Baxley, Georgia

"Baxley" redirects here. For the surname, see Baxley (surname).

Baxley is a city in Appling County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 4,942. The city is the county seat of Appling County.^[4]

Baxley, Georgia
City
City hall in Baxley
Logo
Location in Appling County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°46′31″N 82°20′51″W
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Appling
Area [1]
• Total	8.11 sq mi (21.01 km2)
• Land	8.11 sq mi (20.99 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	203 ft (62 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,942
• Density	609.67/sq mi (235.40/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	31513, 31515
Area code	912
FIPS code	13-06016[2]
GNIS feature ID	0331106[3]
Website	www.baxley.org/city-of-baxley/

History

Baxley was first settled as a result of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad being built through Appling County in 1870. Originally, it was a railroad depot known as Station Number 7, but soon was named Baxley (after one of the community's first settlers, Wilson Baxley of North Carolina).^[5] Baxley incorporated in 1875.^[6]

Geography

Baxley is approximately 42 miles (68 km) east of Douglas, 47 miles (76 km) north of Waycross and 29 miles (47 km) southwest of Glennville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.7 km²), of which 0.012 square miles (0.03 km²), or 0.16%, is water.^[7]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	110		—
1890	337		206.4%
1900	488		44.8%
1910	831		70.3%
1920	1,142		37.4%
1930	2,122		85.8%
1940	2,916		37.4%
1950	3,409		16.9%
1960	4,268		25.2%
1970	3,503		−17.9%
1980	3,586		2.4%
1990	3,841		7.1%
2000	4,150		8.0%
2010	4,400		6.0%
2020	4,942		12.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

Confederate memorial

Baxley racial composition as of 2020^[9]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	2,338	47.31%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	1,696	34.32%
Native American	3	0.06%
Asian	89	1.8%
Other/Mixed	154	3.12%
Hispanic or Latino	662	13.4%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,942 people, 1,436 households, and 1,068 families residing in the city.

Economy

The Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Power Plant is located north of the city along U.S. Route 1, on the banks of the Altamaha River. It is the area's largest employer.

International Forest Products Limited operates a sawmill employing over 50 people.

Education

Appling County students in K-12 grades are in the Appling County School District, which consists of four elementary schools (three include a pre-school), a middle school and a high school.^[10] The district has 210 full-time teachers and over 3,303 students.^[11]

• Altamaha Elementary School
• Appling County Primary School
• Appling County Elementary School
• Fourth District Elementary School
• Appling County Middle School
• Appling County High School

Notable people

• Robert Butler, painter best known for his portrayals of the woods and backwaters around Florida's Everglades; member of the African-American artists' group The Highwaymen
• Byron Buxton, Major League Baseball outfielder; second overall pick (drafted by the Minnesota Twins) in the 2012 MLB draft; 2022 All-Star
• Dexter Carter, running back for San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets from 1990 to 1996; born in Baxley and graduated from Appling County High School
• Frankie King, NBA guard for Los Angeles Lakers (1995); born in Baxley
• The Lacs, country/rap music group; from Baxley
• Caroline Miller, Georgia's first Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist; received the award for Lamb in His Bosom in 1934
• Jamie Nails, NFL guard for Buffalo Bills (1997–2000) and Miami Dolphins (2002–2003); born in Baxley
• Janisse Ray, author of Ecology of a Cracker Childhood (1999), a memoir about growing up in Baxley which includes description of the ecosystem of the vanishing longleaf pine that once covered the area
• Carl Simpson, defensive tackle for Chicago Bears (1993–1997), Arizona Cardinals (1998–1999), and Las Vegas Outlaws (2001)
• Harry Skipper, defensive back in the CFL, Montreal Concordes and Saskatchewan Roughriders, 1983–1989^[12]
• Vonzell Solomon, nicknamed Baby V, singer and actress
• Michael Timpson, wide receiver for New England Patriots (1989–1994), Chicago Bears (1995–1996), and Philadelphia Eagles (1997); born in Baxley

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. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. Georgia Info. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
6. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 15. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
7. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Baxley city, Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
9. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
10. Georgia Board of Education ^{[permanent dead link‍]}, Retrieved July 8, 2010.
11. Free District Report, Retrieved May 29, 2010.
12. "Bombers announce coaching staff - OurSports Central". April 26, 2004.

External links

• City of Baxley official website