Sylvester, Georgia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sylvester, Georgia
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settlement_type = City
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map_caption = Location in Worth County and the state of Georgia


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Georgia
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Worth
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1893
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established_title3 = Incorporated (City)
established_date3 = December 21st, 1898
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 14.9
area_land_km2 = 14.8
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 5.7
area_land_sq_mi = 5.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 5990
population_density_km2 = 402
population_density_sq_mi = 1050.9
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timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 31 |latm = 31 |lats = 53 |latNS = N
longd = 83 |longm = 50 |longs = 10 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 118
elevation_ft = 387
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 31791
area_code = 229
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 13-75188GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0356576GR|3
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Sylvester is a city in Worth County, Georgia, United States. The population was 5,990 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat and business center of Worth CountyGR|6 and is claimed to be the "Peanut Capital of the World" due to its ability to produce more peanuts per acre than anywhere else in the world.

Sylvester is part of the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Sylvester is located at coor dms|31|31|53|N|83|50|10|W|city (31.531425, -83.836233)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.9 km²), of which, 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.52%) is water.

Sylvester is located on .

History

Sylvester started as a "beautiful nowhere" in 1893 and was first called "Isabella Station". When the Brunswick and Albany Railroad came through Southwest Georgia, the county seat was Isabella, which is located three miles north of the railroad. Slowly, however, the center of gravity for trade and commerce shifted south along the railroad. Two other towns, Poulan and Sumner, sprang up along the railroad in Worth county, but it was "Isabella Station" that grew and prospered the fastest. In 1894, the citizens voted to change the name to "Sylvester". In 1898, Sylvester voted to incorporate and then on December 21st, 1989, the Georgia Legislature agreed to incorporate Sylvester as a city.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,990 people, 2,151 households, and 1,537 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,049.1 people per square mile (405.0/km²). There were 2,378 housing units at an average density of 416.5/sq mi (160.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 39.15% White, 59.97% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.

There were 2,151 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 27.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.5% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 80.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,114, and the median income for a family was $33,707. Males had a median income of $29,010 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,387. About 24.6% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.5% of those under age 18 and 29.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

chools

* Worth County Primary School
* Sylvester Elementary School and Pre-K
* Holley Elementary School
* Worth County Middle School
* Worth County High School
* Worth County Elementary (Slated to be opened in 2010)

Entertainment

Local Attractions

* T.C. Jeffords Park
** A shaded public park located in town near the intersection of . The park features a stage for public performances, several covered shelters, picnic tables, a playground, tennis courts, a cooled club house, a fountain, Ole Engine 100 and Christmas decorations during the holiday season. The Peanut Festival is currently held in T.C. Jeffords Park each year.
* Ole Engine 100
** Ole Engine 100 is a steam locomotive that ran the rails of the Georgia-Ashburn Sylvester-Camilla Railways from 1930 to 1948 until she was replaced with the next generation of train - The Diesel. In 1957, The Little Engine That Could was donated to the Worth County/Sylvester Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sylvester by GASC railways for a well deserved rest. It now sits under a protective awning in T.C. Jeffords Park at the intersection of .
* Pope Park
* Shipp Park
* Gervaise Lawhorne Park
* Tyson Steel Wildlife Museum
** A museum that contains animals from around the world displayed in their natural habitat. Admission is free to the public.

Peanut Festival

The Peanut Festival is an annual festival held on the third weekend of October in T.C. Jeffords Park to celebrate the city's status as Peanut Capital of the World. The event is sponsored by the Sylvester/Worth Chamber of Commerce and ConAgra Foods, makers of Peter Pan peanut butter. Activities include one of the largest parades in the Southeast and a beauty pageant with up to 100 contestants. Craftsmen from all over the state come to Sylvester to showcase their creations at the festival and some live entertainment and carnival attractions are usually on hand as well.

Notable People

* Marion Butts - NFL Running Back from 1989 to 1995 who played for the San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, and Houston Oilers. Born in Sylvester.
* Rickey Claitt - NFL Running Back that played for the Washington Redskins. Born in Sylvester.
* James Andrew Dixon Jr, Also known as Dru is a recording artist who recorded with Rollover Records from 2001-2004. He is currently signed to the Sekal Muzik Group. Dru recorded what some consider to be a classic album alongside partner Darkbrown. The album was titled "Kuntryversy", which featured Grammy Award winner Killer Mike on the albums first single "Ridin Chevys". The album has sold 35,000 copies to date.
* Mary Hood - Award-winning author of "How Far She Went", "And Venus Is Blue" and "Familiar Heat". Graduated from Worth County High School.
* Sue Monk Kidd - Author of the "New York Times" bestseller, "The Secret Life of Bees" and "The Mermaid Chair". Born in Sylvester.
* Robert L. F. Sikes - U.S. Representative for Florida. Born in Isabella.
* Sonny Skinner - PGA Golf Pro. He turned pro in 1982. Got started in golf by caddying for his father, Henry. He attended and played golf for ABAC. He shot opening-round 62, tying the Warwick Hills G&CC course record at 1997 Buick Open.

Future

Sylvester is continuing to modernize and grow. Downtown storefronts are occupied and there are several ongoing downtown revitalization projects. Sylvester's progressive changes include an ongoing fiber optic project linking all of the County schools with high-speed internet, revitalizing street scape, the courthouse, and other sites of beauty that include City Hall, the Woolard Hotel Apartments, and the turn of the century homes located on Isabella Street.

References

External links

* [http://cityofsylvester.com/index.php City of Sylvester web page]
* [http://www.worth.k12.ga.us/ Worth County Schools Home Page]