Mount Airy, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Mount Airy is a town
in Habersham County
, Georgia
, United States
. The population
was 604 at the 2000 census.
. There was once a grand motel called the Monterrey where the current City Hall stands. Many wealthy families came to the hotel to seek refuge from the heat and from the large populations of malaria
-carrying mosquitoes. Mount Airy was a popular tourist destination with many families eventually establishing homes in the area. Mount Airy is bordered to the south by the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
.
A grand, white-columned home on Seventh Street was once the home of baseball
legend Ty Cobb
. Cobb lived in the home for some time after his retirement. The home still stands as a private residence. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
. Mount Airy is also the hometown of the nation's longest serving elected state official, Tommy Irvin
, the state agriculture commissioner.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²), of which, 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²) of it is land and 0.53% is water. Mount Airy is the highest point on the Southern Railway line between New Orleans and Washington, DC. This is confirmed by a US Geological survey marker located on the tracks just behind the City Hall.
of 2000, there were 604 people, 235 households, and 179 families residing in the town. The population density
was 323.3 people per square mile (124.7/km²). There were 256 housing units at an average density of 137.0 per square mile (52.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.38% White, 2.32% African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.81% Asian, 0.99% from other races
, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.65% of the population.
There were 235 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples
living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% 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 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,813, and the median income for a family was $45,375. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $23,500 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,493. About 3.5% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Habersham County
Habersham County, Georgia
Habersham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818, and named for Colonel Joseph Habersham. As of 2000, the population was 35,902. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 42,272. Clarkesville is the county seat.Chartered in 1823, the...
, 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...
. The population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
was 604 at the 2000 census.
History
The town of Mount Airy was founded on March 3, 1874 by Thomas Brooking of Turnerville. It began primarily as summer retreat for wealthy residents of Atlanta and SavannahSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. There was once a grand motel called the Monterrey where the current City Hall stands. Many wealthy families came to the hotel to seek refuge from the heat and from the large populations of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
-carrying mosquitoes. Mount Airy was a popular tourist destination with many families eventually establishing homes in the area. Mount Airy is bordered to the south by the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in northern Georgia comprises two United States National Forests, the Oconee National Forest and Chattahoochee National Forest. The combined total area of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is , of which the Chattahoochee National Forest comprises ...
.
A grand, white-columned home on Seventh Street was once the home of baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
legend Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
. Cobb lived in the home for some time after his retirement. The home still stands as a private residence. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Mount Airy is also the hometown of the nation's longest serving elected state official, Tommy Irvin
Tommy Irvin
Tommy Irvin served as Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture from 1969 until January 2011. He was elected to his 10th and final four-year term in November 2006. Irvin did not seek re-election in 2010...
, the state agriculture commissioner.
Geography
Mount Airy is located at 34.517638°N 83.506177°W.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 town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²), of which, 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²) of it is land and 0.53% is water. Mount Airy is the highest point on the Southern Railway line between New Orleans and Washington, DC. This is confirmed by a US Geological survey marker located on the tracks just behind the City Hall.
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 604 people, 235 households, and 179 families residing in the town. 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 323.3 people per square mile (124.7/km²). There were 256 housing units at an average density of 137.0 per square mile (52.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.38% White, 2.32% African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.81% Asian, 0.99% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.65% of the population.
There were 235 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% 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, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% 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 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,813, and the median income for a family was $45,375. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $23,500 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 town was $18,493. About 3.5% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.