Waycross, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waycross
City
City of Waycross
Images from top, left to right: Downtown Waycross, Confederate memorial, alligator in the Okefenokee Swamp, Waycross City Hall, World War I memorial, Downtown Waycross Historic District, Ware County Courthouse
Flag Seal Logo
Motto(s):  Headwaters of the Okefenokee
Location in Ware County and the state of Georgia
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Ware
Area
• City	11.96 sq mi (30.97 km2)
• Land	11.87 sq mi (30.73 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation	131 ft (40 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	13,942
• Density	1,174.95/sq mi (453.65/km2)
• Urban	36,312
• Metro	54,494
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	31501–31503
Area code(s)	912
FIPS code	13-80956
GNIS feature ID	0356622

Waycross is a city in the state of Georgia, in the United States. It is the main city and county seat of Ware County. In 2020, about 13,942 people lived there.

Waycross is home to two important historic districts: the Downtown Waycross Historic District and the Waycross Historic District. Several other places in Waycross are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse and the First African Baptist Church and Parsonage.

History of Waycross

Street in the Downtown Waycross Historic District

The area where Waycross is today was first settled around 1820. It was known by names like "Old Nine" or "Number Nine," and then Pendleton. In 1857, it was renamed Tebeauville. It officially became a town under that name in 1866. In 1873, it was chosen as the county seat for Ware County.

The city was officially named "Way Cross" on March 3, 1874. It got its name because it's a place where many important railroad lines meet. Trains from six different directions come together in Waycross.

Women's Voting Rights

In 1917, the city council in Waycross made a big change. They allowed white women to vote in local primary elections. This made Waycross the first town in Georgia to do so. This happened because some of the biggest property owners in town were women. They wanted to have a say in how their tax money was used. Two years later, in 1919, Atlanta became the second city in Georgia to allow this. Women in Georgia did not get the right to vote in all elections until 1922.

Laura S. Walker's Legacy

Waycross was the home of Laura S. Walker (1861-1955). She was a famous author and a strong supporter of protecting nature. Walker worked hard to promote forestry and the creation of forest parks. She also placed markers and monuments along old trails and at historic sites in Waycross and Ware County. She did this so that local history would not be forgotten.

Her efforts led to President Franklin D Roosevelt creating the Laura S. Walker National Park in her honor. She was the only living person at that time to have a state or national park named after them. In 1937, the government bought land for the park. Workers from the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps helped build the park. In 1941, the national park was given to Georgia. It became the state's 13th state park.

Modern Developments

In the mid-1990s, a popular frozen hamburger called "Bubba Burgers" was created in Waycross. It was made by a company called Eaves Foods, Inc., which later became Flanders, LLC. Bubba Burgers are now sold all over the United States and even to the U.S. Military around the world.

Geography of Waycross

Waycross City Hall

Waycross is located at 31°12′50″N 82°21′18″W / 31.21389°N 82.35500°W / 31.21389; -82.35500. It is the city closest to the famous Okefenokee Swamp.

The city covers a total area of about 11.7 square miles (30.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. The closest large city is Jacksonville, Florida, which is about 81 miles (130 kilometers) away.

Protecting the Environment

In 2010, Waycross bought and installed a special device called a Bandalong Litter Trap. This trap was placed in Tebeau Creek, which flows into the Satilla River. The trap helps to catch trash before it can flow into the river and then into the Atlantic Ocean.

This trap was first invented in Australia but is now made in the United States. Waycross wanted to do more to keep its waterways clean. Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue praised Waycross for this effort. He said it was a great example of caring for Georgia's important water resources. The Satilla River litter trap was the first of its kind in Georgia and only the second in the entire nation.

Climate in Waycross

Waycross has a warm climate. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are mild. The city gets a good amount of rain throughout the year, especially in the summer months.

Population of Waycross

Waycross has seen its population change over the years. In 2020, there were 13,942 people living in the city. There were 5,748 households and 3,197 families.

Education in Waycross

Waycross has several schools for students of all ages.

Public Schools

The Ware County School District manages the public schools in Waycross. It includes schools from pre-kindergarten all the way to twelfth grade. The district has one pre-school, six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. There are over 431 full-time teachers and more than 6,370 students in the district.

Private Schools

There are also private schools in Waycross. These include Lighthouse Christian Academy and Discovery Montessori School.

Colleges and Universities

For higher education, Waycross has campuses for two colleges:

• South Georgia State College - Waycross campus
• Coastal Pines Technical College - Waycross campus

Transportation in Waycross

Waycross is an important hub for transportation, especially for railroads.

Highways

Several U.S. Highways pass through Waycross. U.S. Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 23 run north-south. U.S. Highway 82 and U.S. Highway 84 run east-west. There are no major interstate highways directly in Waycross. Interstate 75 is about 60 miles to the west, and Interstate 95 is about 40 miles to the east.

Airport

The Waycross-Ware County Airport (AYS) is a public airport located about three miles (5 kilometers) northwest of the city center. It is owned by both the City of Waycross and Ware County.

Railroads

Six different railroad lines meet in Waycross. This makes it a key location for moving freight to different places. CSX Transportation operates a large "hump" type classification yard here called Rice Yard. This is where train cars are sorted and put together to form new trains.

Notable People from Waycross

Many interesting people have connections to Waycross:

• Johnny Archer – A professional pool player known as "The Scorpion."
• Michael P. Boggs – The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia.
• Billy Carter – The brother of former President Jimmy Carter.
• Sonora Webster Carver – The first woman horse diver.
• Ossie Davis – A famous actor, writer, and director. He was born nearby in Clinch County.
• Nikki DeLoach – An actress who was part of The New Mickey Mouse Club.
• Drayton Florence – A professional football player who played 11 seasons in the NFL.
• Ernest Jones – A professional football player for the Seattle Seahawks.
• Leodis McKelvin – A former cornerback in the NFL.
• Caroline Pafford Miller – An author who won a Pulitzer Prize.
• Gram Parsons – A country singer and musician who was part of bands like The Byrds.
• Pernell Roberts – An actor famous for his roles in TV shows like Bonanza and Trapper John, M.D.. He was born in Waycross.

Images for kids

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  Images from top, left to right: Downtown Waycross, Confederate memorial, alligator in the Okefenokee Swamp, Waycross City Hall, World War I memorial, Downtown Waycross Historic District, Ware County Courthouse

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  Flag of Waycross, Georgia

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  Seal of Waycross, Georgia

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  Logo of Waycross, Georgia

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  Location of Waycross in Ware County and the state of Georgia

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  Street in the Downtown Waycross Historic District

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  Waycross City Hall

See also

In Spanish: Waycross para niños