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Statesboro is a city in southeast Georgia, United States. The population was 22,698 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Bulloch CountyTemplate:GR. While Statesboro is considered to many as the college town of Georgia Southern University, the city was chartered a century prior in 1803. Statesboro leaders joined together, bid for and won the First District A&M School, founded in 1906, which eventually grew to become Georgia Southern University. The area surrounding Georgia Southern University was once called Collegeboro, but was never incorporated and eventually Statesboro grew outward encompassing "Collegeboro" and the university.
Although it is true that Statesboro and Georgia Southern University have historically grown and continue to grow in tandem with one another, the city cannot be considered a true college town. Unlike most college towns which are communities built around a college/university, Statesboro was a well established community whose civic leaders built and continue to build the university to this day. Although the university is run by the state government, it has very strong ties to various citizens of Statesboro. Statesboro-Bulloch County offers a diversified array of employment opportunities in agriculture and industry which are unlike most college towns. However, the Town-Gown relationship is very real, although not as intense as it could be since a large portion of the student population are also Statesboro natives.
Geography
Statesboro is located at 32°26′43″N 81°46′45″W / 32.44528°N 81.77917°W / 32.44528; -81.77917Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (32.445147, -81.779234)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.7 km² (12.6 mi²). 32.4 km² (12.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.8%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 22,698 people, 8,560 households, and 3,304 families residing in the city. The population density was 700.0/km² (1,812.9/mi²). There were 9,235 housing units at an average density of 284.8/km² (737.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 56.21% White, 40.25% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population.
There were 8,560 households out of which 17.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 21.9% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 61.4% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 14.3% under the age of 18, 48.7% from 18 to 24, 16.6% from 25 to 44, 11.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,016, and the median income for a family was $35,391. Males had a median income of $29,132 versus $20,718 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,585. About 20.5% of families and 42.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education and Culture
Statesboro is the home of Georgia Southern University and of Ogeechee Technical College. It has several community organizations including Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, and Rotary Club. The Statesboro Regional Library is a member of the Georgia Library Public Information Network for Electronic Services (PINES). Mill Creek Regional Park is a large outdoor recreational facility with athletic fields and swimming area. The David H. Averitt Center for the Arts is provides a small performing arts theater along with studios, conference rooms and an exhibition area. The Statesboro Regional Art Association holds monthly meetings.
The local newspaper is the Statesboro Herald, a daily with a circulation of about 8,000. Other newspapers include the daily George-Anne (http://www.stp.georgiasouthern.edu/), put out by Georgia Southern University students, Connect Statesboro, a weekly entertainment publication, and the E11eventh Hour, a twice-a-month entertainment publication.
There are a couple of small bookstores including the Georgia Southern University bookstore and Books By Dickens. Georgia Southern University offers the Georgia Southern Physics' Planetarium http://cost.georgiasouthern.edu/planetarium/), Georgia Southern Museum, the Botanical Gardens at Bland Cottage, and the Performing Arts Center adjacent to the Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education Center. Georgia Southern offers a number of shows each year from traveling groups as well as shows put on by Georgia Southern students and staff.
Because Statesboro is a college town, there are a number of restaurants, bars, and a couple of coffee houses. During the fall and spring semesters at the university (August through May), there are usually bands playing at most of the bars. During the summer, as many students leave, the tempo of the night life slows down. The restaurants available offer Southern, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Italian. Most of the standard American franchise restaurants are represented with both fast food and table service. Some of the more popular restaurants in the area include El Sombrero Mexican Cuisine, Applebee's, Longhorn's, Pappa's Pizza To-Go, and Kyoto's Fantasy Express. Restaurants are non-smoking by city ordinance, followed by a later move by Georgia to ban smoking in all restaurants.
Approximately three miles outside of Statesboro is a small airport which can accommodate private aircraft. It does not have a control tower.
Statesboro may be familiar to music-listeners through the song "Statesboro Blues" written by Blind Willie McTell and covered by many other musicians, including Taj Mahal and The Allman Brothers Band.
Downtown Statesboro has been featured in several motion pictures including Now and Then as well as 1969 (movie).
Statesboro is located in a semi-dry county, hard liquor is not allowed to be sold by the bottle. It is allowed to be sold by the drink in bars.
People of Note
- Erk Russell - (1926 -2006) Legendary College Football Coach
- Ace Amerson - (1979 - ) reality TV personality
- Sutton Foster - (1975 - ) Broadway star
- Emma Thompson Kelly - (1918 - 2001) Singer, "Lady of 6,000 songs"
- Blind Willie McTell - (1901–1959) Blues Musician, "Statesboro Blues"
- Marty Pevey - (1961 - ) current first base coach of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team
- Adrian Peterson - Running back for the Chicago Bears. Attended Georgia Southern University and helped win the 1999 and 2000 National Championships
Points of interest
References
External links
- Official homepage for the City of Statesboro http://www.statesboroga.net/
- Statesboro page on Georgia.gov http://statesboro.georgia.gov/
- Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau http://www.visit-statesboro.com/
- PINES http://www.pines.public.lib.ga.us/