Damascus, Georgia

Damascus is a city in Early County, Georgia, United States. The population was 254 at the 2010 census.[5]

For the unincorporated community in Gordon County, see Damascus, Gordon County, Georgia.
Damascus, Georgia
City
Damascus City Hall and Police Department
Location in Early County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°17′55″N 84°43′3″W
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyEarly
Area
 • Total1.77 sq mi (4.58 km2)
 • Land1.76 sq mi (4.56 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
220 ft (67 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total254
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
224
 • Density127.20/sq mi (49.12/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
31741, 39841
Area code(s)229
FIPS code13-21436[3]
GNIS feature ID0355426[4]

History

An early variant name was Kestler.[6] An act of Georgia General Assembly officially changed the name to Damascus in 1914.[7] The present name is a transfer from nearby Old Damascus, which was bypassed when the railroad was built through the area.[6]

Geography

Damascus is located in eastern Early County at 31°17′55″N 84°43′3″W (31.298580, -84.717429).[8] Georgia State Route 45 passes through the community, leading north 10 miles (16 km) to Arlington and south 9 miles (14 km) to Colquitt. Georgia State Route 200 also passes through the center of town, leading east 24 miles (39 km) to Newton and northwest 15 miles (24 km) to Blakely, the Early County seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Damascus has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.6 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2), or 0.48%, is water.[5]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1910413—
1920373−9.7%
193043616.9%
19404779.4%
1950402−15.7%
1960297−26.1%
1970272−8.4%
198040348.2%
1990290−28.0%
2000277−4.5%
2010254−8.3%
2019 (est.)224[2]−11.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 277 people, 100 households, and 74 families residing in the town. The population density was 157.6 people per square mile (60.8/km2). There were 115 housing units at an average density of 65.4 per square mile (25.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 36.10% White, 63.54% African American, and 0.36% from two or more races.

There were 100 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 24.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,333, and the median income for a family was $19,318. Males had a median income of $31,500 versus $19,286 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,583. About 31.4% of families and 23.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 61.9% of those 65 or over.

Education
Southwest Georgia Academy, located on the grounds of the former Damascus High School

Public school students are zoned to the Early County School District which operates three schools in Blakely: Early County Elementary School, Early County Middle School, and Early County High School.

Damascus is home to Southwest Georgia Academy, which was founded in 1970 as a segregation academy[10] and participates in the Georgia Independent School Association. Its property formerly housed Damascus High School.[11]

  • Early County Fire Damascus District fire station
  • Damascus Post Office

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Damascus city, Georgia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  6. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 57. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  7. Acts Passed by the General Assembly of Georgia. J. Johnston. 1914. p. 932.
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. "A town lost in time". Atlanta Constitution. March 2, 1980. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  11. "Welcome." Southwest Georgia Academy. Retrieved on July 31, 2017.
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