Jonesboro,_Georgia

Jonesboro, Georgia

Jonesboro, Georgia

City in Georgia, United States

Jonesboro is a city in and the county seat of Clayton County, Georgia, United States.[4] The population was 4,724 as of the 2010 census.

Quick Facts Country, State ...

The city's name was originally spelled Jonesborough.[citation needed] During the Civil War, the final skirmish in the Atlanta Campaign was fought here south of Atlanta, cutting off the city and forcing the mayor of Atlanta to surrender at Marietta in early September 1864. The final fall of Atlanta in the Battle of Jonesborough ended up being a decisive point in the nation's history, propelling Abraham Lincoln to re-election two months later, and continuing the war until the Confederacy finally surrendered the following year.

Geography

Jonesboro is located at 33°31′28″N 84°21′15″W (33.524512, -84.354290).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), of which 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (1.89%) is water.

The railroad through Jonesboro is built on the Eastern Continental Divide and there are no bridges for the tracks for many miles in either direction.

Climate

More information Climate data for Jonesboro, Georgia, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1994–present, Month ...

Infrastructure

Transit systems

MARTA and Xpress GA/Georgia RTA buses serve the city.

Demographics

More information Census, Pop. ...

2020 census

More information Race, Num. ...

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,235 people, 1,195 households, and 771 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 3,829 people, 1,466 households, and 1,023 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,477.4 inhabitants per square mile (570.4/km2). There were 1,561 housing units at an average density of 602.3 per square mile (232.5/km2). The racial composition of the city was 72.79% African American, 20.63% White, 0.21% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 3.45% from other races, and 1.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.55% of the population. In the past 2 years that population has doubled to about 15.86%.

There were 1,466 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples living together, 25.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,951, and the median income for a family was $39,143. Males had a median income of $29,236 versus $25,797 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,178. About 19.2% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.

History

Jonesboro was inhabited by settlers as early as 1821, as a result of the Treaty of Indian Springs,[10] and it was founded as Leaksville in 1823.[11] In 1825, the Flint River Baptist Church was erected on a hill in Leaksville. After the Macon and Western Railroad arrived into the area in 1846, the town was renamed to Jonesboro, in order to honor railroad official Samuel G. Jones who was also honored by its citizens.[10] Jonesboro was incorporated over three decades later, in 1859.[12]

Jonesboro hosted the beach volleyball at the 1996 Summer Olympics with the artificial beach created at Clayton County International Park.[13] Jonesboro elected their first Black Mayor, Dr. Sonya Sartor, in March 2023.[14]

Notable people

Movies and literature

Many of the scenes from the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit were filmed in Jonesboro. Another 1977 movie, the obscure 'In Hot Pursuit (aka The Polk County Pot Plane), was filmed in and around Jonesboro.

Tara, the fictional plantation in Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone with the Wind was supposed to be located approximately five miles outside of Jonesboro, the closest town.

"We Are Marshall" was briefly filmed at Tara Stadium in Jonesboro. The stadium was changed from green to light blue and light yellow for the scene.

Lynyrd Skynyrd's (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd) album cover was photographed near the corner of Mill and Main streets.

Landmarks

Education

Clayton County Public Schools operates public schools.

References

  1. [1]
    "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. [2]
    "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. [3]
    "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. [4]
    "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. [5]
    "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. [6]
    "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Jonesboro, GA". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  7. [7]
    "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Atlanta". National Weather Service. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  8. [8]
    "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. [9]
    "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  10. [10]
    "Jonesboro, GA - City History". www.jonesboroga.com. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  11. [11]
    Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 234. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  12. [12]
    "City History." (Archive) City of Jonesboro. Retrieved on September 21, 2012.
  13. [13]
    Georgia Department of Economic Development. "Clayton County International Park". Explore Georgia.
  14. [14]
    "Jonesboro voters elect Dr. Donya Sartor as their first-ever Black mayor". March 24, 2023.
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