Waycross

Waycross, 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]

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

• Gram Parsons - Country Singer/Musician of The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and solo artist
• Ossie Davis - Actor, Writer, Director, Producer
• Pernell Roberts - actor
• Stanley Booth - author, journalist, music critic
• Sonora Webster Carver - First woman horse diver
• Burt Reynolds - actor, director, writer, producer, casting director, singer
• Nikki DeLoach - Former member of the new MMC and the girl group innosense and actress on the television series North Shore and Windfall
• Will Denton - Drummer for dc talk and Steven Curtis Chapman; currently on tour with LeAnn Rimes
• Tim McCray - Professional football player from 1985-1990 in the CFL
• Caroline Miller - Pulitzer Prize winning author
• Rory Segrest - Defensive Line Coach for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles
• Jay Gogue - Auburn University President
• Billy Carter- brother of President Jimmy Carter founder of Billy Beer
• Arthur Albertson - silent film actor
• Covington Barrett - silent film actor
• Candance Gosch - actress
• Lindy Newton - actress
• Johnny Archer - American professional pool player - "The Scorpion"
• Bill Darden - Founder of The Green Frog, Red Lobster and Darden Restaurants which owns Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, Smokey Bones, LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille.

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

External links

• City of Waycross
• Waycross Tourism & Conference Bureau
• Historic Waycross
• [1]

• Waycross, Georgia is at coordinates 31°12′50″N 82°21′18″W / 31.21386°N 82.354911°W / 31.21386; -82.354911 (Waycross, Georgia)Coordinates: 31°12′50″N 82°21′18″W / 31.21386°N 82.354911°W / 31.21386; -82.354911 (Waycross, Georgia)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Pierce County, Georgia County seat: Blackshear Cities Blackshear | Offerman | Patterson | Waycross‡ Unincorporated communities Bristol | Jot Em Down Store Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Ware County, Georgia County seat: Waycross City Waycross‡ CDPs Deenwood | Sunnyside Unincorporated communities Dixie Union | Manor | Millwood | Ruskin | Waresboro Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties