Smyrna
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A city in the Roman senatorial province of Asia on the shore of the Aegean Sea. The natural outlet for the ancient trade route through the Hermus Valley, the city had two ports: a small inner one with a narrow entrance which became silted up through neglect, and a second mooring ground. The city was renowned for its beauty and magnificent buildings. Its immediate hinterland was very fertile. Due to its excellent climate, strategic location and good water source, it became one of the most prosperous cities in Asia Minor. Smyrna was an Ionian Greek colony from early times (pre-1st millennium B.C.). At the end of the 7th century B.C. it was captured and destroyed by the Lydians and remained uninhabited until its reconstruction on the present site by Lysimachus in the 3rd century B.C. Even before Rome became the supreme power in the eastern Mediterranean, Smyrna was its faithful ally.
The gospel presumably reached Smyrna from Ephesus. Its church was the second of the seven mentioned in the Book of Revelation and received the most encouraging letter of the seven. The Smyrna church encountered opposition from the city's Jews who denounced it to the Roman officials (Rev 2:9-11). Smyrna is present-day Izmir, the second largest city in Asiatic turkey.
Concordance
Rev 1:11; 2:8
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Smyrna
Smyrna, city (1990 pop. 30,981), Cobb co., NW Ga., a residential suburb of Atlanta; inc. 1872. Manufactures include computer equipment, building materials, plastics, ordnance, and chemicals. Originally a religious camp-meeting ground, the city grew with the coming of the railroad. It has a bird sanctuary and is noted for its jonquils. The city was almost totally destroyed during the Civil War.
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İzmir (the Greek Smyrna), nestled at the eastern end of a gulf along the central western Anatolian coast, remained the only port town to escape the Ottoman ruler Bayezid I's hands when he conquered the rest of western Anatolia in 1390. It was not until 1424 that the Ottomans finally absorbed the town. In the subsequent five centuries, İzmir became transformed several times.
A combination of events and structural changes caused these dramatic alterations. In the years immediately before the Ottoman takeover, İzmir was a town divided between a Turkish-Muslim settlement in and around a hill castle, Kadifekale, and a Latin Christian settlement in the small harbor below. In such circumstances, the site could not thrive, and the Ottomans inherited an almost deserted place in 1424. Nor, without a potent navy, could the authorities do much to revitalize the port thereafter. A Venetian raid in 1474 exposed its vulnerability.
The creation of an eastern Mediterranean Pax Ottomanica in the early sixteenth century did little for İzmir. The conquest of Constantinople in 1453 had led to an Ottoman policy that envisioned western Anatolia as a provisioning zone. As part of its strategy, the government discouraged international commerce in İzmir. A reflection of this policy was an almost exclusively Turko-Muslim population of no more than two thousand in 1575.
The combination of new European trading companies and Ottoman political decentralization in the seventeenth century stimulated İzmir's growth. The weakness of the Ottoman center eased foreign manipulation of provincial economies and societies in general. İzmir itself became a "new port city," created by the combined interests of foreign traders and local Ottoman elites. By 1630, İzmir's diverse population of perhaps fifty thousand Turkish-Muslims, Armenians, Jews, Greeks, and foreigners had fashioned a cosmopolitan frontier entrepôt, whose wealth was based upon trade in silk, dried fruits, grains, and other goods.
The Ottoman government set out to tame the place. In about 1659, the grand vizier Köprülü Mehmed had a castle, Sancakburnu Kalesi, built at the narrow entrance to the Gulf of İzmir in order to oversee naval activity and shipping. During the following decades, his successors constructed a customs shed, aqueducts, public bath, and other edifices. İzmir maintained much of its autonomy, however. French, English, Dutch, and other foreign communities had carved out such a strong presence in the town that not only did its most vital district become known as "Franks Street," but foreign representatives also shared more and more municipal power with town notables.
The city quickly rebuilt after a calamitous earthquake in 1688. In the eighteenth century, French and British traders used the influence of their ambassadors in Istanbul to hold the central Ottoman government at bay, and negotiated with local notables and native merchants to better their positions in İzmir and its hinterland. As the century progressed, İzmir became a nexus of Mediterranean and European commerce and culture. Its population also remained diverse, and its physical appearance more and more resembled other world cities.
İzmir is at the center of several historiographical debates. Among these are the causes for the city's sudden emergence in the early seventeenth century, its characteristics as an Ottoman, a Mediterranean, or a world city, and its role in the "world economic system."
Bibliography
Eldem, Edhem, Daniel Goffman, and Bruce Masters. The Ottoman City between East and West: Aleppo, İzmir, and Istanbul. Cambridge, U.K., and New York, 1999.
Frangakis-Syrett, Elena. Commerce of Smyrna in the Eighteenth Century (1700–1820). Athens, 1992.
Goffman, Daniel. İzmir and the Levantine World, 1550–1650. Seattle, 1990.
Kütükoğlu, Mübahat S. XV ve XVI. asirlarda İzmir kazasinin sosyal ve ikisâdî yapisi. 2 vols. İzmir, 2000.
—DANIEL GOFFMAN
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Smyrna, GA
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Smyrna, Georgia
| Smyrna, Georgia | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: 33°52′19″N 84°31′6″W / 33.87194°N 84.51833°WCoordinates: 33°52′19″N 84°31′6″W / 33.87194°N 84.51833°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Cobb |
| Government | |
| – Mayor | Max Bacon |
| Area | |
| – Total | 16 sq mi (41.4 km2) |
| – Land | 16 sq mi (41.3 km2) |
| – Water | 0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,060 ft (323 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| – Total | 51,271 |
| – Density | 3,207.5/sq mi (1,238.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| – Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) | 770 |
| FIPS code | 13-71492[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0356541[2] |
| Website | http://www.smyrnacity.com/ |
Smyrna is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 51,271. It is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA MSA, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, GA-AL CSA.
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Contents
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History
Pioneers began settling the area in 1832. By the late 1830s, a religious encampment called Smyrna Camp Ground had become a popular travel destination and was well-known throughout Georgia. After the completion of the Western and Atlantic Railroad in 1842 the area began to grow. It was known by several names until 1872 – Varner’s Station, Ruff’s Siding, Neal Dow and Ruff’s Station. The city was incorporated with the name Smyrna in 1872.
Two Civil War battles occurred in the area, the Battle of Smyrna Camp Ground on July 3, 1864, and the Battle of Ruff’s Mill the next day. The area’s businesses, homes and 1849 covered bridge (since rebuilt and still in use today) were burned by Sherman’s troops.
Smyrna made history when it elected a woman mayor, Lorena Pace Pruitt, in 1946. The nearby Bell Bomber plant that produced B-29 bombers during World War II was reopened by Lockheed in 1951 and became a catalyst for growth. The city's population grew dramatically during the next two decades, from 2,005 in 1950 to almost 20,000 by 1970.
The restaurant scene in the film Joyful Noise was shot in the city in 2011.[3]
Geography
Smyrna is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, located about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Atlanta, near the northern intersection of I-285 and I-75, which is the site of Cumberland and the Cobb Galleria. It is also near Vinings, Marietta, Mableton, Sandy Springs and the Buckhead district of Atlanta.
Smyrna is located at 33°52′19″N 84°31′06″W / 33.871854°N 84.518380°W.[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.9 square miles (36 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 0.14%, is water. The general terrain of the area is characteristic of the Piedmont region of Georgia, characterized by hills with broad ridges, sloping uplands, and relatively narrow valleys. Smyrna sits at an altitude of about 1,150 feet (350 m) above sea level.
Flora
The city's official symbol is the jonquil (a flower). Known as the "Jonquil City", it derives this name from the thousands of jonquils that flourish in gardens and along the streets in early spring.
Climate
| Climate data for Smyrna, GA | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) |
80 (27) |
89 (32) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
102 (39) |
105 (41) |
104 (40) |
102 (39) |
95 (35) |
84 (29) |
79 (26) |
105 (41) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 52 (11) |
57 (14) |
65 (18) |
73 (23) |
80 (27) |
86 (30) |
89 (32) |
88 (31) |
82 (28) |
73 (23) |
64 (18) |
54 (12) |
71.9 (22.2) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 34 (1) |
38 (3) |
44 (7) |
52 (11) |
60 (16) |
68 (20) |
71 (22) |
71 (22) |
65 (18) |
54 (12) |
45 (7) |
37 (3) |
53.3 (11.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −8 (−22) |
−9 (−23) |
10 (−12) |
25 (−4) |
37 (3) |
39 (4) |
53 (12) |
55 (13) |
36 (2) |
28 (−2) |
3 (−16) |
0 (−18) |
−9 (−23) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 4.20 (106.7) |
4.83 (122.7) |
4.81 (122.2) |
3.36 (85.3) |
3.67 (93.2) |
3.95 (100.3) |
5.27 (133.9) |
3.90 (99.1) |
4.47 (113.5) |
3.41 (86.6) |
4.10 (104.1) |
3.90 (99.1) |
49.87 (1,266.7) |
| Source: [5] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 259 |
|
|
| 1890 | 416 | 60.6% | |
| 1900 | 238 | −42.8% | |
| 1910 | 599 | 151.7% | |
| 1920 | 791 | 32.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,178 | 48.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,440 | 22.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,005 | 39.2% | |
| 1960 | 10,157 | 406.6% | |
| 1970 | 19,157 | 88.6% | |
| 1980 | 20,312 | 6.0% | |
| 1990 | 32,453 | 59.8% | |
| 2000 | 40,999 | 26.3% | |
| 2010 | 51,271 | 25.1% | |
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 40,999 people, 18,372 households, and 9,498 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,949.9 people per square mile (1,138.8/km²). There were 19,633 housing units at an average density of 1,412.6 per square mile (545.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.4% White, 27.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 3.9% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.6% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.8% of the population.
There were 18,372 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.3% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.92.
