Willacoochee, Georgia
Willacoochee is a city in Atkinson County, Georgia, United States, along the Alapaha River. The population was 1,391 at the 2010 census.[4]
Willacoochee, Georgia | |
|---|---|
 Willacoochee City Hall and Police Department | |
| Motto: Where good people live | |
 Location in Atkinson County and the state of Georgia | |
| Coordinates: 31°20′7″N 83°2′47″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Atkinson |
| Incorporated | November 12, 1889 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.82 sq mi (9.90 km2) |
| • Land | 3.82 sq mi (9.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 240 ft (73 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 1,240 |
| • Density | 324.61/sq mi (125.33/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 31650 |
| Area code | 912 |
| FIPS code | 13-82972[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0333429[3] |
| Website | www |
History
The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Willacoochee as a town in 1889.[5] Willacoochee is a name derived from the Creek language meaning "home of the wildcats".[6]
Geography
Willacoochee is located at 31°20′7″N 83°2′47″W (31.335175, -83.046381).[7]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.9 km2), all land.[4]
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 398 | — | |
| 1900 | 471 | 18.3% | |
| 1910 | 960 | 103.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,211 | 26.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,006 | −16.9% | |
| 1940 | 903 | −10.2% | |
| 1950 | 987 | 9.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,061 | 7.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,120 | 5.6% | |
| 1980 | 1,166 | 4.1% | |
| 1990 | 1,205 | 3.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,434 | 19.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,391 | −3.0% | |
| 2020 | 1,240 | −10.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 500 | 40.32% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 423 | 34.11% |
| Native American | 5 | 0.4% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.16% |
| Other/Mixed | 28 | 2.26% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 282 | 22.74% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,240 people, 529 households, and 291 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,434 people, 526 households, and 369 families residing in the city. The population density was 378.0 inhabitants per square mile (145.9/km2). There were 655 housing units at an average density of 172.7 per square mile (66.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 49.79% White, 39.40% African American, 0.49% Asian, 8.65% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.76% of the population.
There were 526 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,871, and the median income for a family was $25,536. Males had a median income of $21,603 versus $17,115 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,301. About 23.6% of families and 29.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.6% of those under age 18 and 35.0% of those age 65 or over.
In media
In The Steve Harvey Show, gym teacher Cedric Jackie Robinson's mother owned land in Willacoochee.
In the movie Renaissance Man, Mark Wahlberg's character, "Tommy Lee Haywood," was from Willacoochee, mispronounced as "Wallahoochie" by Danny Devito's character.
In the movie Jungle Fever, Rev. Purify (played by Ossie Davis), Flipper Purify's (played by Wesley Snipes) father, makes reference to being born in Willacoochee.
In the movie Beauty Shop, a customer, Mrs. Towner made a reference to Willacoochee while spelling out her name. Humorist Lewis Grizzard talked about the No Name Bar in Willacoochee.
In Love Victor, high school students Victor Salazar and Benji Campbell (played by Michael Cimino (actor) and George Sear, respectively) took a road trip to Willacoochee to have an espresso machine repaired by a shop in Willacoochee, which was the only place they could repair this specific espresso machine.
Photos
A Lockheed T-33 in Willacoochee. A T-33 crashed here ca. 1960s. Located 31°20'28.7"N 83°02'52.1"W(31.341306,-83.047806)
McCranie's Turpentine Still, just west of Willacoochee, on the National Register of Historic Places
Signs indicating drainage divide
References
- "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Willacoochee city, Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- Acts Passed by the General Assembly of Georgia. J. Johnston. 1889. p. 1006.
- Nestor, Sandy (May 7, 2015). Indian Placenames in America. McFarland. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-7864-9339-5.
- "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
External links
Municipalities and communities of Atkinson County, Georgia, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  Map of Georgia highlighting Atkinson County | |
| CDP | ||
| Other unincorporated community | ||