Augusta, Georgia
247779
225955385
2008-07-16T05:01:07Z
67.173.209.131
{{Infobox Settlement
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|official_name = Augusta, Georgia
|other_name =
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|nickname = <br />The Garden City of the South<br /> ''Other nicknames:'' The Garden City, The AUG<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=aug Urban Dictionary: aug<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|settlement_type = <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)-->
|motto = <br />''We Feel Good!''<ref>[http://www.nbcaugusta.com/news/local/1738182.html No Action on Tax Rate, Commission Seat; New Slogan; Ambulance Service Adopted (NBC Augusta)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
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|map_caption = Location in [[Richmond County, Georgia|Richmond County]] and the state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
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|subdivision_name1 = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Georgia|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Richmond County, Georgia|Richmond County]]
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<!-- Politics ----------------->
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|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Deke Copenhaver
|leader_title1 = Mayor [[Pro tempore|pro tem]] <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_name1 = Betty Beard
|leader_title2 = [[City manager|Administrator]]
|leader_name2 = Frederick L. Russell
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|established_title = Established <!-- Settled -->
|established_date = 1736<ref>[http://www.augustaga.gov/visitor/augusta_history.asp Visitor Info - Augusta History<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|established_title2 = [[Consolidated city-county|City-county consolidation]]
|established_date2 = 1996<ref>[http://www.augustaga.gov/visitor/augusta_history.asp Visitor Info - Augusta History<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
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|area_total_km2 = 793
|area_land_km2 = 782
|area_water_km2 = 11.3
|area_total_sq_mi = 306.5
|area_land_sq_mi = 302.1
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|population_total = 192142
|population_density_km2 = 250
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|population_metro = 528519
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|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
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|latd = 33|latm = 28|lats = 12|latNS = N
|longd = 81|longm = 58|longs = 30|longEW = W
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|elevation_ft = 136
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|area_code = 706, 762<ref>[http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/040306/met_75609.shtml Get your digits straight 040306 - The Augusta Chronicle<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/050108/met_197260.shtml 762 on way to phone near you 050108 - The Augusta Chronicle<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
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}}
'''Augusta, Georgia''' is a city in [[Richmond County, Georgia|Richmond County]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[United States]]. It is one of two primary cities of the Augusta-Aiken Metropolitan Area, which as of July 2007, has a population of 528,519. It is the largest city in East Central Georgia and the second largest city in the state. As of July 2007, the city of Augusta had a population of 192,142.<ref>[http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-01.csv]</ref>
Internationally, Augusta is best known for hosting [[Masters Tournament|The Masters]] golf tournament each spring.
== History ==
{{main|History of Augusta, Georgia}}
{{See also|History of African Americans in Augusta, Georgia}}
Augusta was first used by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] as a place to cross the Savannah River, because of Augusta's location on the [[fall line]]. In 1735, two years after [[James Oglethorpe]] founded Savannah, he sent a detachment of troops on a journey up the Savannah River. He gave them an order to build at the head of the navigable part of the river. The job fell into the hands of [[Nobel Jones]], who created the settlement to provide a first line of [[defense (military)|defense]] against the [[Spain|Spanish]] and the [[France|French]]. Oglethorpe then named the town Augusta, in honor of [[Augusta of Saxe-Gotha|Princess Augusta]], wife of [[Frederick, Prince of Wales]].
The city was named in honor of [[Augusta, Princess of Wales]], daughter-in-law of King [[George II of Great Britain]] and mother of King [[George III of Great Britain]], and was the second state capital of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] from 1785 until 1795 (alternating for a period with [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]], the first).
==Geography==
[[Image:Augsky2.JPG|thumb|The Augusta skyline, as seen from the I-520 US-1 overpass in North Augusta, SC]]Augusta is located on the [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]/[[South Carolina]] border, about 150 miles (241 kilometers) east of Atlanta. The city is located at {{coor dms|33|28|12|N|81|58|30|W|city}} (33.470, -81.975){{GR|1}}.
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the Augusta-Richmond County balance has a total area of 306.5 square miles (793.8 km²). 302.1 square miles (782.5 km²) of it is land and 4.3 square miles (11.3 km²) of it (1.42%) is water.
[[Image:Savannah River Augusta Canal Riverwatch Pkwy 2.jpg|thumb|right|Savannah River and the Augusta Canal, with Riverwatch Parkway and residential areas in foreground]]Augusta is also located about halfway up the [[Savannah River]] on the [[fall line]], providing a number of small falls on the Savannah River. The city itself marks the end of a navigable waterway for the river. The Clarks Hill Dam is also built on the fall line near Augusta, forming [[Lake Strom Thurmond]], also known as [[Clarks Hill Lake]]. Further downstream, near the border of [[Columbia County, Georgia|Columbia County]], is the Stevens Creek Dam, which generates hydroelectric power, and still further, the Augusta Diversion Dam which marks the beginning of the [[Augusta Canal]] and channels Savannah River waters into the canal.<ref>http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/062903/pav_pavey.shtml Officials consider relicensing Augusta Canal, Augusta Chronicle, June 28, 2003</ref>
===Climate===
According to [[Köppen classification]], Augusta has a humid subtropical climate. The city experiences mild winters and a humid summer. The average high temperature for the summer months is 90.6 °F (32.6 °C); the average low temperature is 67.8 °F (19.9 °C). The average high temperature for the winter months is 58.9 °F (14.9 °C); the average low temperature is 34.4 °F (1.3 °C).
