Midway, Georgia

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File:GA Midway Cemetery and Church01.jpg and cemetery]]

Midway's history dates back to the 18th century. Puritans migrated to St. John's Parish, Georgia, from Dorchester, South Carolina, in 1752 and established several settlements, including what became the Midway community. The Council of Georgia granted them {{convert|31950|acre|km2}}, as colonial officials wanted a large number of settlers in the area to help protect them from the Creek Indians. The original Midway settlers were primarily rice planters and developed a strong agricultural economy, aided by the 1,500 slaves they brought from South Carolina.Stokes, Thomas, The Savannah, Rinehart & Co., 1951, p. 124{{request quotation|date=March 2019}}

The city of Midway was incorporated in 1925.

In 1973, the Midway Historic District, encompassing the Midway Congregational Church and Cemetery, the Midway Museum, and the Old Sunbury Road, was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/geo-flor/8.htm National Park Service: Midway Historic District]

Midway is located in eastern Liberty County at {{Coord|31.799873|-81.412298|format=dms|region:US-GA_type:city|display=inline,title}} (31.799873, -81.412298).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} The current city limits include the former unincorporated community of Dorchester. The city limits extend east to include Exit 76 on Interstate 95, at the eastern terminus of U.S. Route 84. Via I-95 it is {{convert|32|mi}} northeast to Savannah and {{convert|45|mi}} south to Brunswick. US 84 leads west from I-95 through Midway {{convert|15|mi}} to Hinesville, the Liberty county seat. To the east from I-95, Islands Highway continues {{convert|10|mi|0}} to Colonels Island among the Atlantic coastal marshes.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Midway has a total area of {{convert|16.7|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|7053|sqm|acre|order=flip|2}}, or 0.04%, are water.{{cite web| url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_13.txt| title=U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Georgia| website=U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division| access-date=December 13, 2019}}

{{US Census population

|1930= 42

|1940= 96

|1950= 228

|1960= 240

|1970= 167

|1980= 457

|1990= 863

|2000= 1100

|2010= 2121

|2020= 2141

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,141 people, 615 households, and 457 families residing in the city.

Midway has an industrial park with nine manufacturing facilities. In 2007, Target Corporation opened a {{convert|1500000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} regional distribution center, with two sections to the facility being present: Tradeport East and Tradeport West {{cite web |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2005/01/17/daily25.html |title=Target opening massive distribution center in Georgia |work=Atlanta Business Chronicle |date= January 19, 2005|access-date=December 2, 2011}}

The Midway Museum is home to documents, exhibits, and furnishings associated with the Midway Society from the Colonial period through its last meeting in December 1865. The Midway Museum was Georgia's first colonial museum.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}

In July 2011 Midway received national attention after city police shut down a lemonade stand run by young girls attempting to earn money for a waterpark trip. Police and city officials maintained the girls were required to obtain a business license.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/police-ga-shut-down-girls-lemonade-stand-151815766.html |title=Police Shut Down Girls' Lemonade Stand |website=Yahoo! News |publisher=Associated Press |date=July 15, 2011 |access-date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902153313/http://news.yahoo.com/police-ga-shut-down-girls-lemonade-stand-151815766.html |archive-date=2 September 2011 |url-status=dead }} Neighboring Richmond Hill allowed the girls to set up their lemonade stand at its first farmer's market later that month.{{cite web|url=http://beta.bryancountynews.net/section/101/article/14201/ |title=Richmond Hill Farmers Market opens Tuesday |work=BryanCountyNews.net |date=July 18, 2011 |access-date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716181948/http://www.bryancountynews.net/archives/14201/ |archive-date=16 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}

The 2014 award-winning independent film A Promise was filmed in Liberty County.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bryancountynews.com/archives/36774/ |title=Film company sets premieres |website=www.bryancountynews.com |access-date=2016-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406131752/http://www.bryancountynews.com/archives/36774/ |archive-date=2016-04-06 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://coastalcourier.com/m/section/12/article/79861/|title=Georgia hears about local film industry|website=coastalcourier.com|access-date=2016-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409061215/http://coastalcourier.com/m/section/12/article/79861/|archive-date=2016-04-09|url-status=dead}}

In 1980 key scenes for the Italian horror film City of the Living Dead were shot within Midway Cemetery across the road from Midway Congregational Church.

Public education is provided by the Liberty County School System.{{cite web |url= http://www.liberty.k12.ga.us/ |title=Liberty County School System |year=2011 |access-date=July 18, 2011}} Public schools located in Midway are:

• Liberty Elementary School (grades K through 5){{cite web |url= http://www.liberty.k12.ga.us/le/ |title=Liberty Elementary School |work=liberty.k12.ga.us |year=2011 |access-date=July 18, 2011}}
• Midway Middle School (grades 6 through 8){{cite web |url= http://www.liberty.k12.ga.us/mms/ |title=Midway Middle School |work=liberty.k12.ga.us |year=2011|access-date=July 18, 2011}}

• Moses Allen, minister (d. 1779)
• Benjamin Andrew, planter (d. 1790)
• Daniel Baker, Presbyterian minister (d. 1857)
• Nathan Brownson, physician and statesman (d. 1796)
• Lyman Hall, physician and statesman (d. 1790)
• Abiel Holmes, clergyman and historian (d. 1837)
• Raekwon McMillan, American football linebacker (b. 1995)
• Daniel Stewart (Brigadier General), politician and brigadier general, (d. 1829)
• John W. Wilcox Jr., rear admiral in the U.S. Navy (d. 1942)

{{reflist}}

• [http://historicmidway.com/ Official website]
• [http://www.themidwaymuseum.org/ Midway Museum]

{{Liberty County, Georgia}}

{{Georgia (U.S. state)}}

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Category:Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Cities in Liberty County, Georgia

Category:Populated places established in 1925

Category:Populated coastal places in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Hinesville metropolitan area