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Douglasville, Georgia

Coordinates: 33°44′59″N 84°43′23″W / 33.74972°N 84.72306°W / 33.74972; -84.72306
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Douglasville, Georgia, USA
City
Location in Douglas County and the state of Georgia
Location in Douglas County and the state of Georgia
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyDouglas
Government
 • MayorMickey Thompson
Area
 • Total21.5 sq mi (21.5 km2)
 • Land21.4 sq mi (21.4 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation
1,201 ft (366 m)
Population
 (2007)
 • Total32,298
 • Density948.5/sq mi (948.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
30100-30199
Area code770
FIPS code13-23900Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0355535Template:GR
Websitehttp://www.ci.douglasville.ga.us/
Douglas County Courthouse

The city of Douglasville is the county seat of Douglas County, Georgia, United States. The population was 20,065 at the 2000 census and in 2009 was estimated to be at 32,812. Douglasville is one of the fastest growing cities in Georgia.

Geography

Douglasville is located at 33°44′59″N 84°43′23″W / 33.74972°N 84.72306°W / 33.74972; -84.72306 (33.749824, -84.723190).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.5 square miles (55.7 km²), of which, 21.4 square miles (55.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.60%) is water.

Douglasville has an elevation of 1,209 ft (369 m) above sea level.

Demographics

As of the census GR2 of 2000, there were 20,065 people, 7,286 households, and 5,078 families residing in the city. The population density was 938.5 people per square mile (362.4/km²). There were 7,903 housing units at an average density of 369.6/sq mi (142.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 63.84% White, 30.29% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. 3.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,286 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% 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 3.16.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $45,289, and the median income for a family was $52,340. Males had a median income of $37,464 versus $27,038 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,283. 12.2% of the population and 10.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.3% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Major highways

  • U.S. Highway 78 (State Route 8) runs directly east to west through Downtown Douglasville.
  • State Route 92 runs north to southeast just 1/4 of a mile to the east of Downtown as a truck route designed to keep large trucks from crossing an elevated railroad crossing at Campbellton St. The City and the Georgia DOT are working on plans to reroute Ga Hwy 92 farther east of Downtown on a four-lane bridge serving as a bypass.
  • State Route 5 is colocated with US Hwy 78 through Downtown east to the Cobb County line and west just past Hunter Park. Hwy 5 continues in a southwesterly direction through the village of Bill Arp and crosses into Carroll County near Whitesburg.
  • Interstate 20 (Ga Hwy 402) extends roughly east to west about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Downtown Douglasville.

Area attractions

  • The Douglas County Cultural Arts Center is located at Campbellton St. south of Downtown. The Center holds art shows, as well as special events throughout the year, and hosts events for schools across the county.
  • Arbor Place Mall is the 4th largest mall in the State of Georgia, and home to over 100 shops and restaurants. The anchor stores are Dillard's, Sears, Macy's, Belk, J.C. Penney, Old Navy and Bed Bath & Beyond. The mall sponsors many festivals, as well as Douglasville's 4th of July Celebrations.
  • The 7 Venue is a Christian music venue consisting of two stages. Mainly local Christian Metal and Metalcore bands play here. Some well known bands have played here such as Underoath, Maylene & The Sons of Disaster, Sky Eats Airplane, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Norma Jean, The Chariot, and The Glass Ocean.
  • The Douglas County Aquatic Center, located on Fairburn Road, has several pools which are open to the public. These pools include an indoor heated pool, an outdoor saltwater pool, an unheated chlorinated pool, a shallower children's pool, a paddling pool for toddlers and infants, and a sauna.

Development Authority

In September 2008, the City of Douglasville reactivated the Douglasville Development Authority. The City of Douglasville Development Authority (CDDA) is the economic development organization for Douglasville, Georgia. The Authority's mission is to attract quality and sustainable business investments and jobs to the City. Jamie Gilbert is the current Executive Director.

The Douglasville Development Authority has four primary goals that are the focus of our economic development efforts: 

  1. Generate business leads and projects for Douglasville through an aggressive, external marketing program focused on specific business sectors that include the life science, technical service, advanced manufacturing and back office industries.
  2. Attract and retain sustainable, well paying jobs to Douglasville that capitalize on the highly educated workforce and outstanding quality of life afforded by the City and Metro Atlanta location.
  3. Maximize the use of our excellent real estate opportunities by attracting projects that generate strong square feet to employment ratios.
  4. Bring economic prosperity to all areas of Douglasville.

The CDDA assists companies seeking to grow their operations, increase productivity and reduce operating expenses; offering a skilled and productive workforce, pro business local government and outstanding location. The CDDA offers Douglasville to be a premier location in Metro Atlanta as well as the Southeast for business expansion.

