Editing Lithia Springs, Georgia

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
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|official_name            = Lithia Springs, Georgia
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|settlement_type          = [[Unincorporated community]]<br> [[Census-designated place]]
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|map_caption              = Location in [[Douglas County, Georgia|Douglas County]] and the state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
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|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Georgia (U.S. state)|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Douglas County, Georgia|Douglas]]
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<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
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|population_total         = 16644
|population_density_km2   = 478.09
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|coordinates              = {{coord|33|47|50|N|84|39|22|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|elevation_m              = 318
|elevation_ft             = 1043
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 30122
|area_code                = [[Area code 770|770]]/[[Area codes 678 and 470|678/470]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 13-46832<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              = 0356358<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>
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|area_total_km2 = 34.95
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|area_land_sq_mi = 13.44
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.05
}}

'''Lithia Springs''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɪ|θ|iː|ə}}) is an [[unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]], formerly incorporated as a city, located in northeastern [[Douglas County, Georgia|Douglas County]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the community had a population of 16,644. The area is named for its historic [[lithia water|lithia]] mineral water [[spring (hydrology)|spring]]s.

Incorporated in 1882, Lithia Springs was dissolved the first time in 1933. Lithia Springs became incorporated again in 1994, to be Douglas County's second completely internal municipality, but disincorporated again in 2000.

In 2000, the citizens voted (80% yea, 20% nay) on December 20 to dissolve the city charter and de-incorporate the city, transferring all assets to the county. The referendum that ended the town was part of the settlement in a lawsuit brought by city residents charging the city should be dissolved because it did not deliver enough services to justify its existence under state law. During its incorporation until 2000, the former city had five mayors.

Lithia Springs is assigned the United States Postal Service [[ZIP code]] of 30122.

==History==
[[File:Lithia spring 1888 poster.jpg|thumb|left|Vintage Lithia Spring Water poster, 1888]]

The history of the community began with Lithia Springs, a natural [[lithia water]] spring. So popular were the curative waters that flowed from Lithia Springs that people came for miles to drink it. The neighboring city of [[Austell, Georgia|Austell]] was also founded due to the spring's popularity.

In 1887 Judge Bowden bought the springs with a group of investors and started bottling and selling Bowden lithia spring water. That same year the Sweet Water Hotel, a 300-room luxury health resort, opened in Lithia Springs.<ref name="Davis, Fannie Mae Davis 1987">Davis, Fannie Mae (1987). ''From Indian Trail to Interstate 20'', Douglas County History.</ref> The hotel and its famous lithia spring water were so popular that [[Mark Twain]], members of the [[Vanderbilt family]], and Presidents [[Grover Cleveland|Cleveland]], [[William Howard Taft|Taft]], [[William McKinley|McKinley]] and [[Theodore Roosevelt]] all enjoyed the many amenities of the resort, which included the world-famous Lithia Vapor Baths.<ref name="Davis, Fannie Mae Davis 1987"/>

In 1888, the Piedmont [[Chautauqua]]<ref>Bowden, Lithia Springs Co. (1891). ''The American Carlsbad and its Famous Medicinal Waters'', Bowden Lithia Spring Company.</ref> Institute opened in Lithia Springs. [[Henry W. Grady]], [[Managing editor|editor]] of the ''[[Atlanta Constitution]]'', was the founder and gave the institute the motto "Enlightenment of the People". In 1888, over 30,000 tourists, sightseers, and health-seekers visited Lithia Springs.

The only remnants of this time that have survived are the natural springs and its historic lithia water under the name brand [[Lithia (water brand)|Lithia]], which is still bottled and sold in restaurants and health food stores.

==Geography==
Lithia Springs is located in the northeastern corner of Douglas County, bordered to the north and east by the [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb County]] line and to the south by East County Line Road, Cedar Terrace Road, and Factory Shoals Road. [[Sweetwater Creek (Chattahoochee River)|Sweetwater Creek]], a tributary of the [[Chattahoochee River]], flows through the eastern part of the community, and Sweetwater Creek State Park is along its southern edge.

Some of the incorporated limits of [[Douglasville, Georgia|Douglasville]] occupy some of the territory around Lithia Springs, along Interstate 20, Blair Bridge Road, Lee Road and Thornton Road.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the Lithia Springs CDP has a total area of {{convert|35.4|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|35.2|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.13|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 0.37%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1346832| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Lithia Springs CDP, Georgia| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 23, 2015}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1980 = 9145
| 1990 = 11403
| 2000 = 2072
| 2010 = 15491
| 2020 = 16644
|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> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

Lithia Springs was first listed as a [[census designated place]] in the [[1980 U.S. Census|1980 U.S. census]].<ref name="1980CensusGA" /> After incorporation in 1994, it was delineated as a city with 2,072 people in the [[2000 U.S. Census|2000 U.S. census]].<ref name="2000CensusGA" /> After the city was dissolved, it was redesignated as a CDP in the [[2010 U.S. Census|2010 U.S. census]].<ref name="2010CensusP2" />

