Quitman, Georgia
Template:Distinguish Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Quitman is a city in and the county seat of Brooks County, Georgia, United States.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The population was 4,064 in 2020. The Quitman Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Quitman was the home of James Pierpont, author of the song "Jingle Bells" (1857), and uncle of American financier J.P. Morgan. Pierpont was an organist for the First Presbyterian Church.<ref>Jingle Bell history page</ref> James' daughter, Lillie, was Quitman's first librarian in 1880.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
A local Quitman ordinance prohibits chickens from crossing the road.<ref>Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts, Loony Laws & Silly Statutes, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1994. Template:ISBN</ref>
It is called "Camellia City", as the tree grows in profusion around the area.
History
[edit]Quitman was designated the county seat of the newly formed Brooks County in 1858. It was incorporated as a town in 1859 and as a city in 1904.<ref name="Hellmann2004">Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Geography
[edit]Quitman is located in southern Georgia at Template:Coord.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> 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 Template:Convert to Greenville, Florida, and Template:Convert to Interstate 10. US 84 and US 221 together lead east Template:Convert to Interstate 75 and Template:Convert to Valdosta.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Quitman has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert, or .50%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref>
Climate
[edit]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.<ref>Climate Summary for Quitman, Georgia</ref> As of 2023, Quitman is in USDA hardiness zone 9a.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Weather box
Demographics
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| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 983 | 24.19% |
| Black or African American | 2,805 | 69.02% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.07% |
| Asian | 30 | 0.74% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 113 | 2.78% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 128 | 3.15% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,064 people, 1,476 households, and 836 families residing in the city.
Industry
[edit]The prevalent industries in Quitman are farming and automotive.
Education
[edit]Schools for Quitman are Quitman Elementary School, Brooks County Middle School, and Brooks County High School.
Media
[edit]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
[edit]
- Nellie Weldon Cocroft - ragtime composer, born in Quitman
- Edna Cain Daniel, writer, journalist, long-time publisher of the Quitman Free Press
- Dana A. Dorsey - Banker, realtor, business executive, and philanthropist. Child of freed slaves.
- Henry L. Reaves - politician, farmer, and cattleman
- James Lord Pierpont - songwriter of Jingle Bells, church organist, taught at the Quitman Academy. Uncle of J.P. Morgan.
References
[edit]External links
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Template:Brooks County, Georgia Template:Georgia county seats