The population was distributed by age as follows: 19.5% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 43.8% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
Government
Municipal
Max Bacon is the mayor of Smyrna.[6]
The city operates the Smyrna Public Library.
Past mayors
- H.H. Arrington 1933-1937
- John Corn 1939-1940
- P.M. Brinkley 1941
- John Tatum 1942
- C.M. Hamby 1943-1944
- J.Y. Wootten 1945
- Lorena Pruitt 1946-1948
- J.M. "Hoot" Gibson 1949-1952
- Guy Duncan 1953-1954
- James E. Quarles 1955-1957
- J.M. "Hoot" Gibson 1958-1959
- George Kreeger 1960-1961
- J.B. "Jake" Ables 1962-1963
- George Kreeger 1964-1969
- Harold Smith 1970-1971
- John Porterfield 1972-1975
- Arthur Bacon 1976-1977
- Frank Johnson 1978-1981
- Arthur Bacon 1982-1985
- Max Bacon 1985–Present
Elections
The city was a longtime stronghold for traditional, small-town, conservative Southern Democrats.[citation needed] It is now seen as a largely Republican district, located inside a strong Democratic enclave with a growing minority population (South Cobb), located in a predominantly Republican county (Cobb County).[citation needed] As a result, although local officials are nonpartisan, state and federal representation is fairly evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.[citation needed]
Economy
Personal income
The median income for a household in the city was $47,572, and the median income for a family was $53,821. Males had a median income of $38,896 versus $35,465 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,637. About 6.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Industry
The Atlanta Bread Company has its headquarters in Smyrna.[7]
Companies with an office include Eaton Corporation and IBM. Smyrna was the site of the corporate offices of the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling.
Top employers
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:[8]
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCB | 575 |
| 2 | IBM | 566 |
| 3 | United Distributors | 550 |
| 4 | Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna | 499 |
| 5 | Ridgeview Institute | 440 |
| 6 | S.P. Richards | 423 |
| 7 | City of Smyrna | 384 |
| 8 | Bake One | 350 |
| 9 | Publix | 210 |
| 10 | Glock | 209 |
Urban renewal
Smyrna has rebounded from urban decay in the 1990s to become an affluent area.[citation needed]
In 1991, the city began a community redevelopment project known as "Market Village," in order to create a well-defined downtown. Included were a community center and 28,000-square-foot (2,600 m2) public library. A mixed retail and residential district was modeled after a early 1900s city village, including a square with a fountain. This, and other expansions have revitalized the downtown area and acted as a magnet for further redevelopment throughout the city—including thousands of upscale homes - mostly townhouse and condo communities replacing older neighborhoods.[citation needed] As a result of the redevelopment, and Smyrna's key location of a residential suburb in the north west center of metro Atlanta, the population has skyrocketed.[citation needed]
There is additional mixed retail/residential/office redevelopments around the "Market Village". Ground was broken in Jonquil Village, a redevelopment of Jonquil Plaza at the corner of Spring and Atlanta Road across from "Market Village". Less than a .5 miles (0.80 km) down, the city intends to redevelop the Belmont Hills plaza, at the corner of Windy Hill and Atlanta Road in 2011. Both these villages, like "Market Village" in Smyrna, and "Market Square" in Vinings are designed to resemble a city village of yesteryear with fountains and antique street lamps.[citation needed]
Some additional work is being done in Smyrna are streetscape beautification projects, including a linear park on Concord Road. Additional parkland projects are the 12-acre (4.9 ha) Taylor-Brawner Park, Riverview Road trail and Silver Comet Trail extensions in that area.
Education
Smyrna is served by Cobb County Public Schools. Campbell High School, a magnet school for the IB Program, is in the city.
Recreation
Some extensions of the Silver Comet Trail have been built further into Smyrna to expand access to the trail.[9][10]
"Market Village" in the city center often has open-air concerts and festivals. There are also various small parks throughout the city, including public pools, tennis courts and playgrounds and a linear park with walking trail along Spring Road.
Transportation
Several principal arterial roadways, such as I-285, Cobb Parkway (U.S. Highway 41), Atlanta Road (Old State Highway 3) and South Cobb Drive (State Highway 280), pass through the municipality.
Smyrna is served by Cobb Community Transit public buses.
Notables
Notables from the area include U.S. Representative Bob Barr, Atlanta Brave Ron Gant, and actress Julia Roberts.
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Monthly Averages for Smyrna, GA (30080)". Weather.com. http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/monthly/30080. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
- ^ Untitled Document
- ^ "Atlanta Bread Company
- ^ City of Smyrna CAFR
- ^ Silver Comet Trail, Cobb County Information - Georgia
- ^ Silver Comet Trail and Heritage Park - Smyrna, GA
External links
- Smyrna official city website
- SuperSmyrna website lists volunteer service opportunity projects and highlights of Smyrna area schools
- Smyrna info at Georgia.gov
- Smyrna Public Library
- Comprehensive History of Smyrna, Georgia (1832 to Present) from the Smyrna Historical and Genealogical Society
- Smyrna Rotary Club website
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