Gainesville, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Severe Weather
Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado AlleyTornado Alley
Tornado Alley is a colloquial and popular media term that most often refers to the area of the United States where tornadoes are most frequent. Although an official location is not defined, the area between the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains is usually associated with it.The areas...
, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms
Supercell
A supercell is a thunderstorm that is characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone: a deep, continuously-rotating updraft. For this reason, these storms are sometimes referred to as rotating thunderstorms...
can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring. Tornado Watches
Tornado watch
A tornado watch is issued when conditions are right for a tornado to form. Since any thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado is defined as severe, a tornado watch is also automatically a severe thunderstorm watch...
are a frequent issue in the spring and summer, with a warning appearing at least biannually, sometimes with more than one per year.
Gainesville was also the site of the fifth deadliest tornado in U.S. history in 1936, where Gainesville was decimated and 203 people were killed.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 25,578 people, 8,537 households, and 5,438 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 944.4 people per square mile (364.7/km²). There were 9,076 housing units at an average density of 335.1 per square mile (129.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.21% White, 15.73% African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.69% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 14.27% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.17% of the population.
There were 8,537 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.39.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 15.1% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,605, and the median income for a family was $43,734. Males had a median income of $24,729 versus $25,075 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $19,128. About 16.1% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.9% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Crescent
Crescent (Amtrak)
The Crescent is a passenger train operated by Amtrak in the eastern part of the United States. It runs daily from Pennsylvania Station in New York City to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana as train 19 and returns, on the same route, as train 20. Most of the route of...
connects Gainesville with the cities of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Baltimore, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
and New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The Amtrak station
Gainesville, Georgia (Amtrak station)
The Gainesville Amtrak Station, formerly known as the Gainesville Southern Railway Depot, is a train station in Gainesville, Georgia that is served by Amtrak's Crescent...
is situated at 116 Industrial Boulevard.
Gainesville also has a bus transit system, the Red Rabbit, that has 130 stops along three routes through Gainesville.
Health and education
Gainesville, Georgia is home to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center which houses the Ronnie Greene Heart Center.Gainesville City School District
The Gainesville City School DistrictGainesville City School District
The Gainesville City School District is a public school district in Hall County, Georgia, USA, based in Gainesville, Georgia. It serves the city of Gainesville, Georgia and the surrounding communities in Hall County, Georgia.-Schools:...
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of five elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 282 full-time teachers and over 4,438 students.
Hall County School District
The Hall County School DistrictHall County School District
The Hall County School District is a public school district in Hall County, Georgia, USA, based in Gainesville, Georgia. It serves the communities of Buford, Braselton, Clermont, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Gillsville, Lula, Oakwood, and Rest Haven, Georgia....
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of twenty-one elementary schools, six middle schools, and seven high schools. The district has 1,337 full-time teachers and over 21,730 students.
Higher education
- Gainesville State CollegeGainesville State CollegeGainesville State College is a state college of the University System of Georgia serving northeast Georgia since 1964. The Gainesville State College Gainesville Campus, located 45 miles northeast of Atlanta and six miles southwest of downtown Gainesville in Oakwood, is on Georgia State Route 53...
- Gainesville Campus - Brenau UniversityBrenau UniversityBrenau University is a private university in Gainesville, Georgia, USA, that was founded in 1878 as Georgia Baptist Female Seminary, though it has never been affiliated with the Baptist Church. The total enrollment of Brenau University tops 2,500 students in its four schools...
- Main Campus
Law
The Public Defender's Office at Gainesville has been recognized as one of the best in the state of Georgia. Established in 2005, the office provides representation for persons accused of felony offenses in Hall County. Attorneys from the office have been recognized for their community involvement, as well as for their acumen in the courtroom. In 2008, a first-year attorney successfully challenged the Sex Offender Registration Law in the Georgia Supreme Court.Notable residents
- Jodi BensonJodi BensonJodi Marie Benson is an American actress, voice actress, soprano singer, and Disney Legend. She is best known for providing both the speaking and the singing voices of Disney's Princess Ariel in The Little Mermaid and its sequels. In 2002 and 2006, she reprised the role of Ariel in the English...
