Moultrie, Georgia

Geography

Located in southwest Georgia, Moultrie is in the center of Colquitt County, 24 miles (39 km) west of Interstate 75, and about 200 miles (300 km) south of Atlanta and 60 miles (100 km) northeast of Tallahassee, Florida. The city is located between Albany to the northwest, Tifton to the northeast, Thomasville to the southwest, and Valdosta to the southeast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.5 square miles (42.8 km²), of which 16.3 square miles (42.3 km²) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.5 km²), or 1.15%, is water.

Moultrie is located at 31°10′13″N 83°47′1″W (31.170188, -83.783601).

History

The city was named after Gen. William Moultrie, the Revolutionary War hero after whom Fort Moultrie was named following the successful defense of Charleston, South Carolina, against the British under Peter Parker, an anniversary subsequently celebrated as Carolina Day.

Colquitt County became the 115th county in Georgia by an act of the Legislature on February 25, 1856. It was named after Walter Terry Colquitt, a minister, statesman and lawyer who was a military leader in the mid-1860s. In 1879, a charter was adopted and 50 acres (0 km²) in the center of the county was declared the county seat.

During the American Civil War, Colquitt County raised several companies of Confederate troops, particularly Company H, 50th Georgia Volunteer Infantry.

Founders of naval stores started harvesting the timbers in the late 1890s. They set up turpentine stills and built tram roads, allowing for the railroad to come into the territory. The Boston & Albany line, which later became the Georgia Northern Railway, was the first through town, bringing with it growth and prosperity for the county. Practically every train brought new residents interested in supplying naval stores or working in the sawmills.

By 1900, through the work of businessmen, bankers and speculators, the county was becoming a farmer's paradise.

Land was cleared and development companies began dividing the forested area into farm tracts. Experienced farmers from north Georgia and the Carolinas were invited to come and develop the land. The county's agriculture industry thrives today.

Moultrie Commercial Historic District

Moultrie Commercial Historic District is a historic area of Moultrie with several buildings of historical significance including the Moultrie Colquitt Towers, formerly a hotel called Hotel Colquitt. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 1994. The area is generally bounded by northeast First Avenue, southeast Second Avenue, West First Street and East Fourth Street.

The district's coordinates are: 31°10′48″N 83°47′14″W / 31.18°N 83.787222°W / 31.18; -83.787222

Demographics

As of the census of 2012, there were 14,506 people, 5,663 households, and 3,505 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,013.0 people per square mile (391.2/km²). There were 6,525 housing units at an average density of 459.4 per square mile (177.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.05% White, 50.2% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.99% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.02% of the population.

There were 5,663 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples living together, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,193, and the median income for a family was $43,406. Males had a median income of $27,856 versus $26,417 for females. The per capita income for the city was $40,657. About 16.0% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.

African American community

The African American community has made a significant impact on the city of Moultrie over the years. Several of those making the most impact have been honored by having community buildings or parks bear their names. Former city councilman and mayor pro-tem, H. Wesley Ball's service to the African American community is commemorated by a [1] park bearing his name. Ball served as city councilman of Moultrie from 1979 to 1991. The park was built then dedicated to his memory due largely to his contributions through the years to the growth and prosperity of his community and the city of Moultrie.

Another late Moultrie resident has had a railway terminal in the Atlanta area named in his honor. In 2001, the John W. Whitaker Inter-modal Terminal in Austell was named for John Whitaker, a Moultrie native who worked with Norfolk Southern most of his lifetime. Whitaker helped to form the International Brotherhood of Railroad Employees to address workplace discrimination. He also trained as a pilot with the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, but his training was not completed by the time the war ended in 1945.

A section of Ninth Street Northwest was named in honor of Moultrie native, Ellis Hanks Jr. in 2003. Hanks received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, which is the highest award given to a Marine for heroism in a non-combat situation. He was also the first American to receive the Finnish Life Saving Award.

Moultrie is also the home of three Major League baseball players, R.C. Stevens, Dennis Clay Powell, and John Glenn; nationally recognized author Odessa Walker Hoover and international bestselling author, artist, producer and publisher Montice Harmon; corporate executive Reatha Clark King; the first Miss Black Deaf America Pageant winner Mrs. Ronnie Mae Tyson-Jones; and many more prominent African Americans.

Both of Moultrie's middle schools bear the names of successful black educators. C.A. Gray Junior High School was named forward r Charlie A. Gray, a faculty member at Moultrie High for Negro Youth and Willie J. Williams Middle School in honor of its former principal. Moultrie also hosts the "Ram Round-up". The Round-up is a yearly conglomerate of the class reunions of the formerly segregated African American high schools of Colquitt County from the 1920s to the 1970s. It is held during the 4th of July holiday week. This gathering has been lauded for garnering much attention to the achievements of its black alumni and for boosting the local economy. The theme is "A History..A Celebration" and includes former schools:

Colquitt County School District

Moultrie public schools are controlled by the Colquitt County Board of Education. The Colquitt County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, consisting of ten elementary schools, a middle school, a junior high school, and one high school. The district has 480 full-time teachers and over 8,342 students.

Elementary schools

Middle schools

Junior high school

High school

Higher education

Industry

Industry for the Moultrie area grew considerably when Sanderson Farms opened a processing plant in 2006 that now currently employs over 1,000 workers, over 10 percent of the local workforce. The manufacturer of light, single-engined STOL aircraft, the Maule Air, is also located in Moultrie.

Telecommunications

There are two radio and three television stations located in Moultrie.

Transportation

Moultrie is served by US 319, which connects to Interstate 75 and Interstate 10. State Road 37 and State Road 111 also run through Moultrie. Moultrie has two public airports used primarily for general aviation, Moultrie Municipal Airport and Spence Airport.

Historic sites

Moultrie is home to several sites on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Colquitt County, Georgia of the National Register of Historic Places.

Festivals

Points of interest

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Moultrie has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.