Hawkinsville, Georgia

Hawkinsville, Georgia
City
Nicknames: 
The Good Life, Harness Capital of the World
Motto: 
Where Progress Sets Pace
Location in Pulaski County and the state of Georgia
Location in Pulaski County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°17′1″N 83°28′36″W / 32.28361°N 83.47667°W / 32.28361; -83.47667
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyPulaski
Government
[1]
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • Council ChairpersonBernice Banks
 • City ManagerSara Myers
Area
[2]
 • Total
5.38 sq mi (13.93 km2)
 • Land5.37 sq mi (13.91 km2)
 • Water0.0077 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
260 ft (80 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,980
 • Density741.1/sq mi (286.14/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
31036
Area code478
FIPS code13235[3]
GNIS feature ID0331934[4]
Websitehawkinsville-pulaski.org

Hawkinsville is a city in Middle Georgia and the county seat of Pulaski County, Georgia, United States.[5][6] As of 2020, it has a population of 3,980.[7]

The city is known as the "Harness Horse Capital of Georgia" and holds an annual Harness Horse Festival to celebrate its connections to the sport.[8] Hawkinsville is also known as the "Highway Hub," with seven major highways running through the city.[8][9]

History

Main Street, 1908

Hawkinsville was founded in 1830, and in 1836, it replaced Hartford as the county seat of Pulaski County.[10] The city was named after Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, a Senator and Delegate to the Continental Congress from North Carolina. After the war ended, he was appointed Indian agent in charge of affairs south of the Ohio River by George Washington.[11][8]

Well before the city's formal establishment, Hawkinsville was a key center for regional trade and travel. It was situated along the Slosheye Trail, a trading route dating back to around 1750 that connected the area to Drayton, Georgia. This trail was used by Native Americans and early European traders throughout the area. The traffic on the trail continued to grow, and it was eventually turned into a road. Its location is marked on what is now Commerce Street in Downtown Hawkinsville.[12]

In 1818 General Andrew Jackson is believed to have passed through the city while travelling to Florida during the First Seminole War. The trail is designated by the Andrew Jackson Trail historical marker in the city.[13]

Hawkinsville is known as the "Harness Horse Capital of Georgia." Since 1894, the city has hosted harness racing events. Beginning in the 1920s, harness horses have travelled from colder climates to train Hawkinsville due to its Hawkinsville's mild winters. The city holds an annual Harness Festival on the first Saturday in April to celebrate the legacy of harness racing in Hawkinsville.[8][14]

Geography

Hawkinsville City Hall

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.39 square miles (14.0 km2), of which 5.38 square miles (13.9 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.026 km2) (1.57%) is water.[2]

Climate

Hawkinsville has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Climate data for Hawkinsville, Georgia (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1892–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 86
(30) 		88
(31) 		96
(36) 		99
(37) 		102
(39) 		107
(42) 		106
(41) 		107
(42) 		110
(43) 		102
(39) 		90
(32) 		89
(32) 		110
(43)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 58.8
(14.9) 		62.8
(17.1) 		70.1
(21.2) 		77.4
(25.2) 		85.0
(29.4) 		90.2
(32.3) 		92.4
(33.6) 		91.1
(32.8) 		86.8
(30.4) 		78.3
(25.7) 		68.7
(20.4) 		61.1
(16.2) 		76.9
(24.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 34.8
(1.6) 		37.2
(2.9) 		43.1
(6.2) 		49.9
(9.9) 		59.0
(15.0) 		67.1
(19.5) 		70.1
(21.2) 		69.6
(20.9) 		64.0
(17.8) 		52.7
(11.5) 		42.0
(5.6) 		36.7
(2.6) 		52.2
(11.2)
Record low °F (°C) −2
(−19) 		−3
(−19) 		15
(−9) 		28
(−2) 		36
(2) 		45
(7) 		55
(13) 		52
(11) 		35
(2) 		23
(−5) 		11
(−12) 		5
(−15) 		−3
(−19)
Average rainfall inches (mm) 4.65
(118) 		4.33
(110) 		4.52
(115) 		3.69
(94) 		2.90
(74) 		4.39
(112) 		4.66
(118) 		4.68
(119) 		4.07
(103) 		2.92
(74) 		3.14
(80) 		4.59
(117) 		48.54
(1,234)
Source: NOAA[15]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870813—
18801,54289.7%
18901,75513.8%
19002,10319.8%
19103,42062.6%
19203,070−10.2%
19302,484−19.1%
19403,00020.8%
19503,34211.4%
19603,96718.7%
19704,0772.8%
19804,3727.2%
19903,527−19.3%
20003,280−7.0%
20104,58939.9%
20203,980−13.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Hawkinsville had a population of 3,980, with 1,449 households.[17][18] The median age was 39.2 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.8% were age 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 71.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 62.6 males age 18 and over.[17]

