Editing Folkston, Georgia

{{Short description|City in Georgia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|official_name            = Folkston, Georgia
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = "Gateway to the Okefenokee"<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.folkston.com/index.htm|title= City of Folkston Georgia Website|publisher= City of Folkston Georgia Website|access-date= September 6, 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120524073646/http://www.folkston.com/index.htm|archive-date= May 24, 2012}}</ref>

<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline            = FolkstonGAMontage.png
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Top, left to right: Charlton County Courthouse, Folkston Funnel, Folkston Train Museum, City Hall, Downtown Folkston, [[Okefenokee Swamp]]
|image_flag               = 
|flag_size                = 
|image_seal               = 
|seal_size                = 
|image_shield             = 
|shield_size              = 
|image_blank_emblem       = FolkstonGeorgialogo.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo
|blank_emblem_size        = 125px
|image_map                = Charlton_County_Georgia_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Folkston_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Charlton County, Georgia|Charlton County]] and the state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|image_dot_map            = 
|dot_mapsize              = 
|dot_map_caption          = 
|dot_x                    = 
|dot_y                    = 
|pushpin_map              = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption      = 
|pushpin_mapsize          = <!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Georgia (U.S. state)|Counties]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Charlton County, Georgia|Charlton]]
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
|subdivision_type4        = 
|subdivision_name4        = <!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = Mayor
|leader_name1             = Lee Gowen
|leader_title2            = City Manager
|leader_name2             = Leonard H. Lloyd
|leader_title3            = 
|leader_name3             = 
|leader_title4            = 
|leader_name4             = 
|established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
|established_date         = 
|established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
|established_date3        = August 19, 1911<ref name="Folkston">{{cite web|url= http://www.dca.state.ga.us/cityscapes/comm.asp?D=1&city=Folkston&YRID=|title= Folkston|publisher= Georgia Department of Community Affairs|access-date= September 6, 2012}}</ref>

<!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude           = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_13.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 10.86
|area_land_km2            = 10.86
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.19
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.19
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_water_percent       = 
|area_urban_km2           = 
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_km2           = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = 
|area_blank1_title        = 
|area_blank1_km2          = 
|area_blank1_sq_mi        = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 4464
|population_density_km2   = 411.21
|population_density_sq_mi = 1065.14
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_metro_km2     = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi   = 
|population_urban                 = 
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|population_blank1_title          = 
|population_blank1                = 
|population_density_blank1_km2    = 
|population_density_blank1_sq_mi  = <!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|30|50|4|N|82|0|17|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = <!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 31537
|area_code                = [[Area code 912|912]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = <ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = <ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://charltoncountyga.us/270/City-of-Folkston|charltoncountyga.us/city-of-folkston}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}
[[File:City Hall in Folkston, GA, US.jpg|right|thumb|City Hall]]
'''Folkston''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Charlton County, Georgia|Charlton County]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=7946|title= Profile for Folkston, Georgia, GA|publisher= ePodunk|access-date= September 6, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160810132715/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=7946|archive-date= August 10, 2016|url-status= dead}}</ref> The population was 4,464 in 2020.

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2019}}

Folkston was founded on August 19, 1911.<ref name="Folkston"/> The city was named in honor of William Brandon Folks, M.D., a prominent physician and surgeon in his day. In the years 1925 through 1927, many new and commodious residences were built and several modern brick buildings were erected, including the Citizen Bank Block, the Masonic Temple building, a grammar school building, and a courthouse. Shortly after its creation, the village of Folkston was incorporated as a town government and functioned as a town until 1911 when the area was incorporated as a city. For a number of years, Folkston was the self-proclaimed "Marriage Capital of the World"; [[Florida|Floridians]] who could not endure their state's waiting period before tying the knot would cross the state line to wed.

