Waycross, Georgia

Waycross, Georgia
City

Images from top, left to right: Downtown Waycross, Confederate memorial, alligator in the Okefenokee Swamp, Waycross City Hall, World War I memorial, Downtown Waycross Historic District, Ware County Courthouse
Motto: Headwaters of the Okefenokee

Location in Ware County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°12′50″N 82°21′18″W / 31.21389°N 82.35500°W / 31.21389; -82.35500Coordinates: 31°12′50″N 82°21′18″W / 31.21389°N 82.35500°W / 31.21389; -82.35500
Country United States
State Georgia
Counties Ware[1]
Government
 • Mayor John Knox
Area
 • Total 11.7 sq mi (30.3 km2)
 • Land 11.7 sq mi (30.3 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation 131 ft (40 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 14,725
 • Density 1,258.6/sq mi (485.9/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 31501-31502-31503
Area code(s) 912
FIPS code 13-80956[2]
GNIS feature ID 0356622[3]
Website http://www.waycrossga.com

Waycross is the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Ware County. in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 14,725 at the 2010 Census.

Waycross includes two historic districts (Downtown Waycross Historic District and Waycross Historic District) and several other properties that are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, Lott Cemetery, the First African Baptist Church and Parsonage, and the Obediah Barber Homestead (which is 7 miles south of the city).

History

Street in the Downtown Waycross Historic District

The area now known as Waycross was first settled around 1820, locally known as "Old Nine" or "Number Nine" and then Pendleton. It was renamed Tebeauville in 1857, incorporated in 1866, and designated county seat of Ware County in 1873. Then it was incorporated as "Way Cross" on March 3, 1935.[4]

Waycross was the site of the 1948 Waycross B-29 crash, which led to the legal case United States v. Reynolds (1953), expanding the government's state secrets privilege.

During the 1950s the city had a tourist gimmick: local police would stop motorists with out-of-state license plates and escort them to downtown Waycross. There they would be met by the Welcome World Committee and given overnight lodging, dinner and a trip to the Okefenokee Swamp. The tradition faded away after the interstates opened through Georgia.

During the mid-1990s, Waycross became the birthplace and testing ground of a frozen hamburger that needed no defrosting, the Bubba Burger.[5] This was the creation of Eaves Foods, Inc., a company that later changed to Bubba Foods, LLC. in 2000. Bubba Burgers are now sold nationwide as well as worldwide through the United States Military Commissary system.[6]

Geography

Waycross is located at 31°12′50″N 82°21′18″W / 31.21389°N 82.35500°W / 31.21389; -82.35500 (31.213860, -82.354911)[7] and is the closest city to the Okefenokee Swamp.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.7 square miles (30 km2), of which 11.7 square miles (30 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.17%) is water.

In May 2010, the city purchased the Bandalong Litter Trap and installed it in Tebeau Creek, a tributary of the Satilla River. The trap was invented in Australia, but is manufactured in the United States. Although the city has maintained a good standing with the state's Environmental Protection Division, the city wanted to take action to reduce the amount of human generated trash entering the Satilla River and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean. Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue said, “Water is one of Georgia’s most important and precious resources... the litter trap installed by Waycross is a model of stewardship for the state and the nation.” The Satilla River litter trap is the first in Georgia and only the second in the nation.[8]

Part of Waycross was in Pierce County, but effective July 1, 2015, Waycross was no longer located nor allowed to be located in Pierce County. Rep. Chad Nimmer[9] introduced HB 523 during the 2015 Legislative Session without providing the required statutory notice to the City of Waycross. HB 523 de-annexed the portion of Waycross located in Pierce County and prevents the City of Waycross from coming back into Pierce County.[10] Rep. Nimmer had also received numerous campaign contributions from Jimmy Stewart, CEO of The Stewart Companies.[11] The Stewart Companies own and operate a commercial business in the area of Pierce County which was previously in the City of Waycross and would benefit greatly from deannexation.

