Blackshear, Georgia

The city of Blackshear is the county seat[4] of Pierce County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 3,506.

Blackshear, Georgia
City
Blackshear City Hall
Blackshear City Hall
Location in Pierce County and the state of Georgia
Location in Pierce County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°17′56″N 82°14′52″W
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyPierce
Government
 • MayorKeith Brooks
Area
[1]
 • Total5.14 sq mi (13.32 km2)
 • Land5.07 sq mi (13.12 km2)
 • Water0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2)
Elevation
112 ft (34 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,506
 • Density692.06/sq mi (267.20/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
31516
Area code912
FIPS code13-08284[2]
GNIS feature ID0331178[3]
Websiteblackshearga.com

Blackshear is part of the Waycross Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Blackshear is located at 31°17′56″N 82°14′52″W (31.298941, -82.247726).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11 km2), of which 4.3 square miles (11 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (2.06%) is water.

History

Blackshear was founded in 1858 to serve as the seat of the newly formed Pierce County.[6] The city was named after General David Blackshear,[7] who authorized the construction of roads, bridges and 11 forts for defense. He was a patriot in the American Revolution, fighting in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge and the Battle of Buford's Bridge. He served as a general during the War of 1812. He also served in the Georgia state legislature as Senator of Laurens County.

During the American Civil War, the city became a temporary prisoner-of-war camp for more than 5,000 Union prisoners.[8] This site is marked by a historical landmark sign.

The primary crop of this south Georgia community was once tobacco, and is where the first brick tobacco warehouse in Georgia was built, known as the Brantley Brick.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860319—
187049053.6%
188077858.8%
1890656−15.7%
190087633.5%
19101,23541.0%
19201,3297.6%
19301,81736.7%
19402,01010.6%
19502,27113.0%
19602,4829.3%
19702,6245.7%
19803,22222.8%
19903,2631.3%
20003,2830.6%
20103,4454.9%
20203,5061.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

2020 census
Blackshear racial composition[10]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 2,552 72.79%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 696 19.85%
Native American 5 0.14%
Asian 24 0.68%
Other/Mixed 138 3.94%
Hispanic or Latino 91 2.6%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,506 people, 1,355 households, and 898 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 3,283 people, 1,354 households, and 894 families residing in the city. The population density was 766.6 inhabitants per square mile (296.0/km2). There were 1,518 housing units at an average density of 354.5 per square mile (136.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.03% White, 21.35% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.

There were 1,354 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,285, and the median income for a family was $38,414. Males had a median income of $30,263 versus $22,067 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,611. About 16.9% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Pierce County School District

The Pierce County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school.[11] The district has 216 full-time teachers and over 3,240 students. Four schools in the district are located in Blackshear.[12]

  • Blackshear Elementary School
  • Midway Elementary School
  • Patterson Elementary School
  • Pierce County Middle School
  • Pierce County High School

Private Education
  • Crossroads Christian Academy[13]

Notable people

See also

References
  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. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 220. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  7. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 20. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  8. "PCHGS: Military: WBTS: Blackshear Prison Camp".
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  11. Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  12. School Stats Archived 2012-02-24 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  13. "Crossroads Christian Academy". Crossroads Christian Academy. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  14. "Schultz: Georgia's Stetson Bennett on how Blackshear molded him and why he's coming back for 2022". The Athletic.
  15. "From GA to L.A." South. April 7, 2019.
  16. "5 Things to Learn from Jason Behr's Wife KaDee Strictland". wowally.com. January 26, 2023.

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