Plains, Georgia
{{Short description|City in the United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Plains, Georgia
|settlement_type = City
|motto = "Home of the 39th President"{{cite web |url= http://www.plainsgeorgia.org/ |title= Official Page of the City of Plains, Georgia |publisher= Official Page of the City of Plains, Georgia |access-date= September 4, 2012}}
|image_skyline = Plains, Georgia (5746324119).jpg
|image_caption = Plains downtown storefronts (2011)
|image_flag =
|image_seal = Plains, GA Seal.png
|seal_size = 85px
|image_map = Sumter_County_Georgia_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Plains_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption = Location within Sumter County and Georgia
|image_map1 =
|map_caption1 =
|coordinates = {{coord|32|2|1|N|84|23|36|W|region:US-GA|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Georgia
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Sumter
|subdivision_type3 =
|subdivision_name3 =
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = {{Start date and age|1885}}
|established_title1 = Platted
|established_date1 =
|established_title2 = Incorporated
|established_date2 =
|named_for =
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Joseph Recker Jr.
|area_total_sq_mi = 0.81
|area_land_sq_mi = 0.81
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
|area_total_km2 = 2.11
|area_land_km2 = 2.11
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|unit_pref = Imperial
|elevation_ft = 499
|population_footnotes =
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_total = 573
|pop_est_footnotes =
|pop_est_as_of =
|population_est =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2 = auto
|timezone = EST
|utc_offset = −5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = −4
|postal_code_type = ZIP Code
|postal_code = 31780
|area_code_type = Area code
|area_code = 229
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = {{FIPS|13|61628}}
|blank1_name = GNIS ID
|blank1_info = 356474 {{cite gnis2|356474|Plains, Georgia}}
|website = {{URL|https://plainsgeorgia.gov/|plainsgeorgia.gov}}
}}
Plains is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 573. It is well-known as the home of Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, who were the 39th president and first lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981.
History
Originally inhabited by the Muscogee people,{{cite web |url=http://www.plainsgeorgia.org/history/ |title=Official Page of the City of Plains :: |website=www.plainsgeorgia.org}} three small settlements existed close to what would become Plains by the 1840s: Lebanon, Magnolia Springs, and Plains of Dura.{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/jica/planyourvisit/plainsgeorgia.htm|title=Plains Historic District - Jimmy Carter National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service) |website=www.nps.gov}} In 1885, a significant turning point occurred when a major east–west railroad extended into the area and led to the three settlements being consolidated into one.{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/jica/planyourvisit/plainsgeorgia.htm|title=Plains Historic District|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=28 November 2023}} As railway access expanded into the region in response to increased cotton farming, these settlements coalesced closer to the new railway location.{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/ArticlePrintable.jsp?id=h-3280|title=Plains|website=New Georgia Encyclopedia}} As businesses rapidly developed, local businessmen successfully petitioned the Georgia State Legislature to shorten "Plains of Dura" to simply "Plains." The city was incorporated in 1896.
Plains continued to experience growth fueled by cotton cultivation into the early 20th century. A substantial school and the pioneering Wise Sanitarium were both built in the 1920s. Despite branching into peanut cultivation, the community lost much of its prosperity during the Great Depression.
The city remained a small and quiet one until Plains native Jimmy Carter rose to political prominence as Georgia's governor in 1971, before becoming U.S. president from 1977 to 1981. During the 1976 presidential election and for many years afterwards, the city saw a giant influx in tourism due to Carter's name, with nearly 10,000 people (around 18 times the population of Plains) pouring into the community daily.Buccellato, Robert (2016). Jimmy Carter in Plains: The Presidential Hometown. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing. {{ISBN|978-1467115414}}.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|0.8|sqmi|km2}}, all land. The city's boundary is in the shape of a circle.{{cite web|title=Map of Plains, Georgia|url=http://www.plainsgeorgia.org/page12.html|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727175244/http://www.plainsgeorgia.org/page12.html|archive-date=2011-07-27}}{{Cite web |title=Enigma, Georgia: Mystery of the South's Circular Towns |url=https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/655-enigma-georgia-mystery-of-the-souths-circular-towns/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=Big Think |date=May 2014 |language=en-US}} It is located in west-south-western Georgia, {{Convert|120|mi}} due south of Atlanta.
=Climate=
This area climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Plains has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=780790&cityname=Plains,+Georgia,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Plains, Georgia Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase}}
{{Weather box
|location = Plains, Georgia
|single line = Yes
|Jan high F = 57
|Feb high F = 61
|Mar high F = 68
|Apr high F = 77
|May high F = 84
|Jun high F = 89
|Jul high F = 91
|Aug high F = 90
|Sep high F = 86
|Oct high F = 78
|Nov high F = 69
|Dec high F = 60
|year high F = 76
|Jan low F = 35
|Feb low F = 37
|Mar low F = 44
|Apr low F = 51
|May low F = 60
|Jun low F = 67
|Jul low F = 69
|Aug low F = 69
|Sep low F = 64
|Oct low F = 53
|Nov low F = 44
|Dec low F = 37
|year low F = 52
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.9
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.6
|Mar precipitation inch = 5.2
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.5
|May precipitation inch = 3.3
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.7
|Jul precipitation inch = 5.2
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.5
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.5
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.4
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.3
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.2
|year precipitation inch = 49.4
|precipitation colour = green
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=780790&cityname=Plains-Georgia
|publisher=Weatherbase
|title=Weatherbase.com
|year=2013
}}
Retrieved on October 16, 2013.
