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Hawkinsville, Georgia

Coordinates: 32°17′1″N 83°28′36″W / 32.28361°N 83.47667°W / 32.28361; -83.47667
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"Hawkinsville" redirects here. For other places and uses, see Hawkinsville (disambiguation).

Hawkinsville, Georgia
City
Nickname(s): 
The Good Life, Harness Capital of the World
Motto: 
Where Progress Sets Pace
Location in Pulaski County and the state of Georgia
Location in Pulaski County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°17′1″N 83°28′36″W / 32.28361°N 83.47667°W / 32.28361; -83.47667
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyPulaski
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • Council ChairmanShelly Berryhill
 • City ManagerSara Myers
Area
[1]
 • Total
5.38 sq mi (13.93 km2)
 • Land5.37 sq mi (13.91 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
262 ft (80 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,980
 • Density741.15/sq mi (286.14/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
31036
Area code478
FIPS code13-37396[2]
GNIS feature ID0331934[3]
Websitehawkinsville-pulaski.org

Hawkinsville is a city in Middle Georgia and the county seat of Pulaski County, Georgia, United States.[4] [5] As of 2020, it has a population of 3,980.[6]

The city is known as the "Harness Horse Capital of Georgia" and holds an annual Harness Horse Festival to celebrate its connections to the sport.[7] Hawkinsville is also known as the "Highway Hub," serving as a terminal of seven major highways, including U.S.129 , U.S 341, and GA highways 26, 27, 112, 230, and 257. [7][8]

History

[edit]
Main Street, 1908

Hawkinsville was founded in 1830, and in 1836, it replaced Hartford as the county seat of Pulaski County.[9] The city was named after Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, a Senator and Delegate to the Continental Congress from North Carolina. After the war ended, he was appointed Indian agent in charge of affairs south of the Ohio River by George Washington.[10][11]

The city includes several historic sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Hawkinsville City Hall-Auditorium, also known as the "Old Opera House," was constructed in 1907 and has served numerous functions in its existence, including an entertainment venue, temporary religious gathering place, and government center. It was designated a historic site in 1973.[12]

Hawkinsville Public School and its additions were constructed between 1936 and 1969. The school formerly served middle and high school students but now houses a pre-school program. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2008.[13]

Added to the National Register in 1991, the Merritt-Ragan House is a Queen-Anne style home built in 1840 and remodeled in 1895 to reflect the prominent Victorian architectural style.[14]

The Pulaski County Courthouse was constructed in 1874 and remodeled in 1885, 1897, and 1910. It was built in the Neo-Classical architectural style and designated as a historic site in 1980.[15]

Taylor Hall, originally constructed in Hartford in 1825 for one of Hawkinsville's first commissioners, Dr. Robert Taylor, was deconstructed and moved across the Ocmulgee River into Hawkinsville in 1836 where it was reconstructed. It was added to the National Register in 1978. [16]

St. Thomas African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1866 by Henry McNeil Turner, the first African American chaplain appointed to the United States Army. The current church building was constructed between 1908 and 1912, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 for its significance to the local African American community.[17]

Constructed in the Georgian style, R.J. Taylor Memorial Hospital operated from 1938 until 1976 when a new facility was opened. The hospital was constructed with donations from Robert Jenks Taylor, a prominent local businessman. In 2019, the hospital was renovated and converted into apartments, and in 2021, it was designated a historical site.[18][19]

The Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District was designed on a gridiron plan and is located in downtown Hawkinsville. The district consists of a number of buildings and businesses, including the Pulaski County Courthouse and the Hawkinsville City Hall-Auditorium. The district was central to the agricultural commerce of the region's peanut, cotton, lumber, and pecan crops. The district's historical significance earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.[20]

Geography

[edit]
Hawkinsville City Hall

Many highways converge in the city. U.S. Routes 129 and 341 are the two main highways through town, and run through the downtown area together. Upon leaving the city, U.S. 341 leads northwest 21 mi (34 km) to Perry along Interstate 75 and southeast 20 mi (32 km) to Eastman. U.S. 129 follows the route of U.S. 341 north of the city, but splits off northwest of downtown, leading north 28 mi (45 km) to Warner Robins. South of downtown, U.S. 129 leads south 24 mi (39 km) to Abbeville. In addition, an alternate route of U.S. 129 connects the city to Cochran, 11 mi (18 km) to the northeast. Other highways that run through the city include Georgia State Routes 26, 27, 230, and 257.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11 km2), of which 4.4 square miles (11 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (1.57%) is water.