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Lithia Springs CDP, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name="2000CensusP004">{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lithia Springs town, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US1346832|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name="2010CensusP2">{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Lithia Springs CDP, Georgia |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1346832&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Lithia Springs CDP, Georgia |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1346832&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|1,800
|6,063
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |4,668
|86.87%
|39.14%
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |28.05%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|199
|6,122
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |7,978
|9.60%
|39.52%
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |47.93%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|9
|41
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |29
|0.43%
|0.26%
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |0.17%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|6
|217
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |216
|0.29%
|1.40%
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |1.30%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|1
|37
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |24
|0.05%
|0.24%
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |0.14%
|-
|Some Other Race alone (NH)
|0
|30
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |95
|0.00%
|0.19%
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |0.57%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|25
|257
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |570
|1.21%
|1.66%
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |3.42%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|32
|2,724
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |3,064
|1.54%
|17.58%
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |18.41%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''2,072'''
|'''15,491'''
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |'''16,644'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 16,644 people, 6,435 households, and 4,159 families residing in the CDP.

==Parks==
[[Sweetwater Creek State Park]] is Lithia Springs' main recreational area. The park is home to the George Sparks Reservoir, owned and maintained by the City of East Point. It is home to hiking trails, picnic pavilions, playgrounds and the ruins of the Manchester Mill, a mill destroyed by [[William T. Sherman|Sherman's]] [[Atlanta Campaign]] in 1864.

Several movies have filmed scenes in this park, including ''Avengers: Infinity War'', ''The Hunger Games'', ''The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'', ''The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1'' and ''No Good Deed''.

In 2005, the remnants of [[Hurricane Dennis]] damaged the bridge over the reservoir, the main road into and out of the park. The bridge was rebuilt and the road was reopened in 2006. The park is located off Mount Vernon Road in Lithia Springs.

Woodrow Wilson Park/Lithia Springs Girls Ball Field was a small park surrounded by homes and apartments. The park was well known in the area for its location next to Sweetwater Creek. When heavy rains occurred in the area, the park was prone to flooding. It was flooded during the [[2009 Southeastern United States floods]]. It is not currently scheduled to be rebuilt, and has been dismantled. The park was located off Mount Vernon Road near Skyview Drive.

==Schools==
[[Douglas County School System]] is the sole school district in the county.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13097_douglas/DC20SD_C13097.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Douglas County, GA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-24}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13097_douglas/DC20SD_C13097_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

Lithia Springs is home to six schools operated by the school district:

*Annette Winn Elementary off US. Hwy 78
*Lithia Springs Elementary off Junior High Dr.
*Sweetwater Elementary off E. County Line Rd.
*Turner Middle School next to Lithia Elementary
*Chestnut Log Middle School off Hwy. 92
*[[Lithia Springs High School|Lithia Springs Comprehensive High School]] across the street from Sweetwater Elementary

== Library ==
Lithia Springs has one library, Betty C. Hagler Public Library, also known as Lithia Springs Public Library.

==Economy==
There are multiple datacenters in Lithia Springs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Southerland |first1=Randy |title=Integrated permitting, three fiber routes among keys to Douglas County data center success |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2021/01/22/douglas-county-data-center-success.html |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Ruth Blair]] - first woman state historian of Georgia; grew up here<ref name=Trace>{{cite journal|last=Trace | first=Ciaran B. |title=Atlanta between the Wars: The Creation of the Georgia Department of Archives and History, 1918-1936 | journal=Information & Culture | volume=50 | issue=4 | year=2015 | pages=504–553 | jstor=44667602 | doi=10.7560/IC50403 | issn=2164-8034 }}</ref>
* [[Sawyer Gipson-Long]] - professional baseball player
* [[Walton Goggins]] - moved to Lithia Springs at a young age and grew up in the area
* [[Lil Nas X]] - rapper; born in Lithia Springs
* [[Elana Meyers]] - Olympian; attended Lithia Springs High School
* [[Calvin Pace]] - [[NFL]] player; attended Lithia Springs High School 1994–1998

==See also==
*[[Lithia (water brand)|Lithia Spring Water]], a brand of bottled natural lithia water sourced from Lithia Springs since 1888

==References==
<references />

==Further reading==
Maps of the incorporated city:
* {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk2000/st13_Georgia/Place/1346832_LithiaSprings/CBP1346832_001.pdf|title=CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: LITHIA SPRINGS City|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}} - The shape differs from that of the CDP
Maps of [[census-designated place]]:
* {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st13_ga/place/p1346832_lithia_springs/DC20BLK_P1346832.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Lithia Springs CDP, GA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st13_ga/place/p1346832_lithia_springs/DC10BLK_P1346832_000.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Lithia Springs CDP, GA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st13_ga/place/p1346832_lithia_springs/DC10BLK_P1346832_001.pdf Page 1] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st13_ga/place/p1346832_lithia_springs/DC10BLK_P1346832_002.pdf Page 2]
* [[1990 U.S. Census]]: [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st13_Georgia/13097_Douglas/90B13097_000.pdf Index map], pages [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st13_Georgia/13097_Douglas/90B13097_003.pdf 3] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st13_Georgia/13097_Douglas/90B13097_004.pdf 4], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st13_Georgia/13097_Douglas/90B13097_A01.pdf Page A]

==External links==
*[http://www.celebratedouglascounty.com Douglas County website]

{{Douglas County, Georgia}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Douglas County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Former municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in 2001]]