Whigham, Georgia

Coordinates: 30°53′3″N 84°19′30″W / 30.88417°N 84.32500°W / 30.88417; -84.32500
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Whigham, Georgia
Whigham City Hall
Whigham City Hall
Location in Grady County and the state of Georgia
Location in Grady County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 30°53′3″N 84°19′30″W / 30.88417°N 84.32500°W / 30.88417; -84.32500
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyGrady
Area
 • Total1.19 sq mi (3.07 km2)
 • Land1.17 sq mi (3.04 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
282 ft (86 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total428
 • Density364.88/sq mi (140.83/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
31797, 39897
Area code229
FIPS code13-82412[2]
GNIS feature ID0333406[3]

Whigham is a city in Grady County, Georgia, United States. The population was 428 in 2020.

History[edit]

The community was named after Robert Whigham, a local merchant.[4] The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Whigham as a town in 1896.[5] It was incorporated again as a city in 1970.[6]

Geography[edit]

Whigham is located in western Grady County at 30°53′3″N 84°19′30″W / 30.88417°N 84.32500°W / 30.88417; -84.32500 (30.884219, -84.324927).[7] U.S. Route 84 passes through the center of town as Broad Avenue; it leads east 8 miles (13 km) to Cairo, the county seat, and west 15 miles (24 km) to Bainbridge. Valdosta is 67 miles (108 km) to the east, and Dothan, Alabama, is 70 miles (110 km) to the west. Whigham is located halfway between Memphis, Tennessee, and Miami, Florida.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.98%, is water.[8]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880144
189026483.3%
190039248.5%
191062759.9%
19206625.6%
1930442−33.2%
194053320.6%
1950471−11.6%
1960463−1.7%
1970381−17.7%
198050733.1%
199060519.3%
20006314.3%
2010471−25.4%
2020428−9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 631 people, 179 households, and 134 families residing in the city. In 2020, its population declined to 428.

Education[edit]

Grady County School System operates area public schools. Whigham School, a K-8 school, is in Whigham.[10] Cairo High School in Cairo serves Whigham.[11]

Notable people[edit]

The electric blues guitarist, songwriter, and singer Johnnie Marshall was born in Whigham in 1961.[12]

Ernest Riles, former infielder for the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers lived here during his time with the Giants.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "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. 251. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  5. ^ Georgia (1907). Acts and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia. Clark & Hines, State Printers. p. 970.
  6. ^ "Whigham". GeorgiaGov. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Whigham city, Georgia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 23, 2016.[dead link]
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "Whigham Elementary School." Grady County Schools. Retrieved on April 9, 2009.
  11. ^ "Schools." Grady County Schools. Retrieved on April 9, 2009.
  12. ^ Bob L. Eagle; Eric S. LeBlanc (May 2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-313-34424-4.