|date=October 2013
}}
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1870= 374
|1880= 459
|1890= 510
|1900= 290
|1910= 407
|1920= 479
|1930= 406
|1940= 364
|1950= 359
|1960= 273
|1970= 236
|1980= 231
|1990= 286
|2000= 637
|2010= 776
|2020= 573
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=}}
1850-1870{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties |website=US Census Bureau|date= 1870|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf |accessdate=|page=}} 1870-1880{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties |website=US Census Bureau|date= 1880|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1880/vol-01-population/1880_v1-09.pdf |accessdate=|page=}}
1890-1910{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1910 Census of Population - Georgia |website=US Census Bureau|date= 1930|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ga.pdf |accessdate=|page=}} 1920-1930{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1930 Census of Population - Georgia |website=US Census Bureau|date= 1930|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|pages=251–256}}
1940{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1940 Census of Population - Georgia |website=US Census Bureau|date= 1940|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=}} 1950{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1950 Census of Population - Georgia |website=US Census Bureau|date= 1980|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-2/37779083v2p11ch2.pdf |accessdate=}} 1960{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia |website=US Census Bureau|date= 1960|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-12-c.pdf|accessdate=}}
1970{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia |website=US Census Bureau|date= 1970|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ga-01.pdf|accessdate=}} 1980{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia |website=US Census Bureau|date= 1980|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_gaABC-01.pdf|accessdate=}} 1990{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia |website=US Census Bureau|date= 1990|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cph-5/cph-5-12.pdf|accessdate=}}
2000{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia |website=US Census Bureau|date= 2000|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-12.pdf |accessdate=}} 2010 2020
}}
Plains is part of the Americus Micropolitan Statistical Area.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Plains, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition !Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) !Pop 2000{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Plains city, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US1361628|website=United States Census Bureau}} !Pop 2010{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Plains city, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1361628&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}} !{{partial|Pop 2020}}{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Plains city, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1361628&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}} !% 2000 !% 2010 !{{partial|% 2020}} |
| White alone (NH)
|238 |392 |style='background: #ffffe6; |239 |37.36% |50.52% |style='background: #ffffe6; |41.71% |
| Black or African American alone (NH)
|379 |331 |style='background: #ffffe6; |307 |59.50% |42.65% |style='background: #ffffe6; |53.58% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|0 |0 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1 |0.00% |0.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.17% |
| Asian alone (NH)
|0 |0 |style='background: #ffffe6; |3 |0.00% |0.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.52% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|0 |0 |style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |0.00% |0.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH)
|0 |0 |style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |0.00% |0.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|2 |2 |style='background: #ffffe6; |5 |0.31% |0.26% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.87% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|18 |51 |style='background: #ffffe6; |18 |2.83% |6.57% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.14% |
| Total
|637 |776 |style='background: #ffffe6; |573 |100.00% |100.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00% |
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 16.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 30.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 69.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 58.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,719, and the median income for a family was $29,375. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $16,406 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,602. About 22.2% of families and 25.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.2% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The city is located in the Sumter County School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13261_sumter/DC20SD_C13261.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sumter County, GA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-10-01}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13261_sumter/DC20SD_C13261_SD2MS.txt Text list]
Points of interest
Many of the town's attractions are centered around Jimmy Carter, including the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. Carter's high school, birthplace, campaign headquarters, former site of family business, his brother Billy's service station, and his burial site are all within a close vicinity of one another in the center of town. The iconic Smiling Peanut Statue, a gift to Carter from supporters in Evansville, Indiana, lies on the outskirts of town. His boyhood home is in nearby Archery.
Andersonville National Historic Site and the National Prisoner of War Museum are located in the vicinity of Plains. Georgia Southwestern State University is located in the nearby town of Americus. Westville, a re-created town depicting the living history of mid-19th-century Georgia, is located in the nearby town of Lumpkin.
Notable residents
President Jimmy Carter was born in Plains at the Wise Sanitarium, now renamed the Lillian G. Carter Nursing Center in honor of his mother. His wife Rosalynn and their daughter Amy were also born in Plains, as were his younger brother Billy, younger sister Gloria, youngest sister Ruth, and cousin Hugh. When he left office in 1981, Carter and his wife returned to live in the home in Plains they have occupied since 1961, where they both died. Rosalynn Carter died on November 19, 2023, and President Carter died on December 29, 2024. Both are interred on the grounds of their home, which is part of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park.
Gallery
File:Welcome to Plains Home of the 39th President.png|The Plains welcome sign, featuring the Seal of the president of the United States
File:Plains, Georgia water tower.png|The Plains water tower
File:17 02 044 carter.jpg|Carter's High School, now a visitor center and museum
File:Giant sized smiling peanut, looking north - Smiling Peanut, South Side of Highway 49, Plains, Sumter County, GA HABS GA,131-PLAIN.V,2-1 (CT).tif|Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue
File:CarterHQ.jpg|Carter campaign headquarters (2008)
File:JimmyCarteronBicycle.jpg|Jimmy Carter cycling in Plains (2008)
File:Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter gravesite.jpg|Burial site of Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter
References
{{Portal|Georgia (U.S. State)}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://plainsgeorgia.gov/ Official City Website]
- [http://www.city-data.com/city/Plains-Georgia.html City-Data.com] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Plains
{{Sumter County, Georgia}}
{{Jimmy Carter}}
{{authority control}}
Category:1885 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Americus, Georgia micropolitan area
Category:Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Cities in Sumter County, Georgia