Poulan, Georgia

Poulan is a city in Worth County, Georgia, United States. The population was 851 at the 2010 and 765 (2019) census.

Poulan, Georgia
City
Poulan City Hall and Police Station
Poulan City Hall and Police Station
Location in Worth County and the state of Georgia
Location in Worth County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°30′49″N 83°47′28″W
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyWorth
Area
[1]
 • Total1.67 sq mi (4.33 km2)
 • Land1.67 sq mi (4.33 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
381 ft (116 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total760
 • Density454.27/sq mi (175.36/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
31781
Area code229
FIPS code13-62496[2]
GNIS feature ID0321100[3]
Websitewww.cityofpoulan.com
Library, on the National Register of Historic Places

Poulan is part of the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Poulan is notable for its police department's speed trap tactics from 2006 to 2012.[4][5][6] In 2009 Poulan's small police force generated nearly $900,000 from fines and fees, a number comparable to a city 30 times its size and due to the charges and fees being more than most cities. The per capita revenue from fines and fees is $1,019.15.[7]

History

The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Poulan as a town in 1889.[8] The city was named for Judge W.A. Poulan.[9]

Geography

Poulan is located at 31°30′49″N 83°47′28″W (31.513739, -83.791041).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.3 km2), all land.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900474—
191065237.6%
1920586−10.1%
19306114.3%
19406709.7%
195075011.9%
1960736−1.9%
19707664.1%
19808186.8%
199096217.6%
2000946−1.7%
2010851−10.0%
2020760−10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 946 people, 365 households, and 273 families residing in the city. The population density was 571.2 inhabitants per square mile (220.5/km2). There were 399 housing units at an average density of 240.9 per square mile (93.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 76.22% White, 21.99% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.53% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.

There were 365 households, out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,708, and the median income for a family was $35,208. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,439. About 16.8% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people
  • Howell T. Heflin, who became a U.S. Senator from Alabama, was born in Poulan in 1921. At that time Heflin's father was serving as a Methodist minister in Poulan. The Heflin family remained there for only a short time before returning to their native Alabama.
  • Chase Osborn was Governor of Michigan from 1911 to 1913. He resided at Possum Poke in Poulan and died there in 1949.

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. Simmons, Andria (October 22, 2014). "Some rural Georgia towns policing for profit". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020. Take the example of Poulan (pronounced PO-lan), where officials claim to have seen the error of their ways. The town of 833 took in $1.67 million in ticket revenue between 2008 and 2012, but the income has fallen steadily since then....In the case of Poulan, GDOT raised the limit after receiving numerous complaints about it being a speed trap, Dale said.
  5. "'Speed Trap' sign stirs up Poulan area". walb.com. August 5, 2014. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020.
  6. Smith, Romney (July 17, 2013). "FOX 31 investigates: Are there speed traps in Poulan?". WFXL. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  7. "Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Office of Research: 2009 Municipal Revenues from Fines, Forfeitures and Court Fees as a Percentage of Own Source Revenues" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  8. Acts Passed by the General Assembly of Georgia. J. Johnston. 1899. p. 265.
  9. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 180. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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