Macon, Georgia
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- For other places called Macon, see Macon
Macon is a city located in Bibb County, Georgia. It lies in the heart of Georgia, about 80 miles south of Atlanta. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 97,255. The city is the county seat of Bibb CountyTemplate:GR.
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Geography
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Location of Macon, Georgia
Macon is located at 32°50'5" North, 83°39'6" West (32.834839, -83.651672)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 145.7 km² (56.3 mi²). 144.5 km² (55.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.82% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 97,255 people, 38,444 households, and 24,219 families residing in the city. The population density is 672.9/km² (1,742.8/mi²). There are 44,341 housing units at an average density of 306.8/km² (794.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 35.46% White, 62.45% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 38,444 households out of which 30.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.0% are married couples living together, 25.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% are non-families. 31.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 3.08.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 72.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $27,405, and the median income for a family is $33,699. Males have a median income of $29,950 versus $22,865 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,082. 25.5% of the population and 21.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 37.7% of those under the age of 18 and 16.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
Before the city was established, Macon was the site of Fort Benjamin Hawkins. The Fort was built on the fall line of the Ocmulgee River in 1806 to protect the new frontier, as it was a major military distribution point during the War of 1812 and the Creek War of 1813. Afterwards, the fort became a trading post for a few more years before it fell to disuse. By this time, many settlers have already started moving into the area, and later renamed Fort Hawkins “Newtown.” After the establishment of Bibb County in 1822, the city was founded as the county seat in 1823 and officially named Macon, in honor of North Carolina Senator Nathaniel Macon.
Macon Music
Macon natives have had a great effect on the music of the United States. The kazoo was invented there in the 1840s and the city was home or birthplace to such singers and musicians as the Allman Brothers, James Brown, Lucille Hegamin, Lena Horne, Otis Redding, Little Richard, and violinist Robert McDuffie. It is the site of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. The major orchestra of the city is the Macon Symphony Orchestra, which plays at the historic Grand Opera House in downtown Macon.
Attractions
Macon is known as the "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World." It boasts over 275,000 Yoshino Cherry Trees, more than any other city in the world. During mid-March of every year, the height of the trees' bloom, Macon holds the International Cherry Blossom Festival, a 10-day celebration of concerts, food festivals, arts and crafts shows, parades, street markets, picnics, dances, and exhibitions of artists from around the nation. Pink is the symbolizing color of this event, reflecting the color of the blossoms. The Festival has become among the top 20 events in the South, top 50 in the United States, and one of the top 100 in North America.
Macon has a rich African American heritage. The Harriet Tubman African American Museum, the largest of its kind in the state, is located here. Each year in April, Macon holds the Pan-African Festival, featuring parades, African and Caribbean musical performances, African dancing, films, food festival, and cultural shows and exhibitions.
Macon_Ocmulgee_Earth_Lodge.jpg
Ocmulgee National Monument is located near downtown Macon. It preserves some of the largest mounds in Georgia built by the Native Americans of the Mississippian culture a millennium ago. The park features a spiral mound, funeral mound, temple mounds, burial mounds, an earthlodge, as well as other smaller sites used for ceremonial purposes.
Other Attractions:
- Hay House "Palace of the South"
- Sidney Lanier Cottage
- Cannonball House
- Museum of Arts and Sciences
- Georgia Music Hall of Fame
- Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Schools
External links
- Template:Wikitravelpar
- Official Homepage (http://www.cityofmacon.net)
- Macon (http://roadsidegeorgia.com/city/macon.html), from Roadside Georgia