View source for Bainbridge, Georgia

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name                     = Bainbridge, Georgia
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = "Georgia's First Inland Port"<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.bainbridgecity.com/| title= City of Bainbridge website| publisher= City of Bainbridge Georgia| access-date= September 6, 2012| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120905093328/http://www.bainbridgecity.com/| archive-date= 2012-09-05| url-status= dead}}</ref>

<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline            = Bainbridge City Hall.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Bainbridge City Hall
|image_flag               = Flag of Bainbridge, Georgia.png
|flag_size                = 
|image_seal               = Seal of Bainbridge, Georgia.png
|seal_size                = 
|image_shield             = 
|shield_size              = 
|image_blank_emblem       = 
|blank_emblem_type        = 
|blank_emblem_size        = 
|image_map                = Decatur_County_Georgia_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Bainbridge_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Decatur County, Georgia|Decatur County]] and the state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Georgia (U.S. state)|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Decatur County, Georgia|Decatur]]
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
|subdivision_type4        = 
|subdivision_name4        = 
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Edward Reynolds
|leader_title1            = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_name1             = 
|leader_title2            = 
|leader_name2             = 
|leader_title3            = 
|leader_name3             = 
|leader_title4            = 
|leader_name4             = 
|established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
|established_date         = 
|established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
|established_date3        = December 22, 1829<ref name="dca.state.ga.us" />

<!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude           = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_13.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 54.40
|area_land_km2            = 51.22
|area_water_km2           = 3.18
|area_total_sq_mi         = 21.00
|area_land_sq_mi          = 19.78
|area_water_sq_mi         = 1.23
|area_water_percent       = 
<!-- Population ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 14468
|population_density_km2   = 282.47
|population_density_sq_mi = 731.59
|population_metro         = 27842
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|30|54|17|N|84|34|16|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
|elevation_m              = 37
|elevation_ft             = 121
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 39817, 39819
|area_code                = [[Area code 229|229]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 13-04896<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0354431<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|bainbridgecity.com}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
}}

[[File:Bainbridge welcome sign, US84EB.JPG|thumb|right|Bainbridge Welcome sign on U.S. Route 84]]
[[File:Bainbridge High School (North face).JPG|thumb|right|Bainbridge High School (North face)]]
[[File:Bainbridge Police Car.JPG|thumb|right|Bainbridge Public Safety Police Car]]
[[File:2011.02.18.172157 Shotwell Street Bainbridge Georgia.jpg|thumb|right|Historic house at Shotwell Street]]
[[File:Oak City Cemetery, Bainbridge.jpg|thumb|right|Oak City Cemetery, Bainbridge]]
[[File:Welcome Earle May Boat Basin Park, Bainbridge.JPG|thumb|right|Welcome Earle May Boat Basin Park]]

'''Bainbridge''' is a city in [[Decatur County, Georgia|Decatur County]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], United States. The city is the [[county seat]] of Decatur County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city had a population of 14,468, up from 12,697 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the [[Decatur County, Georgia|Bainbridge, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area]] and a principal city in the [[Tallahassee metropolitan area|Tallahassee—Bainbridge, FL-GA Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
The first European settlement in what is today Bainbridge was a [[trading post]] set up by James Burges in the late 18th century. From him comes the name Burges's Bluff.<ref>{{cite book
|title=Fowltown. Neamathla, Tutakosi Talofa & the first battle of the Seminole Wars
|first1=Dale
|last1=Cox
|first2=Rachael
|last2=Conrad
|year=2017
|publisher=Old Kitchen Books
|isbn=978-0692977880}}</ref>{{rp|120}} The town was named after U.S. Navy Commodore [[William Bainbridge]],<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=7795| title= Profile for Bainbridge, Georgia, GA| publisher= ePodunk |access-date= September 6, 2012}}</ref> commander of the [[USS Constitution|USS ''Constitution'']] ("Old Ironsides"), and was incorporated on December 22, 1829.<ref name=dca.state.ga.us>{{cite web| url= http://www.dca.state.ga.us/cityscapes/comm.asp?D=1&city=Bainbridge&YRID=| archive-url= https://archive.today/20121224180410/http://www.dca.state.ga.us/cityscapes/comm.asp?D=1&city=Bainbridge&YRID=| url-status= dead| archive-date= December 24, 2012| title= Bainbridge| publisher= Georgia Department of Community Affairs| access-date= September 6, 2012}}</ref>

In 1824, Bainbridge was designated seat of the newly formed Decatur County.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA220 | title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States | publisher=Routledge | date=May 13, 2013 | access-date=30 November 2013 | author=Hellmann, Paul T. | pages=220| isbn=978-1135948597 }}</ref>

On October 10, 2018, Bainbridge fell victim to [[Hurricane Michael]]. The storm left widespread damage through the city limits, including downed trees, power lines, and structural damage. Many residents affected suffered severe damage to their homes.

