Damascus, Georgia
Damascus, Georgia | |
|---|---|
 Damascus City Hall and Police Department | |
 Location in Early County and the state of Georgia | |
| Coordinates: 31°17′55″N 84°43′3″W / 31.29861°N 84.71750°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Early |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.77 sq mi (4.58 km2) |
| • Land | 1.76 sq mi (4.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 220 ft (67 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 212 |
| • Density | 120.39/sq mi (46.48/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 31741, 39841 |
| Area code | 229 |
| FIPS code | 13-21436[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0355426[3] |
Damascus is a city in Early County, Georgia, United States. The population was 212 in the 2020 census, down from 254 in the 2010 census.[4]
History[edit]
An early variant name was Kestler.[5] An act of Georgia General Assembly officially changed the name to Damascus in 1914.[6] The present name is a transfer from nearby Old Damascus, which it was named for Damascus, Syria. Old Damascus would be bypassed when a new railroad line was being built through the area.[5]
In 2021, an EF2 tornado struck the area south of town, causing major damage and injuring five people.[7][8]
On June 14, 2023, a tornado struck the town destroying a home and slightly injuring three people.
Geography[edit]
Damascus is located in eastern Early County at 31°17′55″N 84°43′3″W / 31.29861°N 84.71750°W (31.298580, -84.717429).[9] Georgia State Route 45 passes through the community, leading north 10 miles (16 km) to Arlington and south 9 miles (14 km) to Colquitt. Georgia State Route 200 also passes through the center of town, leading east 24 miles (39 km) to Newton and northwest 15 miles (24 km) to Blakely, the Early County seat.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Damascus has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.6 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2), or 0.48%, is water.[4]
Demographics[edit]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 413 | — | |
| 1920 | 373 | −9.7% | |
| 1930 | 436 | 16.9% | |
| 1940 | 477 | 9.4% | |
| 1950 | 402 | −15.7% | |
| 1960 | 297 | −26.1% | |
| 1970 | 272 | −8.4% | |
| 1980 | 403 | 48.2% | |
| 1990 | 290 | −28.0% | |
| 2000 | 277 | −4.5% | |
| 2010 | 254 | −8.3% | |
| 2020 | 212 | −16.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 82 | 65 | 32.28% | 30.66% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 162 | 137 | 63.78% | 64.62% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 0 | 3 | 0.00% | 1.42% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 6 | 0 | 2.36% | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 3 | 1 | 1.18% | 0.47% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1 | 6 | 0.39% | 2.83% |
| Total | 254 | 212 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2020, the city had a population of 212, down from 254 in 2010 and 277 in 2000.
Education[edit]
Public school students are zoned to the Early County School District which operates three schools in Blakely: Early County Elementary School, Early County Middle School, and Early County High School.
Damascus is home to Southwest Georgia Academy, which was founded in 1970 as a segregation academy[13] and participates in the Georgia Independent School Association. Its property formerly housed Damascus High School.[14]
Gallery[edit]
-
Early County Fire Damascus District fire station -
Damascus Post Office
Notable people[edit]
- Robbie Robinson, bodybuilder, actor, three-time Mr. Universe overall winner
- Shawn Williams (American football), football player, Atlanta Falcons
References[edit]
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Damascus city, Georgia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ a b Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 57. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
- ^ Acts Passed by the General Assembly of Georgia. J. Johnston. 1914. p. 932.
- ^ NWS Damage Survey for 02/15/2021 Tornado Event – Update #2 (Report). February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
{{cite report}}: Unknown parameter|agency=ignored (help) - ^ Storm Events Database February 15, 2021 (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
{{cite report}}: Unknown parameter|agency=ignored (help) - ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Damascus city, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Damascus city, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "A town lost in time". Atlanta Constitution. March 2, 1980. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
- ^ "Welcome." Southwest Georgia Academy. Retrieved on July 31, 2017.
Municipalities and communities of Early County, Georgia, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |