Bainbridge, Georgia

Bainbridge, Georgia
City
Bainbridge City Hall
Bainbridge City Hall
Motto: 
"Georgia's First Inland Port"
Location in Decatur County and the state of Georgia
Location in Decatur County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 30°54′17″N 84°34′16″W
Country United States
State Georgia
County Decatur
Government
 • Mayor Edward Reynolds
Area
 • City 21.00 sq mi (54.40 km2)
 • Land 19.78 sq mi (51.22 km2)
 • Water 1.23 sq mi (3.18 km2)
Elevation
 121 ft (37 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 14,468
 • Density 731.59/sq mi (282.47/km2)
 • Metro
 27,842
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
39817, 39819
Area code 229
FIPS code 13-04896
GNIS feature ID 0354431
Website bainbridgecity.com

Bainbridge is a city in Decatur County, Georgia, United States. The city is the county seat of Decatur County. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 14,468.

History

The first European settlement in what is today Bainbridge was a trading post set up by James Burges in the late 18th century. From him comes the name Burges's Bluff. The town was named after U.S. Navy Commodore William Bainbridge, commander of the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides"), and was incorporated on December 22, 1829.

In 1824, Bainbridge was designated seat of the newly formed Decatur County.

On October 10, 2018, Bainbridge fell victim to Hurricane Michael. The storm left widespread damage through the city limits, including downed trees, power lines, and structural damage. Many residents affected suffered severe damage to their homes.

Geography

Bainbridge is located in the center of Decatur County. The city is in southwestern Georgia along U.S. Routes 27 and 84, which form a bypass around the southern part of the city. U.S. Route 27 leads southeast 42 miles (68 km) to Tallahassee, Florida, and north 128 miles (206 km) to Columbus. U.S. Route 84 leads east 38 miles (61 km) to Thomasville and northwest 54 miles (87 km) to Dothan, Alabama. Other highways which run through the city include Georgia State Routes 97, 253, 309, and 311.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.1 square miles (52.0 km2), of which 18.8 square miles (48.7 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.3 km2), or 6.40%, is water.

Bainbridge is located on the Flint River, which flows southwest to meet the Chattahoochee. Together they form the Apalachicola River which flows to the Gulf of Mexico. At the junction of the two rivers, the Jim Woodruff Dam forms Lake Seminole. A system of locks at the dam allows barge traffic to travel between the inland port at Bainbridge and the Gulf of Mexico.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. Note %±
1860 1,869 —
1870 1,351 −27.7%
1880 1,436 6.3%
1890 1,668 16.2%
1900 2,641 58.3%
1910 4,217 59.7%
1920 4,792 13.6%
1930 6,141 28.2%
1940 6,352 3.4%
1950 7,562 19.0%
1960 12,714 68.1%
1970 10,887 −14.4%
1980 10,553 −3.1%
1990 10,712 1.5%
2000 11,722 9.4%
2010 12,697 8.3%
2020 14,468 13.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
Bainbridge racial makeup as of 2020
Race Num. Perc.
White 5,106 35.29%
Black or African American 8,106 56.03%
Native American 31 0.21%
Asian 117 0.81%
Pacific Islander 4 0.03%
Other/Mixed 336 2.32%
Hispanic or Latino 768 5.31%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,468 people, 4,471 households, and 3,111 families residing in the city.

Economy

It was announced in December 2019 that Brazil-based gun manufacturer Taurus had been granted a $39 million tax-incentive package to move from the Miami, Florida area to Bainbridge in return for creating 300 jobs. The package includes $20 million for construction, $7.9 million in tax credits, $4.5 million for infrastructure, $4.3 million in property-tax abatements, and $3 million for equipment, in addition to a land lease arrangement of $1/year for 73 acres (20 hectares) of land. The subsidy totals $130,000 per job.

Arts and culture

Arts

  • The Firehouse Gallery Art Gallery
  • Bainbridge Little Theatre

Annual cultural events

River Town Days is held each year the second weekend of March.

The Swine Time Festival and Decatur County Fall Festival and Fair are annual events.

National Register of Historic Places

The Decatur County Courthouse was constructed in 1902, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also listed on the Register is the First African Missionary Baptist Church.

Public library

The Decatur County Gilbert H. Gragg Library is located in Bainbridge. The library serves the population of Decatur County and acts as the headquarters for the Southwest Georgia Regional Library.

Education

Decatur County School District

The Decatur County School District holds pre-school to grade 12, and consists of two primary schools, one elementary school, one middle school, and a high school. The district has 384 full-time teachers and over 5,782 students.

Schools include:

  • Jones-Wheat Primary School (grades PreK-2)
  • West Bainbridge Primary School (grades PreK-2)
  • Hutto Elementary School (grades 3-5)
  • Bainbridge Middle School (grades 6-8)
  • Bainbridge High School (grades 9-12)

Other schools

  • Grace Christian Academy (PreK-12)
  • Spring Creek Charter Academy (PreK-9)

Parks and recreation

The Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA opened on September 15, 1986. Its building had a cost of $1,000,000.

Infrastructure

Transportation

The city is a seaport linked to the Gulf of Mexico via Florida's Apalachicola River. Officially known as Port Bainbridge, these facilities are managed entirely by the Georgia Ports Authority.

The Decatur County Industrial Air Park, located 6 miles (10 km) northwest of the city, provides general aviation service to the community.

Notable people