Washington, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Washington is a city in Wilkes County
, Georgia
, United States
. The population was 4,295 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
of Wilkes County
. The city is often referred to as Washington-Wilkes by locals, distinguishing it from any other Washington in the United States.
Washington has a number of restored antebellum, Victorian, and colonial homes along the narrow, tree-lined streets. Washington claims to have more antebellum homes per capita than any other city of its size in Georgia . Several sites in Washington are on the National Register of Historic Places
including the Wilkes County Courthouse, the Robert Toombs State Historic Site
, and the Mary Willis Library, known for its Victorian architecture and original Tiffany stained glass windows, and for being the first free public library in the state.
Also on the list are The Washington-Wilkes Historical Museum http://www.kudcom.com/www/att02.html, and the recently restored Fitzpatrick Hotel built in 1899.
one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War to be fought in Georgia was fought on February 14, 1779, in Wilkes County about eight miles (13 km) from present day Washington. The battle resulted in a victory for the American Patriots who took 75 prisoners, and killed roughly 70 Loyalists, while losing 32 men in the battle.
were fought in or near Washington, the city has the distinction of being the location where Jefferson Davis held the last meeting with the Confederate cabinet. On April 3, 1865, with Union troops under Ulysses S. Grant
poised to capture Richmond, Jefferson Davis
escaped for Danville, Virginia
, together with the Confederate cabinet. After leaving Danville, and continuing south, Davis met with his Confederate Cabinet for the last time on May 5, 1865 in Washington, Ga.
Along with a hand-picked escort led by Given Campbell, including his personal Body Guard Sgt. Joseph A Higgenbotham, Jr , of Amherst/Nelson County, Virginia.
The meeting took place at the Heard house http://www.kudcom.com/www/hpage9.html (the Georgia Branch Bank Building), with fourteen officials present.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.5 km²), of which, 7.8 square miles (20.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.25%) is water.
of 2000, there were 4,295 people, 1,778 households, and 1,162 families residing in the city. The population density
was 547.5 people per square mile (211.5/km²). There were 1,974 housing units at an average density of 251.6 per square mile (97.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.04% White, 60.75% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.05% from other races
, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 1,778 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples
living together, 24.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,667, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $27,281 versus $21,230 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,659. About 17.6% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 23.2% of those age 65 or over.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 116 full-time teachers and over 1,858 students.
. Heard's Fort was designated the Seat of Government for Georgia on February 3, 1780, a position it held until 1781.
Wilkes County, Georgia
Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 10,687. The 2007 Census estimate shows a population of 10,262. The county seat is the city of Washington. Referred to as "Washington-Wilkes", the county seat and county are commonly treated as a...
, 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 was 4,295 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
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 Wilkes County
Wilkes County, Georgia
Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 10,687. The 2007 Census estimate shows a population of 10,262. The county seat is the city of Washington. Referred to as "Washington-Wilkes", the county seat and county are commonly treated as a...
. The city is often referred to as Washington-Wilkes by locals, distinguishing it from any other Washington in the United States.
Washington has a number of restored antebellum, Victorian, and colonial homes along the narrow, tree-lined streets. Washington claims to have more antebellum homes per capita than any other city of its size in Georgia . Several sites in Washington are on 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...
including the Wilkes County Courthouse, the Robert Toombs State Historic Site
Robert Toombs House
Robert Toombs House Historic Site in Washington, Georgia, was the home of Robert Toombs, Confederate general and cabinet member. Operated as a state historic site, the 19th century period historic house museum also features exhibits about the life of Robert Toombs.The house was declared a National...
, and the Mary Willis Library, known for its Victorian architecture and original Tiffany stained glass windows, and for being the first free public library in the state.
Also on the list are The Washington-Wilkes Historical Museum http://www.kudcom.com/www/att02.html, and the recently restored Fitzpatrick Hotel built in 1899.
Revolutionary Washington
The Battle of Kettle CreekBattle of Kettle Creek
The Battle of Kettle Creek was one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War to be fought in Georgia. The battle was fought on February 14, 1779, in Wilkes County about eight miles from present-day Washington, Georgia...
one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War to be fought in Georgia was fought on February 14, 1779, in Wilkes County about eight miles (13 km) from present day Washington. The battle resulted in a victory for the American Patriots who took 75 prisoners, and killed roughly 70 Loyalists, while losing 32 men in the battle.
