Hawkinsville, Georgia

Template:Redirect Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Hawkinsville is a city in Middle Georgia and the county seat of Pulaski County, Georgia, United States.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of 2020, it has a population of 3,980.<ref>Decennial Census, DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171), Table P1, 2020. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2025.</ref>

The city is known as the "Harness Horse Capital of Georgia" and holds an annual Harness Horse Festival to celebrate its connections to the sport.<ref name=":03">Template:Cite web</ref> Hawkinsville is also known as the "Highway Hub," with seven major highways running through the city.<ref name=":03" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

File:Pulaski County- Hawkinsville, Main Street, 1908 - DPLA - b6a99b82291de58725ab4130792fd902 (cropped).jpg

Main Street, 1908

Hawkinsville was founded in 1830, and in 1836, it replaced Hartford as the county seat of Pulaski County.<ref>"Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District" . National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.</ref> The city was named after Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, a Senator and Delegate to the Continental Congress from North Carolina. After the war ended, he was appointed Indian agent in charge of affairs south of the Ohio River by George Washington.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Well before the city's formal establishment, Hawkinsville was a key center for regional trade and travel. It was situated along the Slosheye Trail, a trading route dating back to around 1750 that connected the area to Drayton, Georgia. This trail was used by Native Americans and early European traders throughout the area. The traffic on the trail continued to grow, and it was eventually turned into a road. Its location is marked on what is now Commerce Street in Downtown Hawkinsville.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

In 1818 General Andrew Jackson is believed to have passed through the city while travelling to Florida during the First Seminole War. The trail is designated by the Andrew Jackson Trail historical marker in the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hawkinsville is known as the "Harness Horse Capital of Georgia." Since 1894, the city has hosted harness racing events. Beginning in the 1920s, harness horses have travelled from colder climates to train Hawkinsville due to its Hawkinsville's mild winters. The city holds an annual Harness Festival on the first Saturday in April to celebrate the legacy of harness racing in Hawkinsville.<ref name=":03" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

File:Hawkinsville City Hall.JPG

Hawkinsville City Hall

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.57%) is water. <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

Hawkinsville has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Demographics

Hawkinsville racial composition (2020)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Race	Num.	Perc.
White	1,925	48.37%
Black or African American	1,822	45.78%
Native American	6	0.15%
Asian	47	1.18%
Pacific Islander	1	0.03%
Other/Mixed	90	2.26%
Hispanic or Latino	89	2.24%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,980 people and 1,449 households in the city.<ref>"Profile of general population and housing characteristics"

U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. Decennial Census, DEC Demographic Profile, Table DP1, 2020, Retrieved April 26,2025</ref>

Economy

The Georgia Department of Corrections operates the Pulaski State Prison in Hawkinsville.<ref>"Pulaski State Prison Template:Webarchive." Georgia Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 14, 2010.</ref>

The United States Postal Service operates the Hawkinsville Post Office.<ref>"Post Office Location - HAWKINSVILLE Template:Webarchive." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on September 14, 2010.</ref>

Arts and culture

National Register of Historic Places

• Hawkinsville Opera House, constructed in 1907, has served as an entertainment venue, religious gathering place, and government center.<ref>"Hawkinsville City Hall-Auditorium". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.</ref>
• Hawkinsville Public School, constructed between 1936 and 1969.<ref>"Hawkinsville Public school". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.</ref>
• Merritt-Ragan House, a Queen-Anne style home built in 1840.<ref>"Merritt-Ragan House" National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.</ref>
• Pulaski County Courthouse, constructed in 1874.<ref>"Pulaski County Courthouse". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.</ref>
• Taylor Hall, moved to Hawkinsville in 1836.<ref>"Taylor Hall". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.</ref>
• St. Thomas African Methodist Episcopal Church, constructed between 1908 and 1912.<ref>"St. Thomas African Methodist Episcopal Church" . National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.</ref>
• R.J. Taylor Memorial Hospital, which operated from 1938 to 1976.<ref>Summary of Proposed National Register/Georgia Register Nomination. Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. Retrieved April 21, 2025</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District.<ref>"Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved April 21, 2025.</ref>

Education

Pulaski County School District

The Pulaski County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve. It consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 95.70 full-time teachers and 1,341 students.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Pulaski County Elementary School
• Pulaski County Middle School
• Hawkinsville High School

Central Georgia Technical College

Central Georgia Technical College operates the Sam Way, Sr. Hawkinsville Workforce Development Center. The Center offers an array of educational opportunities, including adult education, dual enrollment courses, and continuing education.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Infrastructure

Highways include:<ref>Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Digital Map. Hawkinsville-Pulaski County. Retrieved April 30, 2025.</ref>

• U.S. Route 129
• U.S. Route 341
• Georgia State Route 26
• Georgia State Route 27
• Georgia State Route 257
• Georgia State Route 230

Notable people

• Exxon Valdez Captain Joseph Hazelwood was born in Hawkinsville.<ref>Behar, Richard. "Joe's Bad Trip". Time. July 24, 1989.</ref>
• Charles Johnson, former defensive end for the Carolina Panthers, was born in Hawkinsville.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jeezy (musician and businessman) was born in Columbia, South Carolina but was raised in Hawkinsville.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Eva C. Mitchell, professor of education at Hampton University from 1930 to 1960, born in Hawkinsville.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Robert Henry Scarborough Jr. (former Vice Admiral of the United States Coast Guard) was born and raised in Hawkinsville.<ref>“Vice Admiral Robert H. Scarborough.” United States Coast Guard. Retrieved April 26,2025</ref>
• Tom Forkner, co-founder of Waffle House, was born in Hawkinsville.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Inez Tannenbaum, former South Carolina Superintendent of Education and chairperson of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission was born in Hawkinsville.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Hawkinsville Chamber of Commerce