==Geography==
Bainbridge is located in the center of Decatur County. The city is in southwestern Georgia along U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 27 in Georgia|27]] and [[U.S. Route 84 in Georgia|84]], which form a bypass around the southern part of the city. U.S. Route 27 leads southeast {{convert|42|mi}} to [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]], Florida, and north {{convert|128|mi}} to [[Columbus, Georgia|Columbus]]. U.S. Route 84 leads east {{convert|38|mi}} to [[Thomasville, Georgia|Thomasville]] and northwest {{convert|54|mi}} to [[Dothan, Alabama|Dothan]], Alabama. Other highways which run through the city include Georgia State Routes [[Georgia State Route 97|97]], [[Georgia State Route 253|253]], [[Georgia State Route 309|309]], and [[Georgia State Route 311|311]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|52.0|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|48.7|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|3.3|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 6.40%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1304896| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Bainbridge city, Georgia| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 20, 2015}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Bainbridge is located on the [[Flint River (Georgia)|Flint River]], which flows southwest to meet the [[Chattahoochee River|Chattahoochee]]. Together they form the [[Apalachicola River]] which flows to the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. At the junction of the two rivers, the [[Jim Woodruff Dam]] forms [[Lake Seminole]]. A system of [[lock (water transport)|locks]] at the dam allows barge traffic to travel between the inland port at Bainbridge and the Gulf of Mexico.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 1869
|1870= 1351
|1880= 1436
|1890= 1668
|1900= 2641
|1910= 4217
|1920= 4792
|1930= 6141
|1940= 6352
|1950= 7562
|1960= 12714
|1970= 10887
|1980= 10553
|1990= 10712
|2000= 11722
|2010= 12697
|2020= 14468
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 1850-1870<ref name=1870CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1870|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1870-1880<ref name=1880CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1880|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1880/vol-01-population/1880_v1-09.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref><br> 1890-1910<ref name=1910CensusGA>{{Cite web  |first=   |last=   |authorlink=   |title= 1910 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher= [[United States Census Bureau]]  |date= 1910  |url= https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ga.pdf  |accessdate=   |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240116032336/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ga.pdf  |archive-date= January 16, 2024  |page=   |url-status= dead  }}</ref> 1920-1930<ref name=1930CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1930 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1930|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|pages=251–256}}</ref><br> 1940<ref name=1940CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1940 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1940|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1950 Census of Population - Georgia |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1950|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-2/37779083v2p11ch2.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1960<ref name=1960CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1960|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-12-c.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1970<ref name=1970CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1970|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ga-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1980|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_gaABC-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1990<ref name=1990CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1990|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cph-5/cph-5-12.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 2000<ref name=2000CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 2000|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-12.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 2010 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 2010|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-12.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Bainbridge racial makeup as of 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1304896&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-09|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|5,106
|35.29%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|8,106
|56.03%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|31
|0.21%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|117
|0.81%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|4
|0.03%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|336
|2.32%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|768
|5.31%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 14,468 people, 4,471 households, and 3,111 families residing in the city.

==Economy==
It was announced in December 2019 that Brazil-based gun manufacturer [[Taurus (manufacturer)|Taurus]] had been granted a $39 million tax-incentive package to move from the Miami, Florida area to Bainbridge in return for creating 300 jobs. The package includes $20 million for construction, $7.9 million in tax credits, $4.5 million for infrastructure, $4.3 million in property-tax abatements, and $3 million for equipment, in addition to a land lease arrangement of $1/year for {{convert|73|acre|ha|abbr=off}} of land. The subsidy totals $130,000 per job.<ref>{{citation|website=Bloomberg Business |title=Gunmaker Gets $39 Million From Taxpayers for 300 Small-Town Jobs|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-19/gunmaker-gets-39-million-from-taxpayers-for-300-small-town-jobs|author1=Polly Mosendz |author2=Caleb Melby|date=Dec 19, 2019}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
=== Arts ===
* The Firehouse Gallery Art Gallery
* Bainbridge Little Theatre

===Annual cultural events===
River Town Days is held each year the second weekend of March.