Climate

[edit]

Hawkinsville has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Climate data for Hawkinsville, Georgia (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1892–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 86
(30) 		88
(31) 		96
(36) 		99
(37) 		102
(39) 		107
(42) 		106
(41) 		107
(42) 		110
(43) 		102
(39) 		90
(32) 		89
(32) 		110
(43)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 58.8
(14.9) 		62.8
(17.1) 		70.1
(21.2) 		77.4
(25.2) 		85.0
(29.4) 		90.2
(32.3) 		92.4
(33.6) 		91.1
(32.8) 		86.8
(30.4) 		78.3
(25.7) 		68.7
(20.4) 		61.1
(16.2) 		76.9
(24.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 34.8
(1.6) 		37.2
(2.9) 		43.1
(6.2) 		49.9
(9.9) 		59.0
(15.0) 		67.1
(19.5) 		70.1
(21.2) 		69.6
(20.9) 		64.0
(17.8) 		52.7
(11.5) 		42.0
(5.6) 		36.7
(2.6) 		52.2
(11.2)
Record low °F (°C) −2
(−19) 		−3
(−19) 		15
(−9) 		28
(−2) 		36
(2) 		45
(7) 		55
(13) 		52
(11) 		35
(2) 		23
(−5) 		11
(−12) 		5
(−15) 		−3
(−19)
Average rainfall inches (mm) 4.65
(118) 		4.33
(110) 		4.52
(115) 		3.69
(94) 		2.90
(74) 		4.39
(112) 		4.66
(118) 		4.68
(119) 		4.07
(103) 		2.92
(74) 		3.14
(80) 		4.59
(117) 		48.54
(1,234)
Source: NOAA[21]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870813—
18801,54289.7%
18901,75513.8%
19002,10319.8%
19103,42062.6%
19203,070−10.2%
19302,484−19.1%
19403,00020.8%
19503,34211.4%
19603,96718.7%
19704,0772.8%
19804,3727.2%
19903,527−19.3%
20003,280−7.0%
20104,58939.9%
20203,980−13.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]
Hawkinsville racial composition[23]
Race Num. Perc.
White 1,925 48.37%
Black or African American 1,822 45.78%
Native American 6 0.15%
Asian 47 1.18%
Pacific Islander 1 0.03%
Other/Mixed 90 2.26%
Hispanic or Latino 89 2.24%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,980 people, 1,304 households, and 812 families residing in the city.

Education

[edit]

Pulaski County School District

[edit]

The Pulaski County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve. It consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school.[24] The district has 122 full-time teachers and over 1,632 students.[25]

Industry

[edit]

The Georgia Department of Corrections operates the Pulaski State Prison in Hawkinsville.[26]

The United States Postal Service operates the Hawkinsville Post Office.[27]

The United States Air Force operates the Hawkinsville Air Force Space Surveillance System.

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Middle Georgia | Region 6 | Georgia Department of Economic Development". georgia.org. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  5. ^ "Geography: County Creation and County Seat" (PDF). Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  6. ^ Decennial Census, DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171), Table P1, 2020. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Hawkinsville, Georgia | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation". www.achp.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  8. ^ "Transportation & Location | Hawkinsville-Pulaski Economic Development". www.hawkinsvillega.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  9. ^ "Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District" . National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  10. ^ "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  11. ^ "Hawkinsville, Georgia | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation". www.achp.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  12. ^ "Hawkinsville City Hall-Auditorium". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  13. ^ "Hawkinsville Public School". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  14. ^ "Merritt-Ragan House" National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  15. ^ "Pulaski County Courthouse". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  16. ^ "Taylor Hall". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  17. ^ "St. Thomas African Methodist Episcopal Church" . National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  18. ^ Summary of Proposed National Register/Georgia Register Nomination. Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. Retrieved April 21, 2025
  19. ^ "Taylor Memorial Hospital building added to National Register of Historic Places". WMAZ. October 7, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  20. ^ "Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  21. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  22. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  23. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  24. ^ Georgia Board of Education[permanent dead link‍], Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  25. ^ School Stats, Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  26. ^ "Pulaski State Prison Archived 2011-05-23 at the Wayback Machine." Georgia Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 14, 2010.
  27. ^ "Post Office Location - HAWKINSVILLE Archived 2012-06-16 at the Wayback Machine." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on September 14, 2010.
  28. ^ Behar, Richard. "Joe's Bad Trip". Time. July 24, 1989.
  29. ^ Slotnik, Daniel E. (April 29, 2017). "Thomas Forkner, Waffle House Co-Founder, Dies at 98". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  30. ^ "- NOMINATION OF INEZ M. TENENBAUM TO BE CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONER FOR THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION". www.congress.gov. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
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