Sylvania, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Sylvania is a city in Screven County
, Georgia
, United States
. The population was 2,675 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
of Screven County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), all of it land. Sylvania's elevation is about 230 feet and is slightly higher than most of the land throughout Screven County. The city's flora includes pine, oak, and most notably, dogwood, thus the slogan "The Dogwood City". Although spanish moss
is not as prevalent as in nearby Savannah, it can still be seen in Sylvania and the surrounding countryside.
. By the time of European encounter, historic tribes included Iroquoian-speaking Cherokee
, as well as Siouan-speaking tribes.
The European-American town of Sylvania was founded in 1790 by settlers' migrating to the area after the American Revolutionary War
. It was part of the Black Belt
of Georgia, developed for cultivation after the cotton gin made it easier to handle short-fiber cotton. Cotton was the most important commodity crop until late in the 19th century. Planters imported many enslaved African Americans to cultivate the crops. By 1830 the county was filled with people. The county seat was moved from Jacksonborough to Sylvania in 1847.
Sherman
's army moved through the area during the Civil War.
Sylvania calls itself the "Azalea and Dogwood City" and the "Welcome Station City".
of 2000, there were 2,675 people, 1,088 households, and 683 families residing in the city. The population density
was 705.5 people per square mile (272.5/km²). There were 1,285 housing units at an average density of 338.9 per square mile (130.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.42% White, 41.57% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.34% from other races
, and 0.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 1,088 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples
living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 78.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,426, and the median income for a family was $38,355. Males had a median income of $40,590 versus $20,349 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,181. About 13.2% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.3% of those under age 18 and 25.0% of those age 65 or over.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of one elementary school, a middle school and a high school. The district has 186 full-time teachers and over 3,130 students. Whitney Myers is the superintendent.
Screven County, Georgia
Screven County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 15,374. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,037...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,675 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Screven County
Screven County, Georgia
Screven County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 15,374. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,037...
.
Geography
Sylvania is located at 32.750151°N 81.639590°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), all of it land. Sylvania's elevation is about 230 feet and is slightly higher than most of the land throughout Screven County. The city's flora includes pine, oak, and most notably, dogwood, thus the slogan "The Dogwood City". Although spanish moss
Spanish Moss
Spanish moss is a flowering plant that grows upon larger trees, commonly the Southern Live Oak or Bald Cypress in the southeastern United States....
is not as prevalent as in nearby Savannah, it can still be seen in Sylvania and the surrounding countryside.
History
The area was inhabited for thousands of years by various cultures of indigenous peoplesIndigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
. By the time of European encounter, historic tribes included Iroquoian-speaking Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
, as well as Siouan-speaking tribes.
The European-American town of Sylvania was founded in 1790 by settlers' migrating to the area after the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. It was part of the Black Belt
Black Belt (U.S. region)
The Black Belt is a region of the Southern United States. Although the term originally described the prairies and dark soil of central Alabama and northeast Mississippi, it has long been used to describe a broad agricultural region in the American South characterized by a history of plantation...
of Georgia, developed for cultivation after the cotton gin made it easier to handle short-fiber cotton. Cotton was the most important commodity crop until late in the 19th century. Planters imported many enslaved African Americans to cultivate the crops. By 1830 the county was filled with people. The county seat was moved from Jacksonborough to Sylvania in 1847.
Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
's army moved through the area during the Civil War.
Sylvania calls itself the "Azalea and Dogwood City" and the "Welcome Station City".
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 2,675 people, 1,088 households, and 683 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 705.5 people per square mile (272.5/km²). There were 1,285 housing units at an average density of 338.9 per square mile (130.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.42% White, 41.57% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.34% 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 0.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 1,088 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% 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, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 78.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,426, and the median income for a family was $38,355. Males had a median income of $40,590 versus $20,349 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 $16,181. About 13.2% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.3% of those under age 18 and 25.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Screven County School DistrictScreven County School District
Screven County School District is a public school district in Screven County, Georgia, USA, based in Sylvania, Georgia. It serves the communities of Hiltonia, Newington, Oliver, Rocky Ford, and Sylvania, Georgia.-Schools:...
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of one elementary school, a middle school and a high school. The district has 186 full-time teachers and over 3,130 students. Whitney Myers is the superintendent.
Notable Sylvanians
Additional reading
- C. Dixon Hollingsworth, The History of Screven County Georgia (Curtis Media, 1989)