Whigham, Georgia

Whigham is a city in Grady County, Georgia, United States. The population was 471 at the 2010 census,[5] down from 631 in 2000.

Whigham, Georgia
City
Whigham City Hall
Location in Grady County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 30°53′3″N 84°19′30″W
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Grady
Area [1]
• Total	1.19 sq mi (3.07 km^2)
• Land	1.17 sq mi (3.04 km^2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km^2)
Elevation	282 ft (86 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	471
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	464
• Density	395.57/sq mi (152.67/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	31797, 39897
Area code(s)	229
FIPS code	13-82412[3]
GNIS feature ID	0333406[4]

History

The community was named after Robert Whigham, a local merchant.[6]

The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Whigham as a town in 1896.[7] It was incorporated again as a city in 1970.[8]

Geography

Whigham is located in western Grady County at 30°53′3″N 84°19′30″W (30.884219, -84.324927).[9] U.S. Route 84 passes through the center of town as Broad Avenue; it leads east 8 miles (13 km) to Cairo, the county seat, and west 15 miles (24 km) to Bainbridge. Valdosta is 67 miles (108 km) to the east, and Dothan, Alabama, is 70 miles (110 km) to the west. Whigham is located halfway between Memphis, Tennessee, and Miami, Florida.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²), or 0.98%, is water.[5]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	144		—
1890	264		83.3%
1900	392		48.5%
1910	627		59.9%
1920	662		5.6%
1930	442		−33.2%
1940	533		20.6%
1950	471		−11.6%
1960	463		−1.7%
1970	381		−17.7%
1980	507		33.1%
1990	605		19.3%
2000	631		4.3%
2010	471		−25.4%
2019 (est.)	464	[2]	−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 631 people, 179 households, and 134 families residing in the city. The population density was 533.8 people per square mile (206.5/km²). There were 212 housing units at an average density of 179.4 per square mile (69.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.01% White, 35.34% African American, 0.79% Native American, 2.06% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.

There were 179 households, out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 18.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 28.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,639, and the median income for a family was $26,042. Males had a median income of $22,813 versus $17,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,103. About 25.2% of families and 25.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.9% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Grady County School System operates area public schools. Whigham School, a K-8 school, is in Whigham.[11] Cairo High School in Cairo serves Whigham.[12]

Notable people

The electric blues guitarist, songwriter, and singer Johnnie Marshall was born in Whigham in 1961.[13]

The Plath family, who have a show on TLC.[14]

Ernest Riles, former infielder for the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers lived here during his time with the Giants.

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 2008-01-31.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Whigham city, Georgia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
6. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 251. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
7. Georgia (1907). Acts and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia. Clark & Hines, State Printers. p. 970.
8. "Whigham". GeorgiaGov. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "Whigham Elementary School." Grady County Schools. Retrieved on April 9, 2009.
12. "Schools." Grady County Schools. Retrieved on April 9, 2009.
13. Bob L. Eagle; Eric S. LeBlanc (May 2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-313-34424-4.
14. The Learning Channel. Meet The Plaths.