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Statesboro, Georgia

Statesboro is a city in southeast Georgia, United States, and is the county seat and most populous city of Bulloch County. A college town, Statesboro is best known as the home to Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral-Research University. The city was chartered in 1803, starting as a small farming community providing the basic essentials for surrounding farms. In 1906 Statesboro leaders joined together to bid for and win First District A&M School, which eventually grew to become Georgia Southern University. Statesboro provided the inspiration for the blues song "Statesboro Blues," written by Blind Willie McTell in the 1920s and famously covered by The Allman Brothers Band.

History

In 1801, George Sibbald of Augusta donated for a centrally located county seat for the growing agricultural community of Bulloch County. In December 1803, the Georgia legislature created the town of Statesborough. In 1866 the state legislature granted a permanent charter and changed the spelling of the name to its present form, Statesboro.

During the Civil War and General William T. Sherman's famous march to the sea, a union officer asked a saloon proprietor for directions to Statesboro. The proprietor replied, "You are standing in the middle of town." The soldiers destroyed only the courthouse—a crude log structure that doubled as a barn when court was not in session. After the Civil War, the city began to grow and Statesboro emerged as a major town in southeastern Georgia.

Around the turn of the century, new stores and banks sprang up along the town's four major streets, each named Main. In 1908 Statesboro led the world in sales of long-staple Sea Island Cotton. For each bale of cotton sold in Savannah, ten bales were sold in Statesboro. After the boll weevil decimated the cotton crop in the 1930s, farmers shifted to tobacco. By 1953 more than 20 million pounds of tobacco passed through warehouses in Statesboro, which was then the largest market in the "bright Tobacco Belt" spanning Georgia and Florida.

In 1906, when the state of Georgia announced it would fund an agricultural and mechanical school in Georgia's First Congressional District, more than 100 Statesboro-Bulloch County residents and supporters successfully lobbied for Statesboro as the ideal location, outbidding several other communities. The school continued to grow in the following decades and eventually became Georgia Southern University, a comprehensive research university with more than 16,000 students. The area surrounding Georgia Southern University was once called Collegeboro, but was never incorporated and eventually Statesboro grew outward encompassing "Collegeboro" and the university.

Geography

Statesboro is located at (32.445147, -81.779234).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.6 square miles (32.7 km²), of which, 12.5 square miles (32.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.9%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 22,698 people, 8,560 households, and 3,304 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,812.9 people per square mile (700.0/km²). There were 9,235 housing units at an average density of 737.6/sq mi (284.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 56.21% White, 40.25% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population.

There were 8,560 households out of which 17.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 21.9% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 61.4% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 14.3% under the age of 18, 48.7% from 18 to 24, 16.6% from 25 to 44, 11.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,016, and the median income for a family was $35,391. Males had a median income of $29,132 versus $20,718 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,585. About 20.5% of families and 42.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The economy of Statesboro depends heavily on agriculture and the University. In the 1990’s, a number of major industries moved to Statesboro. Wal-Mart constructed a massive 2.2 million square feet distribution center, the retailer’s largest in the world. The city is currently experiencing rapid economic growth in commercial/retail expansion and residential developments. The city’s largest employer is Georgia Southern University. Statesboro is a leader in health care in the area with East Georgia Regional Medical Center employing more than 750 employees and 75 physicians representing a wide range of specialties. The Zaxby's restaurant chain was founded in Statesboro in 1990. The Krystal fast food chain celebrated their most successful Grand Opening ever for a single restaurant in Statesboro (as of 12/5/2007)

Education

Statesboro is the home of three institutions of higher education. Two institutions are affiliated with the University System of Georgia: Georgia Southern University, a comprehensive research university with over 17,000 students, and the Statesboro campus of East Georgia College, a community college based in the nearby city of Swainsboro. Ogeechee Technical College is located just outside the city limits and is a part of the Technical College System of Georgia.

The Bulloch County Board of Education runs the public schools in Statesboro. The largest school in the city is Statesboro High School. Other public schools include William James Middle School, Langston Chapel Middle School, Julia P. Bryant Elementary School, Sallie Zetterower Elementary School, Mattie Lively Elementary School, Langston Chapel Elementary School and Mill Creek Elementary School. There are also several private schools including Bulloch Academy, Trinity Christian School, and Bible Baptist Christian School. One school not overseen by the BoE: The Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts and Technology.

Culture

The culture of Statesboro reflects a blend of both its southern heritage and college town identity. The downtown area is currently undergoing a revitalization led in part by the construction of The David H. Averitt Center for the Arts in the Old Bank of Statesboro and Georgia Theater. The center is home to the Emma Kelly Theater named after Statesboro's music legend Emma Kelly the "Lady of 6,000 Songs," The center also contains art studios, conference rooms and an exhibition area. In recent years, a number of restaurants and shops have opened in downtown Statesboro. Downtown Statesboro has been featured in several motion pictures including Now and Then as well as 1969.