Climate

Climate data for Waycross 4NE (1981-2010) extremes 1897–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 88
(31)		 88
(31)		 95
(35)		 98
(37)		 104
(40)		 106
(41)		 108
(42)		 106
(41)		 104
(40)		 99
(37)		 92
(33)		 87
(31)		 108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 62.2
(16.8)		 65.9
(18.8)		 72.9
(22.7)		 79.2
(26.2)		 86.4
(30.2)		 90.9
(32.7)		 92.9
(33.8)		 91.2
(32.9)		 87.3
(30.7)		 79.7
(26.5)		 72.7
(22.6)		 64.0
(17.8)		 78.8
(26)
Daily mean °F (°C) 48.9
(9.4)		 52.5
(11.4)		 58.9
(14.9)		 64.7
(18.2)		 72.8
(22.7)		 79.3
(26.3)		 81.8
(27.7)		 80.8
(27.1)		 76.2
(24.6)		 66.9
(19.4)		 58.9
(14.9)		 50.8
(10.4)		 66.0
(18.9)
Average low °F (°C) 35.7
(2.1)		 39.0
(3.9)		 44.9
(7.2)		 50.2
(10.1)		 59.1
(15.1)		 67.7
(19.8)		 70.8
(21.6)		 70.4
(21.3)		 65.0
(18.3)		 54.1
(12.3)		 45.2
(7.3)		 37.6
(3.1)		 53.3
(11.8)
Record low °F (°C) 2
(−17)		 2
(−17)		 15
(−9)		 22
(−6)		 33
(1)		 43
(6)		 54
(12)		 57
(14)		 34
(1)		 22
(−6)		 18
(−8)		 8
(−13)		 2
(−17)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.34
(110.2)		 3.89
(98.8)		 4.49
(114)		 2.89
(73.4)		 2.80
(71.1)		 6.51
(165.4)		 5.91
(150.1)		 6.39
(162.3)		 4.16
(105.7)		 3.25
(82.6)		 2.46
(62.5)		 2.96
(75.2)		 50.05
(1,271.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.0 8.0 8.0 6.0 7.0 11.0 12.0 12.0 8.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 102
Source: NOAA [12]

Media

AM
FM

Health care

Front of the old hospital
Back of the old hospital

With over 1,000 employees and 100 physicians, Satilla Regional Medical Center is a leading center in health care in the area. The three-story facility has a trauma unit, cancer care unit, outpatient surgery and imaging services. In 2012, Satilla Regional Medical Center joined the Mayo Clinic Health System and became the Mayo Clinic Health System in Waycross.

Transportation

U.S. Highway 82 is an east-west highway in Waycross. U.S. Highway 1 is north-south through Waycross. U.S. Highway 84 is east-west through Waycross. Waycross-Ware County Airport (IATA: AYS, ICAO: KAYS, FAA LID: AYS) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northwest of the central business district of Waycross. It is owned by the City of Waycross and Ware County.

Six railroad lines meet at Waycross, making it a logical location for shunting freight to different destinations. CSX Transportation operates Rice Yard here, a major "hump"-type classification yard.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880628—
18903,364435.7%
19005,91976.0%
191014,485144.7%
192018,06824.7%
193015,510−14.2%
194016,7638.1%
195018,89912.7%
196020,94410.8%
197018,996−9.3%
198019,3712.0%
199016,410−15.3%
200015,333−6.6%
201014,649−4.5%
Est. 201414,166[13]−3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
First African Baptist Church and Parsonage

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 15,333 people, 6,094 households, and 3,741 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,311.8 people per square mile (506.4/km²). There were 7,534 housing units at an average density of 644.5 per square mile (248.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 44.31% White, 53.51% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.

There were 6,094 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were married couples living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. Individuals made up 34.9% of all households, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,399, and the median income for a family was $28,712. Males had a median income of $24,865 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,468. About 24.8% of families and 30.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.9% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Ware County School District

The Ware County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of a pre-school, six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school.[15] The district has 431 full-time teachers and over 6,370 students.[16]

Private education

Higher education

Famous natives and residents

See also

On the National Register of Historic Places

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau. Census 2000, Summary File 1. "GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2000 - County -- Subdivision and Place". American FactFinder. <http://factfinder2.census.gov>. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ↑ Ware County Courthouse entry on GeorgiaInfo.com Ware County Courthouse, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  5. ↑ Frozen Burgers Make a Big Splash Across the South, The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  6. ↑ , Bubba Burger Heritage. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ↑ "Georgia’s First Bandalong Litter Trap Launched". Storm Water Solutions Magazine. May 26, 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  9. ↑ http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=790&Session=24
  10. ↑ http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/151607.pdf
  11. ↑ http://media.ethics.ga.gov/search/Campaign/Campaign_ByContributionsearchresults.aspx?Contributor=Stewart&Zip=&City=Waycross&ContTypeID=0&PAC=&Employer=&Occupation=&From=&To=&Cash=&InK=&Filer=&Candidate=Nimmer&Committee=
  12. ↑ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". NOAA. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  13. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  16. ↑ School Stats, Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ [knowledge]

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Waycross.
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