Americus, Georgia
Location in Sumter County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°4′31″N 84°13′36″W / 32.07528, -84.22667
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Sumter
Area
- Total	10. Sumter County is a County located in the US state of Georgia. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The political units and divisions of the United States include The 50 states (four of these being officially styled as Commonwealths) which are typically The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule The US state of Georgia is divided into 159 counties. Under the Georgia Constitution, counties are granted Home rule to deal with Sumter County is a County located in the US state of Georgia. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 7 sq mi (27. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 6 km²)
- Land	10. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 5 sq mi (27. 1 km²)
- Water	0. 2 sq mi (0. 5 km²)
Elevation	479 ft (146 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	17,013
- Density	1,590/sq mi (616. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 3/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	31709, 31710, 31719
Area code(s)	229
FIPS code	13-02116[1]
GNIS feature ID	0331037[2]

Americus is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America UTC−5 is the Time offset used in the North American Eastern Time Zone during Standard time and in the North American Central Time Zone during Daylight saving time ( DST UTC−4 is the Time offset used in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone in Canada in winter and the North American Eastern Time Zone during The ZIP code is the system of Postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks Area code 229 is a Telephone Area code serving the state of Georgia. Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the United States Federal government for use by all non-military The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout Sumter County is a County located in the US state of Georgia. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The population was 17,013 at the 2000 census. Americus is the home of Habitat for Humanity International's international headquarters, the famous Windsor Hotel (from 1892), Fuller Center for Housing international headquarters, The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving[2], Glover Foods and many more well-known organizations. Habitat For Humanity International ( HFHI) (generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or simply Habitat) is an international Ecumenical The Windsor Hotel at 125 West Lamar Street in Americus Georgia was built in 1892 to attract winter visitors from the Northeastern United States.

The city is the county seat of Sumter County. A county seat is a term for an Administrative center for a County, primarily used in the United States. Sumter County is a County located in the US state of Georgia. ^[3]

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 2.1 Early years 2.2 Into the 20th century 2.3 Americus and the Civil Rights Movement 3 Demographics 4 Schools 5 Tornado 6 Notable people 7 Notable facts 8 References 9 External links

Geography

Americus is located at 32°4′31″N, 84°13′36″W (32. 075221, -84. 226602). ^[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census 7 square miles (27. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 7 km²), of which, 10. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 5 square miles (27. 1 km²) of it is land and 0. 2 square miles (0. 5 km²) of it (1. 87%) is water.

History

Early years

Americus, Georgia was named and chartered by Sen. The Windsor Hotel at 125 West Lamar Street in Americus Georgia was built in 1892 to attract winter visitors from the Northeastern United States. Lovett B. Smith in 1832. Year 1832 ( MDCCCXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian

For its first two decades, Americus was a small courthouse town. The arrival of the railroad in 1854 and, three decades later, local attorney Samuel H. Hawkins' construction of the only privately financed railroad in state history, made Americus the eighth largest city in Georgia into the twentieth century. It was known as the "Metropolis of Southwest Georgia," a reflection of its status as a cotton distribution center. In 1890, Georgia's first chartered electric street car system went into operation in Americus. A tram, tramcar, trolley, trolley car, or streetcar is a railborne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a Train One of its restored cars is on permanent display at the Lake Blackshear Regional Library.

The town was already graced with an abundance of antebellum and Victorian architecture when local capitalists opened the Windsor Hotel in 1892. The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of Architectural styles predominantly employed during the Victorian era. The Windsor Hotel at 125 West Lamar Street in Americus Georgia was built in 1892 to attract winter visitors from the Northeastern United States. A five-story Queen Anne edifice, it was designed by a Swedish architect, Gottfried L. Norrman, in Atlanta. Godfrey Leonard Norrman (1846 &ndash November 16, 1909) was an important architect in the Southeastern United States Vice-President Thomas R. Marshall gave a speech from the balcony in 1917 and soon to be New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke in the dining room in 1928.

On January 1, 1976, the city center was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Americus Historic District. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of The district boundaries were extended in 1979.

Into the 20th century

For the local black community, Rev. Dr. Major W. Reddick established the Americus Institute for Secondary Education (1897–1932). Booker T. Washington was a guest speaker there in May 1908. Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5 1856 &ndash November 14 1915 was an American educator orator author and leader of the African-American community Rev. Alfred S. Staley was responsible for locating the state Masonic Orphanage in Americus, which served its function from 1898 to 1940. Both men engineered the unification of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia in 1915, the former as president and the latter as recording secretary. The public school named in honor of A. S. Staley was designated a National School of Excellence in 1990.

