial Historic District and the Tift County Courthouse are also on the National Register.
Sister city
Linyi, China (2010)
Sports
In 2000, the boys 10u baseball team won the state championship with an undefeated season (24-0).
In 2010, the indoor football team Georgia Firebirds relocated from Waycross, Georgia to Tifton.
Education
Tift County School District
The Tift County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and an alternative school. The district has 467 full-time teachers and over 7,641 students.
Private schools
- Tiftarea Academy, located in Chula, Georgia (K-12)
- Grace Baptist Christian School
Higher education
- Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College - Main Campus
- Southern Regional Technical College - Tifton Campus
- University of Georgia - Tifton Agricultural Campus
Notable people
- Nanci Bowen - LPGA golfer
- Austin Brown - member of a cappella group Here Comes Treble
- Justin Brownlee - professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the PBA
- Caitlin Carmichael - child actress
- Larry Dean - football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League
- Dennis Dove - former MLB pitcher
- Harold Bascom Durham Jr., US Army 2d Lieutenant awarded the Medal of Honor
- Todd Fordham - former NFL offensive lineman
- Bob Hoffman - sports promoter
- Kip Moore, country music singer
- Matt Moore - former chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party
- Wyc Orr - politician and lawyer
- Ralph Puckett - US Army Colonel, Distinguished Graduate of the United States Military Academy, awarded Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross (with oak leaf cluster), Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster), Legion of Merit (with 2 oak leaf clusters), etc.
- Austin Scott - U. S. Congressman representing Georgia's 8th congressional district
- Members of alternative rock band September Hase
- Clay Shiver -former NFL offensive lineman
- James "Chick" Stripling - Fiddler, comedian, and buck dancer
- Tyson Summers - American college football coach
- Cyndi Thomson - country music singer
- Dina Titus - U.S. Congresswoman representing Nevada's 3rd congressional district
- Neil Norman - Associate Professor College of William & Mary
Images for kids
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Child workers at Tifton Cotton Mills, 1909. Photographed by Lewis Hine.
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Tifton Post Office
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See also
In Spanish: Tifton (Georgia) para niños
