Damascus, Georgia

Damascus is a city in Early County, Georgia, United States. The population was 212 in the 2020 census, down from 254 in the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

An early variant name was Kestler.<ref name="Names">Template:Cite book</ref> An act of Georgia General Assembly officially changed the name to Damascus in 1914.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The present name is a transfer from nearby Old Damascus, which it was named for Damascus, Syria. Old Damascus would be bypassed when a new railroad line was being built through the area.<ref name="Names" />

In 2021, an EF2 tornado struck the area south of town, causing major damage and injuring five people.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref>

On June 14, 2023, a tornado struck the town destroying a home and slightly injuring three people.

Geography

Damascus is located in eastern Early County at Template:Coord (31.298580, -84.717429).<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> Georgia State Route 45 passes through the community, leading north Template:Convert to Arlington and south Template:Convert to Colquitt. Georgia State Route 200 also passes through the center of town, leading east Template:Convert to Newton and northwest Template:Convert to Blakely, the Early County seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Damascus has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert, or 0.48%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

Demographics

Damascus city, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	82	65	32.28%	30.66%
Black or African American alone (NH)	162	137	63.78%	64.62%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	0	3	0.00%	1.42%
Asian alone (NH)	6	0	2.36%	0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	3	1	1.18%	0.47%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1	6	0.39%	2.83%
Total	254	212	100.00%	100.00%

In 2020, the city had a population of 212, down from 254 in 2010 and 277 in 2000.

Education

File:Southwest Georgia Academy, Damascus.jpg

Southwest Georgia Academy, located on the grounds of the former Damascus High School

Public school students are zoned to the Early County School District which operates three schools in Blakely: Early County Elementary School, Early County Middle School, and Early County High School.

Damascus is home to Southwest Georgia Academy, which was founded in 1970 as a segregation academy<ref name="Lost">Template:Cite news</ref> and participates in the Georgia Independent School Association. Its property formerly housed Damascus High School.<ref>"Welcome." Southwest Georgia Academy. Retrieved on July 31, 2017.</ref>

Gallery

• Early County Fire Damascus District fire station
  Early County Fire Damascus District fire station
• Damascus Post Office
  Damascus Post Office

Notable people

• Robbie Robinson, bodybuilder, actor, three-time Mr. Universe overall winner
• Shawn Williams (American football), football player, Atlanta Falcons

References

<references /> Template:Commons category