Of the 1,449 households, 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 33.0% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 40.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was age 65 or older.[17]

There were 1,740 housing units, of which 16.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0%, and the rental vacancy rate was 12.4%.[17]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[19]

Hawkinsville racial composition (2020)[20][18]
Race Num. Perc.
White 1,925 48.37%
Black or African American 1,822 45.78%
Native American 6 0.15%
Asian 47 1.18%
Pacific Islander 1 0.03%
Other/Mixed 90 2.26%
Hispanic or Latino 89 2.24%

Economy

The Georgia Department of Corrections operates the Pulaski State Prison in Hawkinsville.[21]

The United States Postal Service operates the Hawkinsville Post Office.[22]

Arts and culture

National Register of Historic Places

  • Hawkinsville Opera House, constructed in 1907, has served as an entertainment venue, religious gathering place, and government center.[23]
  • Hawkinsville Public School, constructed between 1936 and 1969.[24]
  • Merritt-Ragan House, a Queen-Anne style home built in 1840.[25]
  • Pulaski County Courthouse, constructed in 1874.[26]
  • Taylor Hall, moved to Hawkinsville in 1836.[27]
  • St. Thomas African Methodist Episcopal Church, constructed between 1908 and 1912.[28]
  • R.J. Taylor Memorial Hospital, which operated from 1938 to 1976.[29][30]
  • Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District.[31]

Education

Pulaski County School District

The Pulaski County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve. It consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 95.70 full-time teachers and 1,341 students.[32]

Central Georgia Technical College

Central Georgia Technical College operates the Sam Way, Sr. Hawkinsville Workforce Development Center. The Center offers an array of educational opportunities, including adult education, dual enrollment courses, and continuing education.[33]

Infrastructure

Highways include:[34]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "City Commissioners". Hawkinsville-Pulaski County. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  3. ^ "State, County and City FIPS Reference Table". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  5. ^ "Middle Georgia | Region 6 | Georgia Department of Economic Development". georgia.org. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  6. ^ "Geography: County Creation and County Seat" (PDF). Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  7. ^ Decennial Census, DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171), Table P1, 2020. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d "Hawkinsville, Georgia | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation". www.achp.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  9. ^ "Transportation & Location | Hawkinsville-Pulaski Economic Development". www.hawkinsvillega.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  10. ^ "Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District" . National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  11. ^ "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  12. ^ Taylor, George (September 4, 2011). "Slosheye Trail Marker, Hawkinsville, GA". George Lansing Taylor Collection Main Gallery.
  13. ^ "Georgia : great in agriculture, industrial and natural resources, rich in history, scenic beauty and spots of tourists' interest - Digital Library of Georgia". dlg.usg.edu. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  14. ^ "About – Harness Hawkinsville". Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  15. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  16. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  17. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  18. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  19. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  20. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  21. ^ "Pulaski State Prison Archived 2011-05-23 at the Wayback Machine." Georgia Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 14, 2010.
  22. ^ "Post Office Location - HAWKINSVILLE Archived 2012-06-16 at the Wayback Machine." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on September 14, 2010.
  23. ^ "Hawkinsville City Hall-Auditorium". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  24. ^ "Hawkinsville Public school". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  25. ^ "Merritt-Ragan House" National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  26. ^ "Pulaski County Courthouse". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  27. ^ "Taylor Hall". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  28. ^ "St. Thomas African Methodist Episcopal Church" . National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  29. ^ Summary of Proposed National Register/Georgia Register Nomination. Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. Retrieved April 21, 2025
  30. ^ "Taylor Memorial Hospital building added to National Register of Historic Places". WMAZ. October 7, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  31. ^ "Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  32. ^ "Search for Public School Districts - District Detail for". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  33. ^ "Hawkinsville Workforce Development Center | Central Georgia Technical College". www.centralgatech.edu. December 19, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  34. ^ Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Digital Map. Hawkinsville-Pulaski County. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  35. ^ Behar, Richard. "Joe's Bad Trip". Time. July 24, 1989.
  36. ^ "Hawkinsville paints the town blue for Charles Johnson". WMAZ. February 1, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  37. ^ StudySC (January 11, 2022). "Jeezy". studysc.org. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  38. ^ "Young Jeezy gives back to his hometown of Hawkinsville". WMAZ. August 10, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  39. ^ "Educator Eva C. Mitchell". Daily Press. February 15, 1990. p. 24. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  40. ^ “Vice Admiral Robert H. Scarborough.” United States Coast Guard. Retrieved April 26, 2025
  41. ^ Slotnik, Daniel E. (April 29, 2017). "Thomas Forkner, Waffle House Co-Founder, Dies at 98". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  42. ^ "Nomination of Inez M. Tenenbaum to be chairman and commissioner for the consumer product safety commission". www.congress.gov. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
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