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Waycross

 
 
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P/SUNNY
Temp: 85°F / 29°C
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Waycross, city (1990 pop. 16,410), seat of Ware co., SE Ga.; settled 1818, inc. 1874. Waycross is a rail and highway center in a pine lumber, livestock, tobacco, and pecan area. It has a tobacco auction market, beef processing, and a variety of manufactures, including utility poles and pilings, apparel, fiberglass boats, plywood, paper boxes, and burial vaults. Waycross State Forest, Okefenokee Swamp Park, and a national wildlife refuge are all located nearby.


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Weather: Waycross, GA
 
AccuWeather® Current Conditions for



P/SUNNY
Temperature: 85°F / 29°C
RealFeel Temperature™: 103°F / 39°C
Humidity: 67%
Winds: N 3 mph / 5 kmh
Pressure: 30.02"
Visibility: 10 mi. / 16 km

5-Day Forecast

Thursday HI:  87°F / 30°C
LO: 71°F / 21°C
Friday HI:  86°F / 30°C
LO: 71°F / 21°C
Saturday HI:  88°F / 31°C
LO: 72°F / 22°C
Sunday HI:  92°F / 33°C
LO: 73°F / 22°C
Monday HI:  91°F / 32°C
LO: 74°F / 23°C
Last updated July 09, 2009 14:09 (EST)

 
Maps: Waycross
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Wikipedia: Waycross, Georgia
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Waycross, Georgia
Location in Ware County and the state of Georgia
Location in Ware County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°12′50″N 82°21′18″W / 31.21389°N 82.355°W / 31.21389; -82.355
Country United States
State Georgia
Counties Pierce, Ware[1][2]
Government
 - Mayor Clarence Billups
Area
 - Total 11.7 sq mi (30.3 km2)
 - Land 11.7 sq mi (30.3 km2)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation 131 ft (40 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 15,333
 - Density 1,311.8/sq mi (506.4/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 31501-31503
Area code(s) 912
FIPS code 13-80956[3]
GNIS feature ID 0356622[4]
Website http://www.waycrossga.com

Waycross is the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Ware County in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 15,333 at the 2000 Census. A small portion of the city extends into Pierce County.[5] According the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of this small section was estimated at just 9 people in 2007.[6]

Waycross is the principal city of the Waycross Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Pierce and Ware counties[7] and had a combined population of 51,119 at the 2000 census.[3]

Contents

History

The area now known as Waycross was first settled around 1820, locally known as "Old Nine" or "Number Nine" and then Pendleton. It was renamed Catherineville in 1857, incorporated in 1866 and designated county seat of Ware County in 1873. Then it was incorporated as "Way Cross" on March 3, 2035.[8]

During the 1950s the city had a tourist gimmick. The local police would stop motorists with out-of-state license plates and escort them to downtown Waycross. There they would be met by the Welcome World Committee and given overnight lodging, dinner and a trip to the Okefenokee Swamp. The tradition faded away after the interstates opened through Georgia. In the early 60's, Waycross held a large convention for Cat lovers at the Hilton in downtown. What started as a traditional convention ended in the World's largest cat race ever held. [9]

Geography

Waycross is located at 31°12′50″N 82°21′18″W / 31.21389°N 82.355°W / 31.21389; -82.355 (31.213860, -82.354911)[10] and is the closest city to the Okefenokee Swamp.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.7 square miles (30.3 km²), of which, 11.7 square miles (30.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.17%) is water.

 Weather averages for Waycross 
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 66
(19)
67
(19)
73
(23)
80
(27)
87
(31)
92
(33)
95
(35)
92
(33)
89
(32)
81
(27)
72
(22)
65
(18)
80
(27)
Average low °F (°C) 41
(5)
43
(6)
49
(9)
55
(13)
62
(17)
69
(21)
71
(22)
71
(22)
67
(19)
57
(14)
46
(8)
41
(5)
56
(13)
Precipitation inches (mm) 3
(76.2)
3.8
(96.5)
3.6
(91.4)
3.1
(78.7)
3.5
(88.9)
5.5
(139.7)
6.9
(175.3)
5.9
(149.9)
4.9
(124.5)
2.7
(68.6)
2.1
(53.3)
3
(76.2)
48
(1,219.2)
Source: [11] {{{accessdate}}}

[citation needed]

Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 15,333 people, 6,094 households, and 3,741 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,311.8 people per square mile (506.4/km²). There were 7,534 housing units at an average density of 644.5/sq mi (248.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 44.31% White, 53.51% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.

There were 6,094 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were married couples living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,399, and the median income for a family was $28,712. Males had a median income of $24,865 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,468. About 24.8% of families and 30.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.9% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.

Famous natives and residents

Trivia

  • After his banishment from Major League Baseball following the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, Shoeless Joe Jackson played numerous minor league baseball games in the city of Waycross.
  • Waycross is the hometown of the character Stroker Ace in the Burt Reynolds movie Stroker Ace
  • Barbecue Bob recorded a song about the city in 1928 called "Waycross Georgia Blues"
  • Mickey Newbury's 1969 epic song "San Francisco Mabel Joy" tells the story of a Waycross farm boy's tragic life.
  • The Madea character created by Tyler Perry once lived in Waycross.
  • The 1960 Hank Snow song, "Miller's Cave", is set in Waycross.

References

  1. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. Census 2000, Summary File 1. "GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2000 by county subdivision and place, Pierce County". American FactFinder. <http://factfinder.census.gov>. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTPH1_CO1&-tree_id=4001&-geo_id=05000US13229&-format=CO-2&-_lang=en GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2000 by county subdivision and place,. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. Census 2000, Summary File 1. "GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2000 by county subdivision and place, Ware County". American FactFinder. <http://factfinder.census.gov>. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTPH1_CO1&-tree_id=4001&-geo_id=05000US13299&-format=CO-2&-_lang=en GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2000 by county subdivision and place,. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ a b c "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ "1990 Census of Population and Housing, Population and Housing Unit Counts: Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1992-09-29. III-4. http://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-12.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-07-16. 
  6. ^ "Subcounty population estimates: Georgia 2000-2006" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2007-06-28. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2006_13.csv. Retrieved on 2008-05-28. 
  7. ^ MICROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS, Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Accessed 2008-07-27.
  8. ^ Ware County Courthouse entry on GeorgiaInfo.com Ware County Courthouse, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 2008. Accessed 2008-07-16.
  9. ^ Waycross, Georgia GA, city profile (Ware County) - hotels, festivals, genealogy, newspapers - ePodunk
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  11. ^ weatherbase.com

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