Allentown, Georgia

Allentown is a city in Bleckley, Laurens, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, primarily in Wilkinson County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 169,^[4] down from 287 at the 2000 census. In 2020, its population was 195. The Twiggs County portion is part of the Macon metropolitan statistical area, while the Laurens County portion is part of the Dublin micropolitan statistical area. The remaining Wilkinson and Bleckley County portions are not part of any metropolitan or micropolitan area.

Allentown, Georgia
City
Location of Allentown, Georgia
Coordinates: 32°35′31″N 83°13′41″W
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Counties	Wilkinson, Twiggs, Laurens, Bleckley
Area [1]
• Total	4.60 sq mi (11.92 km2)
• Land	4.58 sq mi (11.86 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation [2]	430 ft (130 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	195
• Density	42.60/sq mi (16.45/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	31003
Area code	478
FIPS code	13-01500[3]
GNIS feature ID	0310468[2]
Website	cityofallentownga.org

History

Allentown was named in 1891 when the Macon, Dublin & Savannah Railroad was extended to that point.^[5] John Allen, an early postmaster, gave the town his last name.^[5] Allentown was incorporated in 1901.^[6]

Geography

The center of Allentown and most of the buildings are in the southern corner of Wilkinson County, but the city limits extend west into Twiggs County, south into Bleckley County, and southeast into Laurens County.

U.S. Route 80 passes through the center of town, leading northwest 10 miles (16 km) to Jeffersonville and southeast 20 miles (32 km) to Dublin. Interstate 16 passes through the south end of the city, with access from Exit 32 (State Route 112). I-16 leads northwest 31 miles (50 km) to Macon and southeast 134 miles (216 km) to Savannah. State Route 112 passes through the center of Allentown as Balls Ferry Road, leading northeast 10 miles (16 km) to U.S. Route 441 at Nicklesville and southwest 18 miles (29 km) to Cochran.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Allentown has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²), of which 0.03 square miles (0.07 km²), or 0.55%, are water.^[7]

The north side of Allentown drains to Devils Branch, a tributary of Turkey Creek and part of the Oconee River watershed. The south side drains to Little Rocky Creek, a tributary of Rocky Creek, then Turkey Creek and the Oconee.^[8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1960	450		—
1970	295		−34.4%
1980	321		8.8%
1990	273		−15.0%
2000	287		5.1%
2010	169		−41.1%
2020	195		15.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1850-1870[10] 1870-1880[11] 1890-1910[12] 1920-1930[13] 1940[14] 1950[15] 1960[16] 1970[17] 1980[18] 1990[19] 2000[20]

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 287 people, 121 households, and 72 families residing in the town. In 2020, its population declined to 195.

In 2023, of the 195 people who lived in Allentown, 110 of them lived in Wilkinson County and 59 of them lived in Twiggs County. No persons lived in the portions in Bleckly and Laurens counties.^[21]

Education

The Wilkinson County portion is in the Wilkinson County School District.^[22]

The Twiggs County portion is in the Twiggs County School District.^[23]

The Bleckley County portion is in the Bleckley County School District,^[24] and the Laurens County portion is in the Laurens County School District.^[25] As of 2023^[update] there were no residents in the parts in Bleckley and Laurens counties.^[21]