Summerville, Georgia
Template:DistinguishTemplate:Distinguish Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Summerville is a city and the county seat of Chattooga County, Georgia, United States.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The population was 4,435 at the 2020 census.
History
.jpg)
Summerville was founded in 1838 as the seat of the newly formed Chattooga County. It was incorporated as a town in 1839 and as a city in 1909.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Summerville was named from the fact it was a popular summer resort.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The city thrived in the late 1880s with the construction of the Chattanooga, Rome and Columbus Railroad (later part of the Central of Georgia system).<ref name=cooksey>Elizabeth Cooksey, "Chattooga County," New Georgia Encyclopedia, 2005.</ref>
The Chattooga County Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed in 1909.<ref name=cooksey /> The Summerville Depot, completed by the Central of Georgia in 1918, is also listed on the National Register, and is home to several annual festivals.<ref>Kenneth Thomas, Jr., National Register of Historic Places Inventory Form for Summerville Depot, December 1991.</ref>
The Summerville Commercial Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.<ref name=summerville>Template:Cite web</ref> It covers about eight city blocks centered around Commerce Street, Georgia Avenue, and Washington Avenue in Summerville.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, all of it land. The city lies along the Chattooga River at the western base of the Taylor Ridge. U.S. Route 27 connects Summerville with Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the north, and Rome to the southeast. Georgia State Route 114 connects the city with Lyerly to the south, and Georgia State Route 48 connects the city with Menlo near the Alabama state line to the west.
Climate
Demographics
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 3,060 | 69.0% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 958 | 21.6% |
| Native American | 6 | 0.14% |
| Asian | 5 | 0.11% |
| Other/Mixed | 270 | 6.09% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 136 | 3.07% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,435 people, 1,769 households, and 997 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,556 people, 1,823 households, and 1,141 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,092 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 72.06% White, 25.31% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.90% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.58% of the population.
There were 1,823 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,911, and the median income for a family was $35,579. Males had a median income of $26,707 versus $20,222 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,090. About 18.1% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public education in Summerville is administered by the Chattooga County School District. The district operates three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.<ref>Georgia Board of EducationTemplate:Dead link, Retrieved June 3, 2010.</ref> The district has 184 full-time teachers and over 2,834 students.<ref>School Stats, Retrieved June 3, 2010.</ref>
- Leroy Massey Elementary School
- Lyerly Elementary School
- Menlo Elementary School
- Summerville Middle School
- Chattooga County High School
World Friendship Flag Project Inc.
The World Friendship Flag Project Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Summerville that focuses on childhood hunger and community engagement in Summerville through CARE and the Paradise Garden Foundation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History and influence on Summerville
The organization's founder, John Charles Turner, is a retired teacher who taught art at Chattooga High School. He was the advisor of the school's Rotary Interact Club where the World Friendship Flag was created. The flag was designed by Howard Finster, an artist who also resided in Summerville.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The flag was shown at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Brody Malone, a gymnast from Summerville, competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and was given a signed World Friendship Flag.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2021, Summerville began the annual Friendship Festival, which occurs in Dowdy Park on the last Saturday in July. Preceding the event is Friendship Week, a week-long event with activities intended to promote community engagement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Summerville has branded itself as the "friendship capital of the world."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2023, a pocket park known as the World Friendship Pocket Park was completed in Summerville. The park was funded by a "Buy a Brick" fundraiser which allowed people to purchase engraved bricks to be displayed in the park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the center of the park is the "Solid Rock of World Friendship," a commemorative rock for the World Friendship Flag Project.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable people
- Bobby Lee Cook, noted trial attorney
- Edna Cain Daniel, journalist and publisher
- Howard Finster, folk artist
- Brody Malone, artistic gymnast
- Senorise Perry, NFL player
See also
References
External links
- Template:Commons category-inline
- Summerville, Georgia official site
- World Friendship Flag Project Inc. official site
Template:Chattooga County, Georgia Template:Georgia county seats