The Swine Time Festival and Decatur County Fall Festival and Fair are annual events.<ref name=dca.state.ga.us />

===National Register of Historic Places===
The [[Decatur County Courthouse (Bainbridge, Georgia)|Decatur County Courthouse]] was constructed in 1902, and is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="dca.state.ga.us" /> Also listed on the Register is the [[First African Missionary Baptist Church]].<ref name=nrhpdocforFAMBC>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=01001535}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: First African Missionary Baptist Church |publisher=[[National Park Service]]|author=Steven Moffson |date=June 2001 }} with {{NRHP url|id=01001535|photos=y|title=12 photos}}</ref>

=== Public library ===
The Decatur County Gilbert H. Gragg Library is located in Bainbridge. The library serves the population of Decatur County and acts as the headquarters for the [[Southwest Georgia Regional Library]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://swgrl.org/decatur.php | title=Homepage | publisher=Southwest Georgia Regional Library System | access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref>

==Education==

=== Decatur County School District ===
The [[Decatur County School District]] holds pre-school to grade 12, and consists of two primary schools, one elementary school, one middle school, and a high school.<ref>[http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=111&PID=62&PTID=69&CountyId=643&T=0&FY=2009 Georgia Board of Education]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Retrieved June 8, 2010.</ref> The district has 384 full-time teachers and over 5,782 students.<ref>[http://www.school-stats.com/GA/DECATUR/DECATUR_COUNTY.html School Stats], Retrieved June 8, 2010.</ref>

Schools include:<ref>{{cite web | title = Our Schools | publisher = Decatur County School District | url = https://www.boe.dcboe.com/schools | access-date = December 31, 2020}}</ref>
*Jones-Wheat Primary School (grades PreK-2)
*West Bainbridge Primary School (grades PreK-2)
*Hutto Elementary School (grades 3–5)
*Bainbridge Middle School (grades 6–8)
*[[Bainbridge High School (Georgia)|Bainbridge High School]] (grades 9–12)

===Other schools===
*Grace Christian Academy (PreK-12)
*Spring Creek Charter Academy (PreK-10)

==Parks and recreation==
The Bainbridge-Decatur County [[YMCA]] opened on September 15, 1986. Its building had a cost of $1,000,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepostsearchlight.com/2012/03/21/too-small-for-a-ymca-no-way/|title=Too small for a YMCA? … No way!|newspaper=[[The Post Searchlight]]|date=2012-03-21|accessdate=2021-04-25}} - Author was the interim CEO of the YMCA.</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
The city is a seaport linked to the [[Gulf of Mexico]] via Florida's [[Apalachicola River]]. Officially known as [[Port Bainbridge]], these facilities are managed entirely by the [[Georgia Ports Authority]].

The [[Decatur County Industrial Air Park]], located {{convert|6|mi|0}} northwest of the city, provides general aviation service to the community.

==Notable people==<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->
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• The article must mention how they are associated with the community, whether born, raised, or residing.
• The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
• Alphabetical by last name, please.
• All others will be deleted without further explanation.
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* [[James Butler (American football)|James Butler]], NFL player
* [[Alfred Corn]], poet and essayist; born Bainbridge, raised in Valdosta
* [[Marvin Griffin]], former Georgia governor
* [[Miriam Hopkins]], Academy Award-nominated film actress
* [[Paul Kwilecki]], documentary photographer
* [[Jason Lancaster]], Singer and guitarist of Mayday Parade, singer of Go Radio, and solo career
* [[Dameon Pierce]], NFL player - Houston Texans 
* [[Brian Powell (baseball)|Brian Powell]], former MLB pitcher - Drafted by [[Detroit Tigers]] 
* [[David Ross (baseball)|David Ross]], [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] [[catcher]], two-time World Series champion, ''[[Dancing with the Stars]]'' contestant
* [[Kirby Smart]], head football coach for the [[University of Georgia]]
* [[Travis Smith (musician)|Travis Smith]], former drummer of Trivium
* [[Young Stribling]], professional heavyweight boxer

==References==
<references />

== Further reading ==
*{{Cite journal |last=Rogers |first=William Warren |date=2000 |title="Death has Been Busily at Work": Yellow Fever at Bainbridge in 1873 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40584339 |journal=The Georgia Historical Quarterly |volume=84 |issue=3 |pages=410–433 |issn=0016-8297}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190101074933/http://bainbridgecity.com/ City of Bainbridge official website]
*[http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2213 "Bainbridge" entry] in ''New Georgia Encyclopedia''
*[http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/sgnewspapers South Georgia Historic Newspapers Archive] - Digital Library of Georgia
{{Wikivoyage|Bainbridge (Georgia)|Bainbridge, Georgia}}
{{commons category|Bainbridge, Georgia}}

{{Decatur County, Georgia}}
{{Georgia county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Decatur County, Georgia]]
[[Category:County seats in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Bainbridge, Georgia]]