Manchester, Georgia

Manchester, Georgia
Manchester in 2012
Manchester in 2012
Location in Meriwether County and the state of Georgia
Location in Meriwether County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°51′22″N 84°37′3″W / 32.85611°N 84.61750°W / 32.85611; -84.61750
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountiesMeriwether, Talbot
Area
 • Total
8.05 sq mi (20.85 km2)
 • Land8.01 sq mi (20.75 km2)
 • Water0.035 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
883 ft (269 m)
Population
 • Total
3,584
 • Density447.3/sq mi (172.69/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
31816
Area code706
FIPS code13-49532[3]
GNIS feature ID0317652[4]
Websitemanchester-ga.gov

Manchester is a town in Meriwether and Talbot counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, although primarily in Meriwether. The population was 3,584 at the 2020 census,[2] down from 4,230 in 2010. It is the most populous community in Meriwether County. CSX Transportation runs a railroad yard in Manchester.

History

Manchester was founded in 1907, when the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railway was extended northward to that point; it was merged into the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1946.[5] From Manchester the railroad diverged, with one line going to Atlanta and another to Birmingham. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Manchester as a city in 1909.[6] The city was named after Manchester, England.[5]

In 2019, CSX Transportation demolished the historic Manchester Yard Office in order to make way for a new, larger, yard facilities building.

Geography

Manchester is in west central Georgia, in southern Meriwether County, with a small portion extending south into Talbot County. The ridge of Pine Mountain runs along the southern edge of the city, rising 300 feet (91 m) above the city to an elevation of 1,180 feet (360 m) above sea level. Georgia State Route 85 is the main highway through the city, leading southwest 39 miles (63 km) to Columbus and north 10 miles (16 km) to Woodbury. Georgia 85 meets Georgia 190 in the southern part of the city, which leads west 16 miles (26 km) along the crest of Pine Mountain to U.S. Route 27 south of the town of Pine Mountain. Georgia 85 meets Georgia 41 in the center of Manchester, which leads southeast 6 miles (10 km) to Woodland and northwest 5 miles (8 km) to Warm Springs.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Manchester has a total area of 8.0 square miles (21 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 0.45%, are water.[1] Pigeon Creek runs along the northern border of the city and flows east to the Flint River.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1910922
19202,776201.1%
19303,74534.9%
19403,462−7.6%
19504,03616.6%
19604,1152.0%
19704,77916.1%
19804,7960.4%
19904,104−14.4%
20003,988−2.8%
20104,2306.1%
20203,584−15.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1850-1870[8] 1880[9]
1890-1910[10] 1920-1930[11]
1930-1940[12] 1940-1950[13]
1960-1980[14]1980-2000[15]
The Manchester Community Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 28, 2002.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Manchester had a population of 3,584. The median age was 39.8 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 78.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 73.0 males age 18 and over.[16][17]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[18]

There were 1,509 households in Manchester, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 31.5% were married-couple households, 17.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 44.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]

There were 1,728 housing units, of which 12.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.[16]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[17]
Race Number Percent
White 1,685 47.0%
Black or African American 1,714 47.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native 3 0.1%
Asian 19 0.5%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2 0.1%
Some other race 32 0.9%
Two or more races 129 3.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 73 2.0%

Demographic estimates

Circa 2022 Manchester had 4,230 people. 4,118 of them were in Meriwether County and 112 of them were in Talbot County.[19]

Education

Residents in Meriwether County are in the Meriwether County School District.[20]

Residents in Talbot County are in the Talbot County School District.[21]

Notable people

  • Bill Mathis, former Clemson and Super Bowl-winning New York Jets football player
  • Stuart Woods, novelist.[22] Manchester, dubbed Delano, was the setting for his first best-seller, Chiefs, and most of his subsequent books have a character who comes from the city.

References

  1. ^ a b "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "P1. Race – Manchester city, Georgia: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  4. ^ "Manchester". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  5. ^ a b Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 143. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  6. ^ Acts and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia. State printer. 1909. p. 1071.
  7. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  8. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1870.
  9. ^ "1880 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1880.
  10. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930. p. 253.
  12. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1940.
  13. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  14. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  15. ^ "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 2000.
  16. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  17. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  18. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  19. ^ "General Highway Map Talbot County" (PDF). Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  20. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Meriwether County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2024. - Text list
  21. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Talbot County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2024. - Text list
  22. ^ "Stuart Woods Official Website". www.stuartwoods.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2002. Retrieved May 22, 2022.