==Geography==
Folkston is located near the southern boundary of Georgia at {{coord|30|50|4|N|82|0|17|W|type:city}} (30.834437, -82.004829).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 1 in Georgia|1]], [[U.S. Route 23 in Georgia|23]], and [[U.S. Route 301 in Georgia|301]] pass through the city as Second Street, leading south 2 miles to the state line. Route 1 and 23 lead northwest {{convert|35|mi}} to [[Waycross, Georgia|Waycross]], while Route 301 leads north {{convert|30|mi}} to [[Nahunta, Georgia|Nahunta]]. The eastern entrance to the [[Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge]] is {{convert|11|mi}} southwest of Folkston via [[Georgia State Route 23|GA 23]] and [[Georgia State Route 121|GA 121]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Folkston has a total area of {{convert|10.9|km2|disp=flip}}, all land.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Folkston city, Georgia (revision of 02-23-2012) |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1330424 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212180234/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1330424 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=July 18, 2014 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 167
|1910= 355
|1920= 397
|1930= 506
|1940= 1024
|1950= 1515
|1960= 1810
|1970= 2112
|1980= 2243
|1990= 2285
|2000= 2178
|2010= 2502
|2020= 4464
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 1850-1870<ref name=1870CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1870|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1870-1880<ref name=1880CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1880|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1880/vol-01-population/1880_v1-09.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref><br> 1890-1910<ref name=1910CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1910 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1910|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ga.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1920-1930<ref name=1930CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1930 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1930|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|pages=251–256}}</ref><br> 1940<ref name=1940CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1940 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1940|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1950 Census of Population - Georgia |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1950|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-2/37779083v2p11ch2.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1960<ref name=1960CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1960|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-12-c.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1970<ref name=1970CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1970|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ga-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1980|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_gaABC-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1990<ref name=1990CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 1990|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cph-5/cph-5-12.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 2000<ref name=2000CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 2000|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-12.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 2010 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date= 2010|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-12.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Folkston racial composition as of 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1330424&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-18|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|1,088
|24.37%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|1,309
|29.32%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|11
|0.25%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|80
|1.79%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|86
|1.93%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|1,890
|42.34%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 4,464 people, 1,082 households, and 667 families residing in the city.

==Attraction==

=== Folkston Funnel ===
With a high percentage of rail traffic headed to Florida passing through Folkston, the rail lines through the city have acquired the nickname "[[Folkston Railfan Platform|The Folkston Funnel]]." To provide for a safe viewing situation, the city has built [[Folkston Railfan Platform|a platform for visitors]], along with [[picnic table]]s, chairs, [[barbecue pit]]s, restrooms,<ref name="innatfolkston.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.innatfolkston.com/ThingstoDo/Trains.html|title=Trains|website=www.innatfolkston.com}}</ref> [[barbecue grill|grills]], and even [[WiFi]]. At night, lights shine onto the [[double track]]  if someone wanted to watch after sunset. Freight trains pass through the Folkston Funnel, and proceed to terminals such as [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], and [[Miami, Florida|Miami]]. Freight trains that originate in Florida take the same routes in opposite direction. In addition, [[Amtrak]] trains pass through the Folkston Funnel, they do not stop there.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040630231910/http://www.folkston.com/trains/trains.htm The Folkston Funnel: Trainwatcher's Page]</ref> At the covered viewing platform, there is an active scanner running and visitors can listen to train engineers.<ref name="innatfolkston.com"/>

== Education ==

=== Charlton County School District ===
The [[Charlton County School District]] holds grades pre-school to grade twelve. It consists of three elementary schools and a high school.<ref>[http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=111&PID=62&PTID=69&CountyId=624&T=0&FY=2009 Georgia Board of Education]{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Retrieved June 3, 2010.</ref>
*Folkston Elementary School (named after the city of Folkston) - Pre-K to 4th grade
*Bethune Middle School (named after Mary McLeod Bethune) - 5th to 8th grade
*St. George Elementary School (located in St. George, not inside the city of Folkston)
*[[Charlton County High School]] (named after Charlton County) - 9th to 12th grade

==Notable people==<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->
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• The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
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* [[Champ Bailey]], [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] [[cornerback]] of the [[National Football League]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nfl.com/player/champbailey/2499489/profile| title= Champ Bailey  |publisher= NFL Enterprises LLC |access-date= September 6, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Boss Bailey]], [[linebacker]] who played in the National Football League, born in Folkston<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nfl.com/player/champbailey/2499489/profile| title= Boss Bailey  |publisher= NFL Enterprises LLC |access-date= September 6, 2012}}</ref>
*Eldridge Milton, former NFL football linebacker for the Chicago Bears and his collegiate years at Clemson University was the first person from Folkston to play in the NFL.
*Larry Smith Jr., former NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Green Bay Packers, played at the Florida State University.
* [[Courtney M. Williams|Courtney Williams]] - [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]] shooting guard for the [[Minnesota Lynx]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
{{wikivoyage|Folkston}}
*[http://www.folkston.com/ City of Folkston official website]
*[http://www.city-data.com/city/Folkston-Georgia.html Folkston, Georgia], at City-Data.com
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011211100/http://folkston.com/trains/trains.htm The Folkston Funnel]
*[http://www.charltoncountyherald.com/ ''Charlton County Herald''], local newspaper
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070308222850/http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100905/lif_19985754.shtml Folkston Junction], ''Florida Times-Union'' article
*[http://georgia.gov/cities-counties/folkston Folkston] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305171823/http://georgia.gov/cities-counties/folkston |date=March 5, 2016 }} at Georgia.gov
*[http://www.charlton.k12.ga.us/ Charlton County Schools]

{{Charlton County, Georgia}}
{{Georgia county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Charlton County, Georgia]]
[[Category:County seats in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1911]]
[[Category:1911 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]