Georgia Southern University offers a variety of cultural options for both the university and the community at large including The Georgia Southern Symphony, the Georgia Southern Planetarium , Georgia Southern Museum, and the Botanical Gardens at Bland Cottage. The Performing Arts Center offers a number of shows each year from traveling groups as well as shows put on by Georgia Southern students and faculty.

Mill Creek Regional Park is a large outdoor recreational facility with athletic fields and a water park Splash in the Boro.

There are a few bookstores including, The Book and Cranny , the Georgia Southern University bookstore, and Books By Dickens

Because Statesboro is a college town, there are a number of restaurants, bars, and coffee houses. During the fall and spring semesters at the university, there are usually bands playing at most of the bars. The restaurants available offer Greek, Italian, Southern, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, and Italian. Because Bulloch County is a partially dry county, beer and wine can be legally sold wholesale in the city, but not liquor, which is only sold on a per-drink basis in bars. Restaurants are non-smoking by city ordinance and Georgia state law. The Carmike Cinemas has twelve screens showing a variety of current films.

Media

Statesboro is served by a variety of media outlets in print, radio, television, and the Internet. The local newspaper is the Statesboro Herald, a daily with a circulation of about 8,000. Other newspapers include the daily George-Anne produced by Georgia Southern University students, Connect Statesboro, a weekly entertainment publication, and the E11eventh Hour, a twice-a-month entertainment publication. In Radio states include, WHKN, WMCD, WPMX, WPTB, WWNS, and WVGS. The City of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University, and Northland Cable have partnered to provide the community with a local government access channel, channel 96. Statesboro Business Magazine, offers Statesboro and area business news, articles, features, jobs, real estate listings and other area business information and reviews.

Channel 96 (TV in the Boro) was launched in September of 2007. Programming within the first year of broadcast was:

Upon Further Review, local sports show providing Sports news, highlights and talk with Nate Hirsch and Josh Aubrey. [First show on Channel 96]
The PLA J SNIP Show, variety show featuring the local music and entertainment scene, hosted by Jason Martin, also known as PLA J SNIP
Boro Talk with Tommy, community news and commentary hosted by Tommy Palmer
Bible Baptist ' The Spirit of Liberty' Broadcast, weekly church service
Statesboro Church of God, weekly church service
Downtown Development
180 Fitness

Statesboro Herald launched their own programming shortly afterwards and broadcasts on their website. They also have built a TV studio to film the shows.

Statesboro Business Magazine focuses on Statesboro and Bulloch Country Businesses, including local business news, business features, Business events and local jobs.

Music

Statesboro has a diverse music scene of its own, with plenty of local artists and acts performing live all around Geogia Southern Campus as well as recording in some of the town's studios. Some of the local artists & performers from or associated with the area are:

Tanglewood
Luke Bryan
Barefoot Booyah
Carben
Yard Call
Outlaw
Pla J Snip
Southbound
Toby Harris
Sam Adams
Wemberly Ponder
Ethel Lane
Joe Porter
Mos High
Kreep
County Line
Lindsey Hall

Transportation

Interstate 16 is located to the south of Statesboro. Statesboro is also served by three U.S. highways: U.S. Highway 301, which runs north-south through the city, U.S. Highway 25, which runs northwest-south through the city, and U.S. Highway 80, which is the main east-west route through the city. The Veterans Memorial Parkway ( Highway 301 Bypass and Highway 25 Bypass) forms a near circle around the city. Approximately three miles outside of Statesboro is the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport, which can accommodate private aircraft but does not have a control tower or commercial flights. Most travelers choose to fly from the nearby Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, which is located to the east and is served by nine commercial airlines. Statesboro is about three hours by highway from the major Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Eagle Taxi serves the area.

People of note

Erk Russell - (1926 -2006) Legendary College Football Coach
Sutton Foster - (1975 - ) Broadway star
Emma Thompson Kelly - (1918 - 2001) Singer, "Lady of 6,000 songs"
Blind Willie McTell - (1901–1959) Blues Musician, "Statesboro Blues"
Marty Pevey - (1961 - ) current third base coach of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.
Adrian Peterson - (1979 - ) Running back for the Chicago Bears. Walter Payton award winner who earned his degree from Georgia Southern University in 2001 and helped win the 1999 and 2000 National Championships.
Brandon Wallace - (1985 - ) professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics.
Jason Childers - (1975 - ) Major League Baseball relief pitcher
John Rocker - (1974 - ) former baseball player
Josh Thompson - Auburn Football Nose Tackle. Lead team senior season in tackles. Won National and SEC Championship in 2004. Currently with the St. Louis Rams.
Danny McBride - (1976 - ) Film actor, Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder