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Jonesboro, Georgia facts for kids

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Jonesboro, Georgia
Buildings in the Jonesboro Historic District
Buildings in the Jonesboro Historic District
Location in Clayton County and the state of Georgia
Location in Clayton County and the state of Georgia
Jonesboro, Georgia is located in Metro Atlanta
Jonesboro, Georgia
Jonesboro, Georgia
Location in Metro Atlanta
Country United States
State Georgia
County Clayton
Area
 • Total 3.00 sq mi (7.76 km2)
 • Land 2.98 sq mi (7.71 km2)
 • Water 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation
919 ft (280 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 4,235
 • Density 1,422.10/sq mi (549.16/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
30236-30238
Area code(s) 770/678/470
FIPS code 13-42604
GNIS feature ID 0332118
Website http://jonesboroga.com

Jonesboro is a city in and the county seat of Clayton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,724 as of the 2010 census.

The city's name was originally spelled Jonesborough. During the Civil War, the final skirmish in the Atlanta Campaign was fought here south of Atlanta, cutting off the city and forcing the mayor of Atlanta to surrender at Marietta in early September 1864. The final fall of Atlanta in the Battle of Jonesborough ended up being a decisive point in the nation's history, propelling Abraham Lincoln to re-election two months later, and continuing the war until the Confederacy finally surrendered the following year.

Geography

Jonesboro is located at 33°31′28″N 84°21′15″W / 33.52444°N 84.35417°W / 33.52444; -84.35417 (33.524512, -84.354290).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), of which 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (1.89%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 531
1880 1,048 97.4%
1890 803 −23.4%
1900 877 9.2%
1910 970 10.6%
1920 1,060 9.3%
1930 1,065 0.5%
1940 1,204 13.1%
1950 1,741 44.6%
1960 3,014 73.1%
1970 4,105 36.2%
1980 4,132 0.7%
1990 3,635 −12.0%
2000 3,829 5.3%
2010 4,724 23.4%
2020 4,235 −10.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Jonesboro racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 1,126 26.59%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,247 53.06%
Native American 6 0.24%
Asian 124 2.93%
Pacific Islander 3 0.07%
Other/Mixed 146 3.45%
Hispanic or Latino 583 13.77%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,235 people, 1,195 households, and 771 families residing in the city.

History

Jonesboro was founded as Leaksville in 1823. In 1846, the Macon and Western Railroad arrived into the area and the town was renamed in honor of railroad official Samuel G. Jones.

Jonesboro was incorporated in 1859.

Movies and literature

Many of the scenes from the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit were filmed in Jonesboro. Another 1977 movie, the obscure 'In Hot Pursuit (aka The Polk County Pot Plane), was filmed in and around Jonesboro.

Tara, the fictional plantation in Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone with the Wind was supposed to be located approximately five miles outside of Jonesboro, the closest town.

"We Are Marshall" was briefly filmed at Tara Stadium in Jonesboro. The stadium was changed from green to light blue and light yellow for the scene.

Lynyrd Skynyrd's (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd) album cover was photographed near the corner of Mill and Main streets.

Landmark

  • Stately Oaks

Education

Clayton County Public Schools operates public schools.

Infrastructure

Transit systems

MARTA and Xpress GA/Georgia RTA buses serve the city.

Notable people

See also

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