Warner Robins, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Warner Robins, Georgia
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Warner Robins City Hall
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| Nicknames:
The International City
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| Motto(s):
Every Day In Middle Georgia Is Armed Forces Appreciation Day (EDIMGIAFAD)
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Location in Houston County and the state of Georgia
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Georgia | ||
| Counties | Houston, Peach | ||
| Founded | September 1, 1942 | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 38.10 sq mi (98.68 km2) | ||
| • Land | 37.78 sq mi (97.85 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.32 sq mi (0.83 km2) 0.8% | ||
| Elevation | 365 ft (93 m) | ||
| Population
(2024)
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| • City | 85,853 | ||
| • Density | 2,253.36/sq mi (870.01/km2) | ||
| • Metro | 179,605 | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP Code |
31088, 31093, 31095, 31098, 31099
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| Area code(s) | 478 | ||
| FIPS code | 13-80508 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0333366 | ||
| Website | wrga.gov | ||
Warner Robins (often called WRB) is a city in Houston and Peach counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the 11th-largest city in Georgia. About 85,830 people live there.
The city is the main part of the Warner Robins metropolitan area. This area includes Houston, Peach, and Pulaski counties. In 2020, about 201,469 people lived in this larger area. Robins Air Force Base is a big U.S. Air Force center. It is located just east of the city. The base started in 1942 as the Warner Robins Air Depot. The growth of the base and nearby Macon helped the city grow a lot after World War II.
Contents
History of Warner Robins
Warner Robins was started in 1942. It was first a small farming town called Wellston. The town was renamed after General Augustine Warner Robins (1882–1940). He was part of the United States Army Air Corps. This group later became the United States Air Force. The town officially became a town in 1943 and a city in 1956.
In 1940, Wellston was a quiet place. Most people were farmers. The most important thing there was a train stop. There was also a small sawmill and a grocery store. Many peach orchards grew in the areas around the town.
Things changed a lot during World War II. The U.S. War Department planned to build a new air depot in the Southeast. A local leader, Charles Bostic "Boss" Watson, worked with officials in Macon. They wanted the air depot to be built in Houston County. In June 1941, the U.S. government agreed to their offer. They bought 3,108 acres (12.58 km2) of land.
The air force base opened in 1942. It was first called Wellston Army Air Depot. The first commander, Colonel Charles E. Thomas, wanted to name it after his mentor, Augustine Warner Robins. He was known by his middle name, Warner. But rules said the base had to be named after the closest town. So, Colonel Thomas convinced Boss Watson and other leaders to change the town's name. On September 1, 1942, Wellston became Warner Robins. Soon after, on October 14, 1942, the base was renamed Warner Robins Army Air Depot. Warner Robins is the only town in the U.S. with this unique name.
Robins Air Force Base is not actually inside the city limits. It is across U.S. Highway 129 (Georgia State Highway 247). This highway acts as a border between the base and the city.
In 2018, a company called First Solar announced a big project. They planned a 200-megawatt solar panel farm. It would cover 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) in Twiggs County, east of Warner Robins. This would be the largest solar farm in the southeastern U.S.
Tornadoes in Warner Robins
Tornadoes have often hit Warner Robins. In the 1950s, at least four very strong tornadoes struck the area. The first one happened on April 30, 1953. An F4 tornado, with winds over 200 mph (320 km/h), hit the city and parts of Robins Air Force Base. It killed 18 people and hurt 300 more.
On the same day, a second tornado, rated F2, damaged the northwest side of town. Ten months later, on March 13, 1954, an F1 tornado hit the town. It killed one person and injured five. Three years later, on April 5, 1957, an F2 tornado hit the northwest side of the city. It caused a lot of damage. At least nine tornadoes have hit the town and nearby areas over time.
Geography and Climate
Warner Robins is located at 32°36′31″N 83°38′17″W / 32.60861°N 83.63806°W. It is about 20 miles (32 km) south of Macon. It is also about 100 miles (160 km) south of Atlanta. The city covers a total area of 35.4 square miles (91.7 km2). Most of this is land, with a small part being water.
