Quitman, Georgia

History

Quitman was designated county seat of newly formed Brooks County in 1858. It was incorporated as a town in 1859 and as a city in 1904. As the county seat, it was the center of trading in the county, which was devoted to cotton plantations before and after the American Civil War. The community was named for John A. Quitman, a hero of the Mexican–American War.

Geography

Quitman is located in southern Georgia at 30°47′05″N 83°33′39″W. U.S. Routes 84 and 221 pass through the center of the city. US 84 leads west 121 miles to Dothan, Alabama, while US 221 leads south 24 miles (39 km) to Greenville, Florida, and 26 miles (42 km) to Interstate 10. US 84 and US 221 together lead east 15 miles (24 km) to Interstate 75 and 17 miles (27 km) to Valdosta.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Quitman has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.7 km²), of which 0.019 square miles (0.05 km²), or .50%, is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,638 people, 1,707 households, and 1,131 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,211.1 people per square mile (467.6/km²). There were 2,034 housing units at an average density of 531.1 per square mile (205.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 30.98% White, 66.36% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 1.06% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.

There were 1,707 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.9% were married couples living together, 30.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the city, the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 78.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,924, and the median income for a family was $24,154. Males had a median income of $22,727 versus $17,391 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,594. About 31.2% of families and 34.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.7% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.

Industry

The prevalent industries in Quitman are farming and automotive. Cass Burch Automotive Group is located in downtown Quitman, with both Dodge Chrysler Jeep & Ram and Chevrolet dealerships represented.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Quitman has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Education

Schools for Quitman are Quitman Elementary School, Brooks County Middle School, and Brooks County High School.

Media

Radio station WGOV-FM 96.7 is licensed to broadcast from Quitman. The Quitman Free Press, a weekly newspaper, is the official legal publication for Brooks County. It has been in operation since 1876.

Notable people

James Pierpoint songwriter of Jingle Bells