, Voice actress for Princess Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid - Tommy AaronTommy AaronThomas Dean Aaron is a former American professional golfer who was a member of the PGA Tour during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Aaron is best known for winning the 1973 Masters Tournament.- Early years :...
, professional golferProfessional golferIn golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
, 1973 Masters champion - Rod CameronRod CameronRod Cameron was a Canadian-born movie actor whose career extended from the 1930s to the 1970s. He appeared in horror, war, action and science fiction movies, but is best remembered for his many Westerns....
, actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity... - Cris CarpenterCris CarpenterCris Howell Carpenter is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He is an alumnus of the University of Georgia....
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the... - Mike Wilson (offensive lineman)Mike Wilson (offensive lineman)Mike Wilson is a former American football player who played offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Seattle Seahawks from 1978 to 1989. He played with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1977, where he was an All-Star.Wilson helped...
, former National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
offensive lineman - Tasha HumphreyTasha HumphreyTasha Humphrey is a professional basketball player. She played the center position for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA until being waived 6 July 2009. Her father is former Green Bay Packers player Donnie Humphrey.-College career:Completed her career as Georgia's second all-time scorer and...
, Washington MysticsWashington MysticsThe Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
basketball player - Sung KangSung KangSung Kang is an American actor, known for his role as Han Seoul-Oh in the films Better Luck Tomorrow, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Fast & Furious, and Fast Five....
, actor - General James LongstreetJames LongstreetJames Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
, ConfederateConfederate States of AmericaThe Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
general and Gainesville postmasterPostmasterA postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality... - Micah OwingsMicah OwingsMicah Burton Owings is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher currently pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks....
, Major League Baseball pitcher - Randy PobstRandy PobstRandy Pobst also known as "RFP" or "The Rocket" is an American race car driver, born 26 June 1957, in Dayton, Ohio.Currently active in the SCCA World Challenge GT series and the Grand American series' GT class, Pobst is the 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2010 SCCA World Challenge GT champion and is a...
, professional racingAuto racingAuto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
driver - Robert PrechterRobert PrechterRobert R. Prechter, Jr. is an American author and stock market analyst, known for his financial forecasts using the Elliott wave principle. Prechter is an author and co-author of 14 books, and editor of 2 books , his book Conquer the Crash is a New York Times bestseller...
, financial forecaster (1980s "Guru of the Decade") - A.J. StylesA.J. StylesAllen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
, professional wrestlerProfessional wrestlingProfessional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport... - Rachel Hatchett, astronaut (first woman to pilot shuttle on re-entry)
- Xavier RobertsXavier RobertsXavier Roberts , the inventor and manufacturer of Cabbage Patch Kids, is an American artist and businessman. During the American Folk art movement of the late 1970s, Roberts observed several techniques involving the making of dolls from various materials...
, founder of Cabbage Patch KidsCabbage Patch KidsCabbage Patch Kids is a line of dolls created by American art student Xavier Roberts in 1978. It was originally called "Little People". The original dolls were all cloth and sold at local craft shows, then later at Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia...
& Babyland General HospitalBabyland General HospitalBabyland General Hospital is the birthplace of Cabbage Patch dolls located in Cleveland, Georgia. Xavier Roberts converted an old clinic into a facility from which to sell his dolls, originally called "Little People." The facility is presented as a birthing, nursery, and adoption center for... - Ingrid Arthur, professional Singer (Weather GirlsWeather GirlsThe Weather Girls, also known as Two Tons o' Fun , are an American duo comprising two plus-size African-American women...
) - Michael J Causey, archaeologist
- Corey HulseyCorey HulseyCorey Hulsey is an American football guard for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 1999. After the 2008 preseason, he was waived by the Lions during final cuts on August 30, 2008...
, American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
guardGuard (American football)In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
for the Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... - Nathan DealNathan DealJohn Nathan Deal is a United States politician, the 82nd and current Governor of Georgia. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1992 but switched to the Republican Party in 1995...
, current GovernorGovernorA governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Georgia - Dexter FowlerDexter FowlerWilliam Dexter Fowler is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Colorado Rockies.-Baseball career:...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
center fielderCenter fielderA center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
for the Colorado RockiesColorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
See also
- Gainesville High School
- 1936 Tupelo-Gainesville tornado outbreak