Climate in Warner Robins
Warner Robins has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild. Average high temperatures are around 92.0°F (33.3°C) in summer. In winter, they are about 58.0°F (14.4°C). Snowfall does not happen very often. The chance of tornadoes in Warner Robins is a bit higher than the average for Georgia. It is 86% higher than the U.S. average.
| Climate data for Warner Robins, Georgia | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) |
85 (29) |
90 (32) |
96 (36) |
99 (37) |
106 (41) |
108 (42) |
105 (41) |
102 (39) |
100 (38) |
88 (31) |
82 (28) |
108 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 58 (14) |
62 (17) |
70 (21) |
77 (25) |
85 (29) |
90 (32) |
92 (33) |
91 (33) |
86 (30) |
77 (25) |
69 (21) |
60 (16) |
76 (25) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 35 (2) |
38 (3) |
44 (7) |
50 (10) |
59 (15) |
68 (20) |
71 (22) |
70 (21) |
64 (18) |
53 (12) |
43 (6) |
36 (2) |
53 (12) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −6 (−21) |
9 (−13) |
14 (−10) |
28 (−2) |
40 (4) |
46 (8) |
54 (12) |
55 (13) |
35 (2) |
26 (−3) |
10 (−12) |
5 (−15) |
−6 (−21) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.2 (110) |
4.5 (110) |
4.6 (120) |
3.0 (76) |
2.7 (69) |
4.1 (100) |
5.0 (130) |
4.1 (100) |
3.6 (91) |
2.8 (71) |
3.3 (84) |
4.0 (100) |
45.9 (1,161) |
| Source: City-data.com, the Weather Channel (records only) | |||||||||||||
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 50 | — | |
| 1950 | 7,986 | 15,872.0% | |
| 1960 | 18,633 | 133.3% | |
| 1970 | 33,491 | 79.7% | |
| 1980 | 39,893 | 19.1% | |
| 1990 | 43,726 | 9.6% | |
| 2000 | 48,804 | 11.6% | |
| 2010 | 66,588 | 36.4% | |
| 2020 | 80,308 | 20.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 84,537 | 27.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 |
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In 1940, Warner Robins had only 50 people. The city first appeared in the 1950 U.S. Census.
People Living in Warner Robins (2020)
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 29,538 | 33,304 | 33,491 | 60.52% | 50.02% | 41.70% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 15,504 | 24,379 | 32,936 | 31.77% | 36.61% | 41.01% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 135 | 184 | 160 | 0.28% | 0.28% | 0.20% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 861 | 1,730 | 2,949 | 1.76% | 2.60% | 3.67% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 33 | 59 | 54 | 0.07% | 0.09% | 0.07% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 80 | 105 | 375 | 0.16% | 0.16% | 0.47% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 797 | 1,738 | 3,836 | 1.63% | 2.61% | 4.78% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,856 | 5,089 | 6,507 | 3.80% | 7.64% | 8.10% |
| Total | 48,804 | 66,588 | 80,308 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2020, there were 80,308 people living in Warner Robins. There were 29,742 households and 19,256 families. Most residents live in Houston County. A smaller number live in Peach County.
Quality of Life in Warner Robins
In 2009, Business Week magazine said Warner Robins was the best place in Georgia to raise a family. It got this award again in 2010. The Warner Robins Area Chamber of Commerce was named one of the top three in the U.S. for its size in 2009. In 2012, CNN Money ranked Warner Robins as the 7th best small city to live in America.
Getting Around Warner Robins
Major Roads
Warner Robins is located between U.S. Highway 129/Georgia State Route 247 and Interstate 75. Interstate 75 is about 6 miles (9.7 km) to the west. Georgia State Route 96 runs along the southern edge of the city.
U.S. Highway 129 goes north 19 miles (31 km) to downtown Macon. It goes south 28 miles (45 km) to Hawkinsville. GA-247 follows U.S. Highway 129 through the city. GA-96 goes east-northeast 27 miles (43 km) to Jeffersonville. It goes west 20 miles (32 km) to Fort Valley.
Walking and Biking Trails
- The Walk at Sandy Run
- Walker's Pond Trail
- Wellston Trail
Fun Things to Do
Museum of Aviation
Warner Robins is home to the Museum of Aviation. This museum celebrates the history of military aviation. It is next to the Air Force base. The museum has displays about military items, airplanes, and ground vehicles. It also has exhibits on the Tuskegee Airmen and Operation Desert Storm. It is the second largest museum run by the U.S. Air Force. It is also the fourth most visited museum in the Department of Defense. It is the biggest tourist spot outside Atlanta in Georgia.
Baseball and Softball
In 1958, Claude Lewis, who ran the Warner Robins Recreation Department, created the game of tee-ball. The first game was played in March of that year. Twenty children took part. Lewis wrote the rules for this new game. He sent rule books to recreation departments across the country. In 2006, a field was named after Lewis, "the father of tee-ball". It is at the Warner Robins American Little League complex.
The Warner Robins American Little League team won the 2007 Little League World Series. They beat Tokyo Kitasuna Little League from Tokyo, Japan 3–2 in the final game. Dalton Carriker hit a home run to win the game for Georgia.