Two other institutions of higher learning were also established in Americus, the Third District Agricultural and Mechanical School in 1906 (now Georgia Southwestern State University), and the South Georgia Trade and Vocational School in 1948 (now South Georgia Technical College). Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus Georgia, is a school in the University System of Georgia.

In World War I, an Army Air Service training facility, Souther Field, was commissioned northeast of the city limits. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The United States Army Air Service was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Charles A. Lindbergh, the "Lone Eagle," bought his first airplane and made his first solo flight there during a two-week stay in May 1923. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Recommissioned for World War II, Souther Field ended the war as a German prisoner-of-war camp. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The town was incorporated in 1932, and the name Americus was picked out of a hat ^[5]. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar.

Americus and the Civil Rights Movement

Koinonia Farm, an interracial Christian community, was organized near Americus in 1942. See also Protests of 1968 Historically the civil rights movement was a concentrated period of time around the world of approximately twenty years (1960-1980 in Koinonia Partners, also known as Koinonia Farm, is an intentional Christian farming Community in Sumter County Georgia. Founder Clarence Jordan was a mentor to Millard and Linda Fuller, who founded Habitat for Humanity International at Koinonia in 1976 before moving into Americus the following year. Clarence Jordan ( July 29, 1912 - October 29, 1969) a Farmer and New Testament Greek scholar was the founder Millard Fuller is the founder and former president of Habitat for Humanity International, a Nonprofit organization known globally for building houses for those Habitat For Humanity International ( HFHI) (generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or simply Habitat) is an international Ecumenical In 2005, they founded the Fuller Center for Housing, also in Americus. Koinonia Partners is currently located southwest of Americus on Hwy. Koinonia Partners, also known as Koinonia Farm, is an intentional Christian farming Community in Sumter County Georgia. 49.

The Civil Rights Era in Americus was a time of great turmoil; violent opposition to Koinonia by racist elements led to the bombing of a store uptown in 1957. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spent a weekend in the courthouse jail in 1961, after an arrest in Albany. Martin Luther King Jr ( January 15, 1929 April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, Activist and prominent leader The "Sumter Movement" to end racial segregation was organized and led by Rev. Joseph R. Campbell in 1963. As a direct result, two Georgia laws were subsequently declared unconstitutional by a federal tribunal meeting in Americus. Color barriers were first removed in 1965 when J. W. Jones and Henry L. Williams joined the Americus police force. Lewis M. Lowe was elected as the first black city councilman ten years later. With their election in 1995, Eloise R. Paschal and Eddie Rhea Walker broke the gender barrier on the city's governing body.

In 1971, the city was featured in a Marshall Frady article, "Discovering One Another in a Georgia Town," in Life magazine. The portrayal of the city's school integration was relatively benign, especially considering the community's checkered past on race relations. Americus' nadir in this respect had occurred in 1913, when Will Redding was lynched by a mob uptown because he had shot Police Chief W. C. Barrow, who later died of his wounds.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 17,013 people, 6,374 households, and 4,149 families residing in the city. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population The population density was 1,623. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 1 people per square mile (626. 8/km²). There were 7,053 housing units at an average density of 672. 9/sq mi (259. 8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 39. 05% White, 58. 26% African American, 0. 23% Native American, 0. 86% Asian, 0. 01% Pacific Islander, 0. 90% from other races, and 0. 69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2. 49% of the population.

There were 6,374 households out of which 32. 8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34. 2% were married couples living together, 27. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** 4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34. 9% were non-families. 29. 6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10. 5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2. 52 and the average family size was 3. 14.

In the city the population was spread out with 28. 0% under the age of 18, 14. 1% from 18 to 24, 26. 1% from 25 to 44, 18. 0% from 45 to 64, and 13. 7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 79. 4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70. 4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,808, and the median income for a family was $32,132. Males had a median income of $27,055 versus $20,169 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,168. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country About 23. 4% of families and 27. 7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country 1% of those under age 18 and 19. 8% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

Public schools in Americus include Americus-Sumter County High School, Cherokee Elementary, Sumter Primary, Sumter Elementary, Sumter Middle, Sarah Cobb, and Staley Middle School.

The current superintendent is Dr. Dennis MacMahon. He succeeded Dr. Franklin Perry in 2005.

In 2004, Sumter County High School and Americus High School merged, becoming Americus-Sumter County High School; the South Campus houses grades 10-12 while the North Campus (formerly Sumter High) serves as the 9th Grade Academy, the Performance Learning Center, and the alternative school. At the time of the merger, Juanita Wilson was the principal of the South Campus. She retired in 2005 and was replaced by Tony Overstreet for the 2005–2006 school term. Dr. Larry Moore served as principal from 2006-2008 before being replaced by Ron Gadson for the 2008-2009 school term.

