Camilla, Georgia
| Camilla, Georgia | |
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| — City — | |
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| Coordinates: 31°13′49″N 84°12′33″W / 31.23028°N 84.20917°WCoordinates: 31°13′49″N 84°12′33″W / 31.23028°N 84.20917°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Mitchell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.1 sq mi (15.8 km2) |
| • Land | 6.1 sq mi (15.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 177 ft (54 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 5,360 |
| • Density | 878.6/sq mi (339.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 31730 |
| Area code(s) | 229 |
| FIPS code | 13-12624[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0331312[2] |
| Website | http://www.camillaga.net/ |
Camilla is a city in Mitchell County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat[3]. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,360[4].
Contents |
[edit] History
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This section requires expansion. |
The city was incorporated in 1858. The name Camilla was chosen in honor of the granddaughter of Henry Mitchell, an American Revolutionary War general for whom Mitchell County was named.[5]
On September 19, 1868, Republican Party marchers convening for a meeting during the Reconstruction era were fired upon by whites. As they returned to Albany, they were continually attacked. Harper's Weekly estimated that between 50 and 75 African-Americans were killed and wounded, and the Republican candidate for Congress, Colonel Pierce, was seriously injured.[6][7] This event is thought to have lowered black turnout during the following election, and was likely instrumental in the enactment of the 1870 ban on firearms and knives at public gatherings.[8] A version of this law was just repealed with the passage of Senate Bill 308 through the hard work of www.GeorgiaCarry.Org. The Jim Crow law was on the books for over 140 year.
In the early 2000s, the city was hit by two disastrous sets of tornadoes, both occurring in the dark hours of the early morning and both going through roughly the same area. The first outbreak was on February 14, 2000;[9] the second outbreak was on March 20, 2003.[10]
[edit] Geography
Camilla is located at 31°13′49″N 84°12′33″W / 31.23028°N 84.20917°W (31.230243, -84.209102)[11].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (16 km2), of which 0.16% is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 2,588 |
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| 1950 | 3,745 | 44.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,753 | 26.9% | |
| 1970 | 4,987 | 4.9% | |
| 1980 | 5,414 | 8.6% | |
| 1990 | 5,008 | −7.5% | |
| 2000 | 5,669 | 13.2% | |
| 2010 | 5,360 | −5.5% | |
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 5,669 people, 1,994 households, and 1,405 families residing in the city. The population density was 929.4 people per square mile (358.8/km²). There were 2,128 housing units at an average density of 348.9 per square mile (134.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.23% African American, 32.30% White, 0.12% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.20% of the population.
There were 1,994 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples living together, 33.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 81.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,485, and the median income for a family was $24,232. Males had a median income of $23,581 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,117. About 34.3% of families and 37.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 54.9% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
[edit] Mitchell County School District
The Mitchell County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and a charter school.[12] The district has 176 full-time teachers and over 2,855 students.[13] The Mitchell County Head Start Center, opened in 2001, is also located in the city.
- South Mitchell County Elementary School
- North Mitchell County Elementary School
- Mitchell County Middle School
- Mitchell County High School
[edit] Charter school
- Baconton Community Charter School
[edit] Private education
- Westwood Schools
[edit] Law and government
The legislative authority of the government of the City of Camilla is vested in the Council, which is composed of six (6) members. The members of the Council serve for terms of four (4) years and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. Three (3) members are elected from and by the voters of Council District No. 1, and three (3) members are elected from and by voters of Council District No. 2.
- Mayor Mary Jo Haywood
Member, At Large Term Expires: January 9, 2012
- Councilmember Annie Doris Willingham
District 1 Term Expires: January 11, 2015
- Councilmember Benjamin E. Jenkins
District 1 Term Expires: January 9, 2012
- Councilmember Vivian Smith
District 1 Term Expires: January 11, 2015
- Councilmember Vernon Twitty, Jr.
District 2 Term Expires: January 9, 2012
- Councilmember Bryant Campbell
District 2 Term Expires: January 11, 2010
- Councilmember W.D. Palmer, III
District 2 Term Expires: January 11, 2010
[edit] Transportation
Camilla is centrally located within 25 to 35 miles (40 to 56 km) of several Southwest Georgia cities.
- U.S. Highway 19 is the major travel route through the city, connecting Camilla to Albany in the north and Thomasville to the south
- During inclement weather or major traffic issues, traffic from Interstate 75 is detoured through Camilla via Hwy. 19
- Georgia State Route 112 connects Cairo to the south and Sylvester to the northeast
- Georgia State Route 37 connects Moultrie to the east
- Georgia State Route 97 connects Bainbridge to the southwest
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/1312624.html
- ^ camillaga.com Retrieved 2009-09-11.
- ^ Camilla Massacre. The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
- ^ Affidavit of Daniel Howard: Albany, Georgia, 1868 Sept. 25. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
- ^ The Public Gathering Prohibition - The Bloody Legacy of the Camilla Massacre. GeorgiaCarry.org. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
- ^ 10.5 SOUTHWEST GEORGIA TORNADO OUTBREAK OF 13-14 FEBRUARY 2000 - noaa.gov Retrieved 2009-09-11.
- ^ Tornado Outbreak of March 20, 2003 - noaa.gov Retrieved 2009-09-11.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ School Stats, Retrieved June 24, 2010.
[edit] External links
- City of Camilla official website
- Camilla Chamber of Commerce
- Unofficial Camilla history website
- Mitchell County official website
- Civil Unrest in Camilla, Georgia, 1868 : Reconstruction, Republicanism, and Race in the Digital Library of Georgia
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