On December 9, 2008, the Little League International Board decided something important. They voted for Warner Robins to be the new Southeast Region Headquarters for Little League Baseball and Softball. Games started being played in Warner Robins in 2010.
The Warner Robins American Little League girls' softball team won the 2009 Little League Softball World Series. They beat Crawford, Texas. This made Warner Robins the only Little League to win both a baseball and a softball title.
The girls' softball team won again in 2010. They beat Burbank, California in the 2010 Little League Softball World Series. This made Warner Robins only the fourth Little League program to win championships two years in a row.
Economy and Jobs
Robins Air Force Base is one of the biggest employers in Georgia. It provides over 25,000 jobs. These jobs are for military members, government workers, and contractors. The base helps keep Warner Robins' economy strong. This benefits the whole Middle Georgia area.
The city of Warner Robins is working to improve older parts of the city. These areas have become run down or empty. The city plans to create a new downtown center. This center will have businesses, cultural spots, and places for people to gather. It will be at Commercial Circle. The goal is to bring business and culture back to downtown.
In June 2011, Wired magazine listed Warner Robins. It was one of 12 small cities that are leading the "Knowledge Economy". Georgia was the only state in the Southeast on the list. Warner Robins was one of two Georgia cities ranked. These cities attract skilled workers and business owners. They have good family incomes and many creative workers who help the economy grow.
Houston Medical Center
Houston County Hospital opened on July 2, 1960. It had 50 beds. The hospital was renamed Houston Medical Center in 1986. This happened after some updates. Patient rooms were changed from shared to private. There were 186 beds available then. A new five-story tower was finished in 2009. This brought the total to 237 beds. Houston Medical Center is part of the Houston Healthcare system. This system helps over 300,000 people each year.
Warner Robins Little Theatre
The Warner Robins Little Theatre started in 1962. It is a non-profit community theater. This group now owns its theater building. The theater is still very active. They put on five main shows every year. Sometimes, they also hold workshops and special events for the Middle Georgia community.
Local News and Media
Newspapers
- The Telegraph, a daily newspaper.
- The Sun, a weekly section of the Telegraph with news for Houston and Peach Counties.
- Houston Home Journal, published twice a week.
Television Stations
Warner Robins is part of the Macon television market. This is the 120th largest TV market in the country.
Radio Stations
Warner Robins is part of the Macon radio market. This is the 130th largest radio market.
Education in Warner Robins
The part of Warner Robins in Houston County is served by the Houston County School System. The part of the city in Peach County is served by the Peach County School District.
Colleges and Universities
- Central Georgia Technical College
- Fort Valley State University
- Georgia College & State University
- Georgia Military College
- Mercer University
- Middle Georgia State University
High Schools
- Houston County High School
- Houston College & Career Academy
- Northside High School
- Warner Robins High School
- Veterans High School (in nearby Kathleen, Georgia)
- Elberta Center
- Houston County WIN Academy (an alternative school)
Libraries
The main library in Warner Robins is the Nola Brantley Memorial Library.
Famous People from Warner Robins
- Eddie Anderson — professional football player
- Russell Branyan — Major League Baseball player
- James Brooks — professional football player
- Cortez Broughton — professional football player
- Marquez Callaway — former NFL football player
- Betty Cantrell — Miss America 2016
- Kal Daniels — Major League Baseball player
- Robert Davis — professional football player
- Travis Denning — country music singer
- Bobbie Eakes — actress and singer
- Jake Fromm — former college and NFL quarterback
- Phil Horan — former drummer for the band Maserati
- Willis Hunt — a senior federal judge
- Jessie James — pop singer
- Mark Johnson — Major League Baseball player
- Abry Jones — professional football player
- Daniel-Leon Kit — entertainer
- Amanda Kozak — Miss Georgia 2006
- Kyle Moore — professional football player
- David Perdue — former U.S. Senator
- Sonny Perdue — former Governor of Georgia and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
- Victoria Principal — actress
- Willie Reid — professional football player
- Mike Richardson — professional football player
- Robert Lee Scott, Jr. — U.S. Air Force Brigadier General and pilot
- Ken Shamrock — professional MMA fighter and wrestler
- Ron Simmons — professional football player and wrestler
- Ben Smith — former NFL defensive back
- Chansi Stuckey — professional football player
- Timothy Walker — former professional football player
- Robert Waymouth — chemistry professor at Stanford University
- Steven Nelson - professional football player
- Wylie Draper — actor and dancer
Images for kids
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Warner Robins Law Enforcement Center
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Southeastern Region Little League Stadium
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Little League World Series display
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Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Davis Drive
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State Court of Houston County
See also
In Spanish: Warner Robins para niños