The school competes in the AAAA classification in athletics. Before the merger, Americus High School won state championships in football in 1962, 1965, 1974, 1975, 2000, and 2001. NFL player Leonard Pope was a member of the championship teams in 2000 and 2001. Fabian Walker, the starting quarterback for Florida State University in the 2003 Sugar Bowl against the University of Georgia, also graduated from Americus High. Former NFL coaches Chan Gailey and Dan Reeves are graduates and former football players at Americus High.

The first merged football team was led by Coach William Clark. He was succeeded by Coach Mark Wilson in 2006.

Georgia Southwestern State University and South Georgia Technical College are also located in Americus. Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus Georgia, is a school in the University System of Georgia.

Tornado

Americus was the target of a tornado around 9:15 P. A tornado is a violent rotating column of air which is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a Cumulonimbus cloud or in rare cases the base of a Cumulus M. on March 1, 2007. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The EF-3 tornado was up to one mile wide, and carved a 38 mile path of destruction through the city. ^[6] It destroyed parts of Sumter Regional Hospital, forcing the evacuations of all of the patients there. There were two fatalities at a Hudson Street residence near the hospital; all SRH patients were evacuated safely. The hospital, however, faces major reconstruction issues and may not be re-opened until 2010. A makeshift medical facility has opened in a parking lot adjacent to the damaged hospital structure.

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue said, "It was worse that I had feared. Colonial governors James Oglethorpe, Resident Trustee, 1733 - 1743 ( Oglethorpe County) William Stephens, George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III (born December 20, 1946) is the governor of the U The hospital was hit, but the devastation within the area of Sumter County and Americus was more than I imagined. The businesses around the hospital are totally destroyed. Power is still not restored in many places. It's just a blessing frankly that we didn't have more fatalities than we did. "^[7] Over 500 homes were affected, with around 100 completely destroyed. Several businesses throughout the town were seriously damaged or destroyed as well. Among the businesses suffering major damage were Winn Dixie supermarket, Wendy's, Zaxby's, McDonald's, Dominoes Pizza, and several local businesses. The Winn Dixie was completely destroyed. Dominoes Pizza has since reopened, and Winn Dixie is currently being rebuilt and scheduled for open in the spring of 2008.

President George W. Bush visited the area on March 3, calling what he saw "tough devastation. "

Notable people

Nationally prominent citizens of Americus include:

• Gen. Howell Cobb
• Gen. (Thomas Howell Cobb ( September 7, 1815 – October 9, 1868) was an American political figure Phillip Cook
• Charles F. Crisp
• Charles R. Crisp
• Ruby Muhammad
• Lonne Elder III
• Millard Fuller
• Linda Fuller
• Rev. Charles Frederick Crisp (January 29 1845 - October 23 1896 was a U Userpolbot from http//bioguidecongressgov/scripts/biodisplaypl?index=C000909 Ruby Muhammad is the "Mother of the Nation of Islam " Lonne Elder III (December 26 1927 &ndash June 11 1996 was an American Actor, Playwright and Screenwriter. Millard Fuller is the founder and former president of Habitat for Humanity International, a Nonprofit organization known globally for building houses for those Dr. M. William Howard, Jr.
• Angel Myers-Martino
• Joanna Cook Moore
• Kent Hill
• Dan Reeves
• Jeff McCleskey
• Mo Sanford
• Leonard Pope
• Griffin Bell

Notable facts

• Americus has been facing a large bat infestation since the mid-1990s; millions of bats are estimated to reside in the historic mansions there. Joanna Cook Moore ( November 10, 1934 – November 22, 1997) was an American film and television actress best known for her guest Kent Angelo Hill (born March 7 1957) is a former American football Offensive lineman who played nine seasons in the National Football Daniel Edward Reeves (born January 19, 1944 in Rome Georgia) is a former American football player and head coach Meredith Leroy (Mo Sanford (born December 24, 1966, in Americus Georgia) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Leonard Pope (born September 9, 1983 in Americus Georgia) is a current American football Tight end for the Arizona Cardinals Griffin Boyette Bell (born October 31, 1918) is an American lawyer and former United States Attorney General. ^[8]

References

External links

• City of Americus, Georgia
• AmericusGeorgia.net - Area info, by and for Americus Locals
• Americus (in the New Georgia Encyclopedia)
• The Americus Newsletter
• Americus Sumter Chamber of Commerce

• Americus, Georgia is at coordinates 32°04′31″N 84°13′36″W / 32.075221, -84.226602 (Americus, Georgia)Coordinates: 32°04′31″N 84°13′36″W / 32.075221, -84.226602 (Americus, Georgia)

A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.

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