From the CDDA website: (www.DouglasvilleDevelopment.com) "If your company or client is looking to relocate operations, establish an additional facility or expand an existing business in Douglasville, the Douglasville Development Authority wants to be your local partner in this effort. You can count on us to be your one-stop shop, resource and advocate in Douglasville, as well as your liaison to contacts, programs and services offered at the state level. The Douglasville Development Authority is committed to working around the clock to ensure your project gets the attention and support it deserves."


Core business area

While Downtown hosts many shops and eateries, the main business area in Douglasville is located south of the city between Chapel Hill Road and Ga Hwy 5, around the Douglas Boulevard Corridor. Arbor Place Mall is located in this area as well as many major retail stores and fast food chains.

The Fairburn Road area also hosts many shops, food stores and fast food, but some are in the process of vacating for an expansion of the highway set to begin in early 2008.

Historic district

The Central Business District (CBD) of downtown Douglasville is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district; an outstanding example of a turn-of-the-century southern railroad town. The majority of the buildings are one- and two-story brick structures dating from the mid-19th century into the mid-20th century. Most are of Victorian era commercial design set flush with the sidewalk. Styles of the buildings include Romanesque, Italianate, and Queen Anne. Many of the doorways and windows have Gothic arched openings and hooded windows. The dominant landscape feature is the railroad right-of-way running east-to-west through downtown.

In the center of town is a small plaza, which was converted from a street block, known as O'Neal Plaza (named after the former O'Neal's department store, now the Douglasville City Hall). The Plaza features a brick pyramid fountain, as well as a small performance venue. It is home to many festivals year round, the Douglasville School of Art makes its home on the plaza, and the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival also makes its home here.

Local parks

  • Hunter Park is Douglasville's largest park, and home to the Douglas County Boys & Girls Club. Many festivals, sports activities and recreation in the City of Douglasville are at Hunter Park. The park features a swimming pool, playground, wildlife pond and trail, as well as a small train for children that operates during the summer. The park is named after the late 1st Lt. "Jerry" Hunter (USAF), Douglas County's first casualty of the Vietnam War.
  • Deer Lick Park located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Interstate 20 on Mack Road.
  • The West Pines Golf Club was purchased by the city in 2003 and is now operated as a public course.
  • The Fowler Field Soccer Complex is located south of the city on Chapel Hill Road.
  • The Chestnut Log Soccer Complex is located on Pope Road beside Chestnut Log Middle School, about 1/2 mile west of SR 92 (Fairburn Road).
  • Jesse Davis Park is located north of Downtown Douglasville, and serves as a neighborhood park for residents of North Douglasville. The park was recently renovated, and has a playground as well as a community swimming pool.
  • Sweetwater Creek State Park is a 2,549-acre (10.32 km2) park with 9 miles (14 km) of wooded trails that follows the stream to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill burned during the Civil War. It has a 215-acre (0.87 km2) lake with 2 fishing docks, canoe and fishing boat rentals, 11 picnic shelters, playground, Visitors Center and Museum.
  • Clinton Reserve

History

Located at a natural rise in the topography, Douglasville was originally known as Skint Chestnut. The name derived from a large tree used by Indians as a landmark, which was stripped of its bark so as to be more conspicuous.

The Town of Douglasville was established by the Georgia General Assembly on February 25, 1875. The boundaries were as follows: The center shall be a point directly opposite the court house in said town, on the Georgia Western Railroad, thence running along the center of said road each way three-fourths of a mile, and extending one half mile each way from the center of said road, the form of said territory to be an oblong square.

An election was held on the first Saturday in March, 1875, and a mayor, treasurer, records (secretary), and marshall were chosen.

A tornado touched down in Douglasville on March 7, 2008 in the Chapel Hill area. The tornado was small but caused some damage. A Kroger Grocery store was damaged by the storm, many trees fell and some homes in the surrounding area were damaged. One home in the Brookmont subdivision, the hardest hit subdivision by the storm, was ripped in half exposing the whole inside of the home. Arbor Place Mall in Douglasville reported a window blown out by the storm. Only one person was injured by the tornado.

Another tornado touched down in the Douglasville area on May 11, 2008 causing damage throughout Douglas County. The EF2 tornado awoke many people in their sleep on Mother's Day morning. The tornado touched down in the Fairplay area and moved through the county. Damage was reported sporadically throughout the county. The storm that moved through destroyed homes, downed trees and destroyed a gas station in Douglasville with its roof being thrown into the street. There were no injuries or deaths from the tornado. Residents say that the counties tornado sirens were sounded before the tornado touched down. This is the first time in history that two tornadoes have touched down in Douglas County in the same year. The Governor of Georgia declared a state of emergency for Douglas County and many other counties in the state on May 12, 2008.

On September 21, 2009 Douglasville was devastated by the floods in Georgia. Over a foot of rain fell in one night causing many roads to be destroyed and many homes a total loss. The county was later declared a disaster area, and the governor of Georgia declared a state of emergency.

Notable people from or who currently live in Douglasville

References

External links


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