Fort Valley, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Fort Valley is a city in and the county seat
of Peach County
, Georgia
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,815.
Fort Valley is the corporate headquarters of the Blue Bird Corporation, a large manufacturer of bus
es. The city is home to Fort Valley State University
, a Historically Black College and University
.
The city is in the Macon
metropolitan area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 8,005 people, 3,050 households, and 1,878 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,519.5 people per square mile (586.5/km²). There were 3,303 housing units at an average density of 627.0 per square mile (242.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 22.10% White, 74.65% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.85% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.37% of the population.
There were 3,050 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.9% were married couples
living together, 30.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 16.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,646, and the median income for a family was $24,206. Males had a median income of $27,016 versus $20,110 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $10,815. About 31.8% of families and 37.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.3% of those under the age of 18 and 17.3% of those 65 and older.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of three elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school. The district has 270 full-time teachers and over 3,927 students.
Fort Valley is also the home of the Blue Bird Corporation's Headquarters, and is currently their only Georgia plant.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Peach County
Peach County, Georgia
Peach County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 23,668. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 25,672. Its county seat is Fort Valley....
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,815.
Fort Valley is the corporate headquarters of the Blue Bird Corporation, a large manufacturer of bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es. The city is home to Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley State University is a historically black university located in Fort Valley, Georgia. It is also a unit of the University System of Georgia and a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
, a Historically Black College and University
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
.
The city is in the Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
metropolitan area.
Geography
Fort Valley is located at 32°33′12"N 83°53′28"W (32.553392, -83.890996).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,005 people, 3,050 households, and 1,878 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,519.5 people per square mile (586.5/km²). There were 3,303 housing units at an average density of 627.0 per square mile (242.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 22.10% White, 74.65% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.85% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.37% of the population.
There were 3,050 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 30.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 16.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,646, and the median income for a family was $24,206. Males had a median income of $27,016 versus $20,110 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $10,815. About 31.8% of families and 37.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.3% of those under the age of 18 and 17.3% of those 65 and older.
Peach County School District
The Peach County School DistrictPeach County School District
The Peach County School District is a public school district in Peach County, Georgia, USA, based in Fort Valley, Georgia. It serves the communities of Byron, Fort Valley, Perry, and Warner Robins, Georgia.-Schools:...
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of three elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school. The district has 270 full-time teachers and over 3,927 students.
- Byron Elementary School
- Hunt Elementary School
- Kay Road Elementary School
- Byron Middle School
- Fort Valley Middle School
- Peach County High SchoolPeach County High SchoolPeach County High School is a public high school located in Fort Valley, Georgia, USA. The school is part of the Peach County School District which serves Peach County, Georgia.-Athetics:...
Points of interest
- Massee Lane GardensMassee Lane GardensMassee Lane Gardens are botanical gardens focusing on camellias, located at the American Camellia Society headquarters, 100 Massee Lane, Fort Valley, Georgia. They are open to the public for an admission fee....
Fort Valley is also the home of the Blue Bird Corporation's Headquarters, and is currently their only Georgia plant.
Notable residents
- Antone DavisAntone DavisAntone Eugene Davis is a former American football offensive tackle and guard. He played one year of football at Peach County High School in Fort Valley, Georgia, and was recruited out of high school by the Tennessee Military Institute, for whom he played one year of college football...
, former National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
offensive lineman - Harold HouserHarold HouserHarold Alexander Houser was a United States Navy Rear admiral, and the 35th Governor of American Samoa from September 10, 1945 to April 22, 1947. Houser was born in Fort Valley, Georgia, and graduated from the Marion Military Institute before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval...
, the 35th Governor of American Samoa