Greensboro, Georgia

Greensboro was founded circa 1780; in 1787, it was designated seat of the newly formed Greene County. It was incorporated as a town in 1803 and as a city in 1855.[6] The city was named for Major General Nathanael Greene, commander of the rebel American forces at the Battle of Guilford Court House on March 15, 1781.[7]

Greensboro is located at the center of Greene County at 33°34′18″N 83°10′51″W (33.571528, -83.180921).[8] U.S. Route 278 passes through the city center as Broad Street, leading east 7 miles (11 km) to Union Point and west 19 miles (31 km) to Madison. Georgia State Route 44 leads southwest from Greensboro 22 miles (35 km) to Eatonton. State Route 15 leads north 34 miles (55 km) to Athens and southeast 27 miles (43 km) to Sparta. The city limits extend southwest along SR 44 for 4 miles (6 km) so as to include Exit 130 on Interstate 20. I-20 leads east 70 miles (110 km) to Augusta and west 73 miles (117 km) to Atlanta.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Greensboro has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.6 km²), of which 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²), or 0.99%, is water.[5] The city is in the Oconee River watershed and is located 5 miles (8 km) east of Lake Oconee and 2 miles (3 km) southeast of Oconee National Forest.

As of the census[3] of the year 2000, there were 3,238 people, 1,184 households, and 806 families residing in this town. The population density was 556.5 people per square mile (214.8/km²). There were 1,264 housing units at an average density of 217.2 per square mile (83.9/km²). The racial makeup of this town was 33.45% White, 62.01% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.28% Pacific Islander, 2.66% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% of the population.

There were 1,184 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.3% were married couples living together, 29.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.22.

In this town the population was distributed with 29.3% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age of its inhabitants was about 32 years. For every 100 females, there were about 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were about 78.5 males.

The median income per household in this town was $24,250, and the median income for a family was $27,049. Males had a median income of $22,788 versus $15,720 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,494. About 26.4% of the towns families and 31.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.2% of those under age 18 and 23.2% of those age 65 or over.

• Thomas W. Cobb, former U.S. representative and senator, and judge of the superior court of Georgia; namesake of Cobb County, Georgia[12]
• William Crosby Dawson, former congressman and U.S. senator from Georgia; born, died, and buried in Greensboro
• Augustus Baldwin Longstreet, lawyer and early American humorist writer, represented Greene County in the state legislature in 1821.
• Mickey Mantle, center fielder for the New York Yankees, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, lived in Greensboro during his final years after retiring from the Yankees
• Joshua Nesbitt, former starting quarterback for the Georgia Tech football team
• Joseph Parker, Jr., last surviving U.S. Navy physician who participated in the Allied invasion of Omaha Beach[13]
• John Perkins Ralls, Confederate congressman from Alabama, born in Greensboro
• Tim Simpson, professional golfer, lives in Greensboro
• Sonny Terry, blues and folk musician known for his energetic harmonica style, born in Greensboro
• Elizabeth Wilson, First African American mayor of the city of Decatur, Georgia.
• Foogiano, Rapper who is signed to 1017 Records, Born & raised in Greensboro, Ga

• City website
• The Burning of Greensborough historical marker
• Historic Springfield Baptist Church historical marker