Damascus, Georgia
Template:For Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement
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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]| 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
[edit]
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
[edit]-
Early County Fire Damascus District fire station
-
Damascus Post Office
Notable people
[edit]- Robbie Robinson, bodybuilder, actor, three-time Mr. Universe overall winner
- Shawn Williams (American football), football player, Atlanta Falcons
References
[edit]<references /> Template:Commons category