Plains, Georgia

Plains, Georgia
City

Stores in Plains
Motto: "Home of the 39th President of the United States"[1]

Location in Sumter County, Georgia, USA
Coordinates: 32°2′1″N 84°23′36″W / 32.03361°N 84.39333°W / 32.03361; -84.39333Coordinates: 32°2′1″N 84°23′36″W / 32.03361°N 84.39333°W / 32.03361; -84.39333
Country United States
State Georgia
County Sumter
Area
 • Total 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
 • Land 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 499 ft (152 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 776
 • Density 970/sq mi (370/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 31780
Area code(s) 229 Exchange: 824
FIPS code 13-61628[2]
GNIS feature ID 0356474[3]
Website Official Page of the City of Plains, Georgia
[4]
Plains Baptist Church
Carter campaign headquarters

Plains is a town in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. The population was 776 at the 2010 census.[5] It is part of the Americus Micropolitan Statistical Area. Plains is known as the birthplace and home of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States.

History

Originally inhabited by the Muscogee people,[6] by the 1840s three small settlements existed nearby: Plains of Dura, Magnolia Springs, and Lebanon.[7] As railway access expanded into the region in response to increased cotton farming, these settlements coalesced closer to the new railway location.[8] As businesses rapidly developed, local businessmen successfully petitioned the State Legislature to shorten Plains of Dura to Plains.[6] Plains was subsequently incorporated in 1896.[8] Plains continued to experience growth fueled by cotton cultivation well into the early twentieth century. A substantial school and the pioneering Wise Sanitarium were both built in the 1920s.[8] Despite differentiation into peanut cultivation,[8] the Great Depression deprived the community of much of its prosperity.[7] Plains remained a quiet Southern town until Jimmy Carter rose to political prominence in the 1970s.[8]

During the 1976 Presidential Election and for many years afterwards, Plains saw a giant influx in tourism. Nearly ten thousand people would pour into the community daily.[9]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2), all of it land. The city's boundary is in the shape of a circle.[10] Plains, Ga has a center longitude/latitude point which is -83.0813 / 33.4553.

Koinonia Farm, a non-profit multi-racial, multi-cultural Christian community where all possessions are mutually owned, is located nearby. Andersonville National Historic Site and the National Prisoner of War Museum are located in the vicinity of Plains. Georgia Southwestern State University is located in the nearby town of Americus, some students choosing to live and to worship in Plains. Westville, a re-created town depicting the living history of mid-nineteenth century Georgia, is located in the nearby town of Lumpkin in adjacent Stewart County.

Climate

This area climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Plains has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[11]

Climate data for Plains, Georgia
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 14
(57)		 16
(61)		 20
(68)		 25
(77)		 29
(84)		 32
(89)		 33
(91)		 32
(90)		 30
(86)		 26
(78)		 21
(69)		 16
(60)		 24
(76)
Average low °C (°F) 2
(35)		 3
(37)		 7
(44)		 11
(51)		 16
(60)		 19
(67)		 21
(69)		 21
(69)		 18
(64)		 12
(53)		 7
(44)		 3
(37)		 11
(52)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 124
(4.9)		 117
(4.6)		 132
(5.2)		 89
(3.5)		 84
(3.3)		 119
(4.7)		 132
(5.2)		 114
(4.5)		 89
(3.5)		 61
(2.4)		 84
(3.3)		 107
(4.2)		 1,255
(49.4)
Source: Weatherbase[12]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870374—
188045922.7%
189051011.1%
1900290−43.1%
191040740.3%
192047917.7%
1930406−15.2%
1940364−10.3%
1950359−1.4%
1960273−24.0%
1970236−13.6%
1980231−2.1%
199028623.8%
2000283−1.0%
20102840.4%
Est. 2015740[13]160.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 637 people, 215 households, and 136 families residing in the city. The population density was 780.0 people per square mile (299.9/km²). There were 244 housing units at an average density of 298.8 per square mile (114.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.62% White, 59.81% African American, 1.26% from other races, and 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.83% of the population. There were 215 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 24.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 16.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 30.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 69.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 58.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,719, and the median income for a family was $29,375. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $16,406 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,602. About 22.2% of families and 25.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.2% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Jimmy Carter riding his bicycle in his hometown of Plains (2008)

Former President Jimmy Carter was born in Plains at the Wise Sanitarium (now renamed the Lillian G. Carter Nursing Center, in honor of his mother). His wife Rosalynn Carter, his daughter Amy Carter, his younger brother Billy Carter, his younger sister, Gloria Carter Spann, his youngest sister, Ruth Carter Stapleton, and first cousin Hugh Carter were also born in Plains. The former president and his wife still live there.

References

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