Washington in the Civil War
Although no major battles of the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
were fought in or near Washington, the city has the distinction of being the location where Jefferson Davis held the last meeting with the Confederate cabinet. On April 3, 1865, with Union troops under Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
poised to capture Richmond, Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
escaped for Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
, together with the Confederate cabinet. After leaving Danville, and continuing south, Davis met with his Confederate Cabinet for the last time on May 5, 1865 in Washington, Ga.
Along with a hand-picked escort led by Given Campbell, including his personal Body Guard Sgt. Joseph A Higgenbotham, Jr , of Amherst/Nelson County, Virginia.
The meeting took place at the Heard house http://www.kudcom.com/www/hpage9.html (the Georgia Branch Bank Building), with fourteen officials present.
Confederate Gold
One of Washington's most lingering mysteries is that of the lost Confederate gold http://www.kudcom.com/www/gold.html. As the last recorded location of the remaining confederate gold, Washington, and the surrounding countryside, is thought to be the site where the remaining gold is buried. Worth roughly $100,000 in 1865, when it disappeared, in today's dollars its worth would be around one million dollars. The cable channel A & E produced a documentary of this Washington legend.Washington's List of "Firsts"
The city of Washington claims to be first in many historical events:- First city in the nation to be established in the name of George Washington, 1780
- First Baptist church in upper Georgia at Fishing Creek, 1783. Historical Marker http://www.kudcom.com/www/mark/mark31.html
- First Methodist church in Georgia was organized at Grant's Meeting House http://www.kudcom.com/www/mark/mark15.html in Wilkes County, 1787. Historical Marker http://www.kudcom.com/www/mark/mark06.html
- First Presbyterian minister ordained in Georgia was John Springer in Wilkes County, 1790. Historical Marker http://www.kudcom.com/www/mark/mark12.html
- First Episcopal conference not under the Church of England, 1788
- First successful cotton gin perfected and set up by Eli Whitney in Wilkes county, 1795.
- First woman newspaper editor in U.S. was Sarah Hillhouse http://www.kudcom.com/www/mark/mark34hf.html who became the editor of the Monitor in 1804 (inducted into Georgia Women of Achievement http://www.georgiawomen.org/ in 2006).
- First cotton mill in Georgia erected on Upton Creek in Wilkes County, 1811
- First woman hanged in Georgia occurred in Washington in 1806. She was Polly Barclay.
- First stamp mill for gold in the world was invented and put into use near Washington by Jeremiah Griffin, 1831-1832.
- One of the first plastic garments ever cut in the world was in Wilkes County by Margo and Alfred Moses in February 1946.
Geography
Washington is located at 33°44′7"N 82°44′29"W (33.735394, -82.741420).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 7.9 square miles (20.5 km²), of which, 7.8 square miles (20.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.25%) is water.
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 4,295 people, 1,778 households, and 1,162 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 547.5 people per square mile (211.5/km²). There were 1,974 housing units at an average density of 251.6 per square mile (97.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.04% White, 60.75% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.05% 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 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 1,778 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% 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, 24.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,667, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $27,281 versus $21,230 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 $13,659. About 17.6% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 23.2% of those age 65 or over.
Wilkes County School District
The Wilkes County School DistrictWilkes County School District
The Wilkes County School District is a public school district in Wilkes County, Georgia, USA, based in Washington, Georgia. It serves the communities of Rayle, Tignall, and Washington, Georgia.-Schools:...
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 116 full-time teachers and over 1,858 students.
- Washington-Wilkes Elementary School
- Washington-Wilkes Primary School
- Washington-Wilkes Middle School
- Washington-Wilkes High School
As Heard's Fort
Heard's Fort http://www.kudcom.com/www/mark/mark29.html was built as a stockade in 1774, by Stephen HeardStephen Heard
Stephen Heard was briefly the 12th Governor of Georgia from when he was appointed on February 18, 1780 until Nathan Brownson was elected the tenth Governor of Georgia in August of 1781 Stephen Heard (November 1, 1740 – November 15, 1815) was briefly the 12th Governor of Georgia (a position later...
. Heard's Fort was designated the Seat of Government for Georgia on February 3, 1780, a position it held until 1781.
External links
- Washington, Georgia Tourism web site: Washington, Georgia
- Washington's First Web Site: Washington, Georgia Virtual Tourist
- Georgia Historical Markers in Washington-Wilkes