Warner Robins, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Warner Robins, Georgia
City
Warner Robins City Hall
Seal
Nicknames:  The International City
Motto(s):  Every Day In Middle Georgia Is Air Force Appreciation Day (EDIMGIFAD)
Location in Houston County and the state of Georgia
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Counties	Houston, Peach
Founded	September 1, 1942
Area
• City	38.10 sq mi (98.68 km2)
• Land	37.78 sq mi (97.85 km2)
• Water	0.32 sq mi (0.83 km2)  0.8%
Elevation	365 ft (93 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	80,308
• Density	2,125.73/sq mi (820.75/km2)
• Metro	179,605
• Metro density	229/sq mi (88.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
Area code(s)	478
FIPS code	13-80508
GNIS feature ID	0333366
Website	wrga.gov

Warner Robins (typically) is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located in Houston and Peach counties in the central part of the state. It is currently Georgia's eleventh-largest incorporated city, with a census population of 80,308 in 2020.

The city is the main component of the Warner Robins Metropolitan Statistical Area, including the entirety of Houston, Peach, and Pulaski counties, which had a census population of 201,469 in 2020; it, in turn, is a component of a larger trade area, the Macon–Warner Robins–Fort Valley Combined Statistical Area, with an estimated 2018 population of 423,572. Robins Air Force Base, a major U.S. Air Force maintenance and logistics complex that was founded as the Warner Robins Air Depot in 1942, is located just east of the city limits; the base's expansion and the suburbanization of nearby Macon have led to the city's rapid growth in the post-World War II era.

History

Warner Robins was founded in 1942 from the community of Wellston. It was named for General Augustine Warner Robins of the United States Air Force. It was incorporated as a town in 1943 and as a city in 1956.

The 1940 census shows that the community of Wellston was sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by farmers and their families. Its most notable landmark was a stop on the railroad line. Wellston also had a small sawmill and a grocery store. Peach orchards covered parts of the surrounding land.

World War II soon changed this. The War Department made plans to build an air depot in the Southeast. With the assistance of influential U.S. Congressman Carl Vinson, Wellston community leader Charles Bostic "Boss" Watson worked with officials in Macon to make a bid to locate this air depot in Houston County. In June 1941, the U.S. government accepted this offer, which included 3,108 acres of land.

This air base was initially called Wellston Army Air Depot when it opened in 1942. The first commander was Colonel Charles E. Thomas. He wanted to name this depot in honor of his mentor Augustine Warner Robins, who was called by his middle name, Warner. Regulations prevented him from doing this, which required the base to be named after the nearest town. Not deterred by this, Colonel Thomas persuaded Boss Watson and the other community leaders to rename Wellston. So on September 1, 1942, the town was given the new name of Warner Robins. Soon thereafter, on October 14, 1942, the base was renamed to become Warner Robins Army Air Depot. The city has a unique name, shared with no other town in America.

Robins Air Force Base is not within the actual city limits of the town. Only U.S. Highway 129 (Georgia state highway 247) separates the base from the city.

Geography

Warner Robins is located at 32°36′31″N 83°38′17″W / 32.60861°N 83.63806°W / 32.60861; -83.63806 (32.608720, −83.638027). It is approximately 100 miles south of Atlanta.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.4 square miles (92 km²), of which, 35.1 square miles (91 km²) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km²) (0.82%) is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 80,308 people, 29,742 households, and 19,256 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 66,588 people, 19,550 households, and 13,078 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,143.9 inhabitants per square mile (827.8/km²) . There were 29,084 housing units at an average density of 952.7 per square mile (367.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city included 50.00% White, 36.60% African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.60% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, .10% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 15.60% of the population.

There were 19,550 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,401, and the median income for a family was $44,217. Males had a median income of $33,030 versus $24,855 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,121. About 11.0% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Quality of life

In 2009, Business Week magazine named Warner Robins the best place in Georgia to raise a family. The ranking was bestowed again for 2010. The Warner Robins Area Chamber was named one of the top three chambers of commerce in the U.S. for a chamber in its division in 2009 by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association. In 2012, CNN Money named Warner Robins No. 7 on its Best Places To Live list for America's best small cities.

Climate

Warner Robins has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). It experiences hot, humid summers and generally mild winters, with average high temperatures ranging from 92.0 °F (33.3 °C) in the summer to 58.0 °F (14.4 °C) high during winter. Snowfall is a moderately rare event. Warner Robins-area historical tornado activity is slightly above the state average. It is 86% greater than the overall U.S. average.

Museum of Aviation

Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base

Warner Robins is home to the Museum of Aviation, which honors the history of military aviation. It is located next to the Air Force base. The museum contains exhibits on military memorabilia, airplanes and ground vehicles, the Tuskegee Airmen and Operation Desert Storm. It is the second-largest aviation museum in the country. It is also the largest tourist attraction outside Atlanta in the state of Georgia.

EDIMGIAFAD

Patriotic mural on building in Commercial Circle

The official motto of Warner Robins is "EDIMGIAFAD", which is an acronym for "Every Day In Middle Georgia Is Armed Forces Appreciation Day". (originally: Every Day In Middle Georgia Is Air Force Appreciation Day). The coining of this phrase is attributed to Dr. Dan Callahan, a local civic leader. In 2010, Dr. Callahan and a group of community leaders launched an effort to change the acronym to "EDIUSAIAFAD", as part of a movement to take the sentiment national: "Every Day in the USA is Armed Forces Appreciation Day".

Warner Robins Little Theatre

Warner Robins Little Theatre playhouse

The Warner Robins Little Theatre was established in 1962 as a non-profit community theatre. Just thirty years later, this organization owned their theatre playhouse debt-free.

The theatre continues to thrive. Five main shows are produced every year. Occasionally workshops and other special events are held for the Middle Georgia community.

Popular culture

The bands Rehab, Stillwater, Doc Holliday Sugar Creek and Luke's Cabbage Store are based in Warner Robins.

Photo gallery

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  Warner Robins Law Enforcement Center

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  Nola Brantley Memorial Library

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  Southeastern Region Little League Stadium

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  Little League World Series display

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  Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Davis Drive

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  State Court of Houston County

Tornadoes

On April 30, 1953 a F4 tornado with winds over 200 mph hit the city and portions of Robins Air Force Base, killing 18 people and injuring 300 more.

On the morning of April 1, 2016, a EF-1 tornado with winds over 90 mph hit the city. The damage included trees down, and trees landing inside homes. A viral video from Robins Air Force Base, which was hit by the tornado with moderate damage, showed the winds of the tornado with the siren going off in the background. The storm started in Taylor and Crawford County, which confirmed it as an EF-0 tornado that hit both counties. The system moved towards Houston County. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Economy

View of Robins Air Force Base from Warner Robins

Robins Air Force Base is one of the largest employers in the state of Georgia and directly contributes over 25,000 military, civil service, and contractor jobs to the local economy. It has provided economic stability for Warner Robins that has benefited the entire Middle Georgia community.

The city of Warner Robins is working on redeveloping and renewing areas that have suffered from urban decay and/or abandonment through neglect and city growth. The city's plans include development of a centralized downtown center "for pedestrian-oriented businesses, culture and community gathering" to be re-established at Commercial Circle in order to "connect commerce and culture back to Downtown."

In May 2009 Warner Robins was listed by the Adversity Index as one of four Georgia metro areas that have had less than nine months of recession over the past fifteen years and have only recently been affected by the Global Financial Crisis of 2008–2009.

In June 2011, Warner Robins was listed in Wired magazine as one of 12 small cities that are driving the "Knowledge Economy". Georgia was the only Southeastern state listed, and Warner Robins was one of two Georgia cities ranked (the other one being Hinesville-Ft. Stewart). The rankings featured small cities that are luring knowledge workers and entrepreneurs and which have both a relatively high median family income and a relatively high percentage of creative workers who drive the economy.

Education

Warner Robins campus of Central Georgia Technical College

Middle Georgia State College in Warner Robins

The portion of Warner Robins in Houston County is served by the Houston County School System. The portion of the city in Peach County is served by Peach County School District.

Branch campuses of colleges and universities

• Central Georgia Technical College
• Fort Valley State University
• Georgia College & State University
• Georgia Military College
• Mercer University
• Middle Georgia State University

High schools

• Houston County High School
• Houston County Career and Technology Center
• Northside High School
• Warner Robins High School
• Veterans High School (in nearby unincorporated Kathleen, Georgia)
• Elberta Center
• Crossroads Center (alternative school)

Libraries

Nola Brantley Memorial Library

The library is the Nola Brantley Memorial Library.

Transportation

Major roads

Warner Robins is generally located between U.S. Highway 129/Georgia State Route 247 and Interstate 75 about 6 miles (10 km) to the west; Georgia State Route 96 passes through the southern edge of the city. U.S. Highway 129 leads north 19 mi (31 km) to downtown Macon and south 28 mi (45 km) to Hawkinsville. GA-247 follows U.S. Highway 129 throughout the city, and leads north to Macon and south to Hawkinsville. GA-96 leads east-northeast 27 mi (43 km) to Jeffersonville and west 20 mi (32 km) to Fort Valley.

Pedestrians and cycling

• The Walk at Sandy Run
• Walker's Pond Trail
• Wellston Trail

Transit

Until 1967 the Southern Railway operated the Cincinnati to Miami Royal Palm through Warner Robins Depot.

Notable people

• Eddie Anderson — professional football player
• Russell Branyan — Major League Baseball player
• James Brooks — professional football player
• Cortez Broughton — professional football player
• Marquez Callaway — former Tennessee Volunteers football player; current New Orleans Saints wide receiver
• Betty Cantrell — Miss America 2016
• Kal Daniels — Major League Baseball player
• Robert Davis — professional football player with the Washington Redskins
• Travis Denning — country music singer
• Bobbie Eakes — Emmy Award-nominated actress; singer
• Jake Fromm — former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback, current New York Giants quarterback
• Phil Horan — former drummer in the post-rock band Maserati
• Willis Hunt — senior federal judge for the U.S. Northern District of Georgia
• Jessie James — pop singer
• Mark Johnson — Major League Baseball player
• Abry Jones — professional football player
• Daniel-Leon Kit — entertainer, web personality
• Amanda Kozak — Miss Georgia 2006
• Kyle Moore — professional football player
• David Perdue — former U.S. Senator
• Sonny Perdue — Governor of Georgia, 2003–2011; United States Secretary of Agriculture, 2017–2021
• Victoria Principal — actress
• Willie Reid — professional football player
• Mike Richardson — professional football player
• Robert Lee Scott, Jr. — U.S. Air Force Brigadier General and pilot; wrote autobiography God is My Co-Pilot
• Ken Shamrock — professional MMA fighter and professional wrestler
• Ron Simmons — professional football player and professional wrestler
• Ben Smith — #22 overall in the 1990 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles; played defensive back for Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, and Arizona Cardinals
• Chansi Stuckey — professional football player
• Byron Walker — former professional football player, Seattle Seahawks
• Robert Waymouth — chemistry professor at Stanford University

Images for kids

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  Southeast Region Headquarters of Little League

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  Houston Medical Center on Watson Boulevard

See also

In Spanish: Warner Robins para niños