 Blakely
was incorporated October 24, 1870. Blakely, the county seat of
Early County, was named for Captain Johnson Blakely of North
Carolina, who was lost at sea on the U.S.S. Wasp in the
War of 1812.
The
Early County courthouse in Blakely was built around 1905 and is
listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The
City of Blakely is nicknamed "The Peanut Capital of the World"
because of the number of peanut products that are produced here.
There is a peanut monument in the Courthouse Square saluting the
local peanut production.
Kolomoki
Mounds Historic Park is located in Blakely. This museum
interprets several Indian mounds built by Swift Creek and Weeden
Island Indians in the 12th and 13th century. Also in Blakely is
the Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge, built in 1891 with a
measurement of 96 ft. long and 2 spans wide.
Blakely
participates in the Better Hometown Program run by the Georgia
Department of Community Affairs. This community development
program is a public-private partnership intended to revitalize
small communities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000.
These cities have access to technical assistance and fiscal
resources designed to stimulate downtown revitalization.
Population (year 2000): 5,696. Estimated
population in July 2005: 5,476 (-3.9% change)
Males: 2,553 (44.8%), Females: 3,143 (55.2%)
Early County
Zip code:
31723
Median resident age: 33.5 years
Median household income: $20,250 (year 2000)
Median house value: $55,800 (year 2000)
Races in Blakely:
- Black (60.0%)
- White Non-Hispanic (37.8%)
- Hispanic (1.5%)
- Two or more races (0.6%)
Ancestries: United States (9.9%), English
(4.4%), Irish (3.4%).
Elevation: 250 feet
Land area: 17.5 square miles
For population 25 years and over in Blakely
- High school or higher: 63.9%
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 12.6%
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5%
- Unemployed: 8.6%
- Mean travel time to work: 20.8 minutes
For population 15
years and over in Blakely city
- Never married: 29.4%
- Now married: 38.0%
- Separated: 6.3%
- Widowed: 17.0%
- Divorced: 9.4%
0.7% Foreign born
Population change in the 1990s: -52 (-0.9%).
Hospital/medical center in Blakely:
- EARLY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (630 COLUMBIA ROAD)
Other hospitals/medical centers near Blakely:
- CALHOUN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 16 miles;
ARLINGTON, GA)
- MILLER COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 23 miles; COLQUITT,
GA)
- DONALSONVILLE HOSPITAL INC (about 28 miles;
DONALSONVILLE, GA)
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to
Blakely:
- DOTHAN RGNL (about 35 miles; DOTHAN, AL; ID: DHN)
- SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL (about 54 miles; ALBANY,
GA; ID: ABY)
- LAWSON AAF (FORT BENNING) (about 66 miles; FORT
BENNING(COLUMBUS), GA; ID: LSF)
Other public-use airports nearest to Blakely:
- EARLY COUNTY (about 4 miles; BLAKELY, GA; ID: 11J)
- CUTHBERT-RANDOLPH (about 24 miles; CUTHBERT, GA; ID:
25J)
- HEADLAND MUNI (about 26 miles; HEADLAND, AL; ID:
0J6)
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to
Blakely:
- GEORGE C WALLACE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE-DOTHAN
(about 34 miles; DOTHAN, AL; Full-time enrollment:
2,703)
- ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY (about 60 miles; ALBANY, GA;
FT enrollment: 2,996)
- COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 76 miles; COLUMBUS,
GA; FT enrollment: 3,886)
- TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 77 miles;
TALLAHASSEE, FL; FT enrollment: 7,016)
- TROY STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 78 miles;
TROY, AL; FT enrollment: 9,143)
- FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 78 miles;
TALLAHASSEE, FL; FT enrollment: 29,949)
- FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY
(about 80 miles; TALLAHASSEE, FL; FT enrollment: 10,991)
Public high school in Blakely:
- EARLY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 787;
Location: 12020 COLUMBIA STREET; Grades: 09 - 12)
Public primary/middle schools in Blakely:
- EARLY COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students:
1,276; Location: 283 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DR; Grades:
PK - 05)
- EARLY COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 648;
Location: 12053 COLUMBIA STREET; Grades: 06 - 08)
- OAK TREE PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (Location:
649 HOWELL AVE.; Grades: 00 - 00)
- EARLY COUNTY ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL (Location:
544 HOWELL STREET; Grades: 00 - 00)
Demographic -
Economy -
Finance |
