Social Circle, Georgia

Coordinates: 33°39′N 83°43′W / 33.650°N 83.717°W / 33.650; -83.717
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Social Circle, Georgia
Flag of Social Circle, Georgia
Official seal of Social Circle, Georgia
Motto: 
"Georgia's Greatest Little Town"
Location in Walton County and the state of Georgia
Location in Walton County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 33°39′N 83°43′W / 33.650°N 83.717°W / 33.650; -83.717
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountiesWalton, Newton
named:1826
Incorporated1832
Government
 • MayorDavid Keener
Area
 • Total14.69 sq mi (38.04 km2)
 • Land14.58 sq mi (37.76 km2)
 • Water0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2)
Elevation
886 ft (270 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,974
 • Density341.18/sq mi (131.73/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30025
Area code470/678/770
FIPS code13-71660[2]
GNIS feature ID0333086[3]
Website[1]

Social Circle is a city in southern Walton County, extending into Newton County, in the U.S. state of Georgia, 45 miles east of Atlanta.

History[edit]

It is unclear why the name "Social Circle" was applied to this place.[4] According to tradition, Social Circle was named from an incident in which a group of people living in the settlement offered water to a weary traveler, whose response was "This certainly is a social circle".[5] The city also officially notes that a citizen of another village community which was already known by the name of Social Circle joined the settlement in its early days.[6]

Social Circle was incorporated as a town in 1869, and as a city in 1904.[6]

Geographical data[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.3 square miles (29 km2), of which 11.2 square miles (29 km2) are land and 0.04-square-mile (0.10 km2) (100%) is water.

A CSX Transportation line maintenance facility operates in the city's railroad station. The city's railyard contains one of the relatively few remaining concrete coaling towers in the southeastern United States.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1870405
188060649.6%
189073721.6%
19001,22966.8%
19101,59029.4%
19201,78112.0%
19301,766−0.8%
19401,735−1.8%
19501,685−2.9%
19601,7805.6%
19701,96110.2%
19802,59132.1%
19902,7556.3%
20003,37922.6%
20104,26226.1%
20204,97416.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
Social Circle racial composition as of 2020[8]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 2,986 60.03%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,635 32.87%
Native American 7 0.14%
Asian 31 0.62%
Other/Mixed 197 3.96%
Hispanic or Latino 118 2.37%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,974 people, 1,598 households, and 1,301 families residing in the city.

Transportation[edit]

Through highways
SR 11
Nearby highways
I-20
US 278

Education[edit]

The Social Circle City School District includes all of the city.[9][10] The district holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.[11] The district has 90 full-time teachers and over 1,448 students.[12]

Notable people[edit]

In popular culture[edit]

  • A season 5 episode of the Discovery Channel series A Haunting, called The Exorcism of Cindy Sauer, takes place in Social Circle in 2010.
  • Paramount+ Movie: Jerry and Marge Go Large was filmed mainly in Social Circle, GA. All “downtown” scenes shot on location, not in Evart, MI.

See also[edit]

Jay C. (Jack) Higginbotham (May 11, 1906 – May 26, 1973) was an internationally known Jazz trombonist, born in Social Circle, Georgia.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 208. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  5. ^ Moyer, Armond; Moyer, Winifred (1958). The origins of unusual place-names. Keystone Pub. Associates. p. 122.
  6. ^ a b "Social Circle History". Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  7. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Walton County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 7, 2023. - Text list
  10. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Newton County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 7, 2023. - Text list
  11. ^ Georgia Board of Education[permanent dead link], Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  12. ^ School Stats, Retrieved June 26, 2010.

External links[edit]