Bainbridge Welcome sign on U.S. Route 84Bainbridge High School (North face)Bainbridge Public Safety Police CarHistoric house at Shotwell StreetOak Hill Cemetery, BainbridgeWelcome Earle May Boat Basin Park
The first European settlement in what is today Bainbridge was a trading post set up by James Burges in the late 18th century. From him comes the name Burges's Bluff.[7]: 120 The town was named after U.S. Navy Commodore William Bainbridge,[8] commander of the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides"), and was incorporated on December 22, 1829.[5]
In 1824, Bainbridge was designated seat of the newly formed Decatur County.[9]
On October 10, 2018, Bainbridge fell victim to Hurricane Michael. The storm left widespread damage through the city limits, including downed trees, power lines, and structural damage. Many residents affected suffered severe damage to their homes.
Geography
Bainbridge is located in the center of Decatur County. The city is in southwestern Georgia along U.S. Routes 27 and 84, which form a bypass around the southern part of the city. U.S. Route 27 leads southeast 42 miles (68 km) to Tallahassee, Florida, and north 128 miles (206 km) to Columbus. U.S. Route 84 leads east 38 miles (61 km) to Thomasville and northwest 54 miles (87 km) to Dothan, Alabama. Other highways which run through the city include Georgia State Routes 97, 253, 309, and 311.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.1 square miles (52.0 km2), of which 18.8 square miles (48.7 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.3 km2), or 6.40%, is water.[10]
Bainbridge is located on the Flint River, which flows southwest to meet the Chattahoochee. Together they form the Apalachicola River which flows to the Gulf of Mexico. At the junction of the two rivers, the Jim Woodruff Dam forms Lake Seminole. A system of locks at the dam allows barge traffic to travel between the inland port at Bainbridge and the Gulf of Mexico.
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,468 people, 4,471 households, and 3,111 families residing in the city.
Economy
It was announced in December 2019 that Brazil-based gun manufacturer Taurus had been granted a $39 million tax-incentive package to move from the Miami, Florida area to Bainbridge in return for creating 300 jobs. The package includes $20 million for construction, $7.9 million in tax credits, $4.5 million for infrastructure, $4.3 million in property-tax abatements, and $3 million for equipment, in addition to a land lease arrangement of $1/year for 73 acres (30 hectares) of land. The subsidy totals $130,000 per job.[13]
Arts and culture
Arts
The Firehouse Gallery Art Gallery
Bainbridge Little Theatre
Annual cultural events
River Town Days is held each year the second weekend of March.
The Swine Time Festival and Decatur County Fall Festival and Fair are annual events.[5]
The Decatur County Gilbert H. Gragg Library is located in Bainbridge. The library serves the population of Decatur County and acts as the headquarters for the Southwest Georgia Regional Library.[15]
Education
Decatur County School District
The Decatur County School District holds pre-school to grade 12, and consists of two primary schools, one elementary school, one middle school, and a high school.[16] The district has 384 full-time teachers and over 5,782 students.[17]
^ abcd"Bainbridge". Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Archived from the original on December 24, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
^"Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^Cox, Dale; Conrad, Rachael (2017). Fowltown. Neamathla, Tutakosi Talofa & the first battle of the Seminole Wars. Old Kitchen Books. ISBN978-0692977880.
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