Damascus, Georgia
City
Damascus City Hall and Police Department
Damascus City Hall and Police Department
Location in Early County and the state of Georgia
Location in Early County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°17′55″N 84°43′3″W / 31.29861°N 84.71750°W / 31.29861; -84.71750
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyEarly
Area
[1]
 • Total1.77 sq mi (4.58 km2)
 • Land1.76 sq mi (4.56 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
220 ft (67 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total212
 • Density120.39/sq mi (46.48/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
31741, 39841
Area code229
FIPS code13-21436[2]
GNIS feature ID0355426[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

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

Damascus is located in eastern Early County at 31°17′55″N 84°43′3″W / 31.29861°N 84.71750°W / 31.29861; -84.71750 (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

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910413—
1920373−9.7%
193043616.9%
19404779.4%
1950402−15.7%
1960297−26.1%
1970272−8.4%
198040348.2%
1990290−28.0%
2000277−4.5%
2010254−8.3%
2020212−16.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
Damascus city, Georgia – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
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

Southwest Georgia Academy, located on the grounds of the former Damascus High School

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]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. 1 2 "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.
  5. 1 2 Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 57. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  6. ↑ Acts Passed by the General Assembly of Georgia. J. Johnston. 1914. p. 932.
  7. ↑ NWS Damage Survey for 02/15/2021 Tornado Event – Update #2 (Report). National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Tallahassee, Florida. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  8. ↑ Storm Events Database February 15, 2021 (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ "A town lost in time". Atlanta Constitution. March 2, 1980. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Welcome." Southwest Georgia Academy. Retrieved on July 31, 2017.
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