{{Average and record temperatures |
82 | 86 | 89 | 96 | 99 | 105 | 107 | 108 | 101 | 97 | 90 | 82 |
56.5 | 61.3 | 69.2 | 76.7 | 83.9 | 89.6 | 92 | 90.2 | 85.3 | 76.5 | 67.8 | 59.1 |
33.1 | 35.5 | 42.5 | 48.1 | 57.2 | 65.4 | 69.6 | 68.4 | 62.4 | 49.6 | 40.9 | 34.7 |
-1 | 9 | 12 | 26 | 35 | 47 | 55 | 52 | 36 | 22 | 15 | 5 |
4.5 | 4.11 | 4.61 | 2.94 | 3.07 | 4.19 | 4.07 | 4.48 | 3.59 | 3.2 | 2.68 | 3.14 |
source = USTravelWeather.com<ref>[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-georgia/augusta-weather.asp Augusta Weather|Augusta Weather Forecast|Augusta Climate<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
}}
==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 195,182 people, 72,307 households, and 48,228 families residing in the balance. The [[population density]] was 646.0 people per square mile (249.4/km²). There were 80,481 housing units at an average density of 266.4/sq mi (102.8/km²). The racial makeup of the balance was 50.37% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 44.91% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.52% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.12% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.02% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.78% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.79% of the population.
There were 72,307 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 20.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the balance the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the balance was $37,231, and the median income for a family was $45,372. Males had a median income of $32,008 versus $23,988 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the balance was $19,558. About 13.2% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
==Economy==
In recent years, Augusta has become a center of [[medicine]], [[biotechnology]], and [[military]]. The [[Medical College of Georgia]], the state's only heath science university, employs over 7,000 people and is ranked as one of the top [[medical school]]s in the country. Along with [[University Hospital (Augusta)|University Hospital]], the Medical District of Augusta employs over 25,000 people and has a economic impact of over $1.8 billion <ref>[http://www.augustatomorrow.com/common/content.asp?CONTENT=711]</ref>, the largest in the city and one of the largest in the state.
Along with the Medical College of Georgia, the city's three largest employers include the [[Savannah River Site]] (a Department of Energy nuclear facility) and the [[U.S. Army]] Signal Center at [[Fort Gordon]].
Companies that have headquarters or distribution centers include [[Electrolux]] (US headquarters), [[CareSouth]], [[T-Mobile]], [[Automatic Data Processing]], [[International Paper]], [[Comcast]], and [[Kellogg's]].
==Arts and culture==
{{main|Arts and culture in Augusta, Georgia}}
==Sports==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=May 2008}}
===Teams===
Augusta is home to four professional minor league athletic teams. The [[Augusta Greenjackets]] are the city’s oldest sporting club, which began play in 1988 as the Augusta Pirates. After the Augusta Pirates, the team was owned by the Red Sox and now by the Giants. In 1998, the [[ECHL]] [[Raleigh IceCaps]] relocated to Augusta and were renamed the [[Augusta Lynx]]. The city hosted an AF2 arena football team, the [[Augusta Stallions]], from 2000 to 2002. [[Arena Football]] was brought back to the city in 2006 when the [[Augusta Spartans]] began play in the [[American Indoor Football League]]; however, in 2007 the Augusta Spartans moved to the [[World Indoor Football League (2007)|World Indoor Football League]] and were named the 2007 World Indoor Football Champions, but for 2008, the Spartans will play in the [[American Indoor Football Association]]. Augusta's Female Flat-Track Roller Derby, The Soul City Sirens, formed in January 2008 and consists of two teams, The Atomic Annies, with an atomic-radioactive theme and The Rock-a-Betties, with a 1950s Pin-Up Girl Theme. As of March 1, 2008, The Sirens were in training to become qualified under the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). SP Augusta formerly hosted a soccer club, the [[Augusta FireBall]]. The club folded after two seasons of play.
{|class="wikitable"
!Club
!Sport
!League
!Venue
|-
|[[Augusta GreenJackets]]
|[[Baseball]]
|[[South Atlantic League]]
|[[Lake Olmstead Stadium]]
|-
|[[Augusta Lynx]]
|[[Ice Hockey]]
|[[ECHL]]
|[[James Brown Arena]]
|-
|[[Augusta Colts]]
|[[Indoor football]]
|[[American Indoor Football Association]]
|[[James Brown Arena]]
|-
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|}
===Tournaments===
The city’s famous [[golf]] course, the [[Augusta National Golf Club]], hosts the first major golf tournament of each year, [[The Masters]]. This tournament is one of the most prestigious in the sport and is part of the [[Professional Golfers' Association]]’s Grand Slam. The city is also a hotbed{{Fact|date=May 2008}} for [[disc golf]]. The Augusta Top Gun Series is a series of tournaments sanctioned by the [[Professional Disc Golf Association]]. These tournaments are held at various venues in Augusta, including Pendleton King Park and Lake Olmstead. Also, Augusta hosted the 2006 Professional Disc Golf World Championships. Along with Pendleton King and Lake Olmstead, 2 courses in N. Augusta, SC were used for the tournanment. 299 disc golfers from around the world attended the event with [[Ken Climo]] winning the tournament and his 12th world championship.
==Parks and recreation==
[[Image:augustamarina.jpg|thumb|right|Augusta riverfront marina.]]
*Riverwalk Augusta
*[[Augusta Canal]]
*Aqueduct Park<ref>http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/061208/met_461844.shtml</ref>
*Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
==Government==
:''See also:'' [[List of mayors of Augusta, Georgia]]
{{Unreferencedsection|date=May 2008}}
In 1995, the citizens of Augusta and unincorporated [[Richmond County, Georgia|Richmond County]] voted to conconsolidate their city and county governments. Citizens of [[Hephzibah, Georgia]] and [[Blythe, Georgia]], also located in Richmond County, decided to maintain separate governments. Augusta and Richmond County's consolidation took effect [[January 1]], [[1996]], with the city and county merging operations. The [[Consolidated city-county|consolidated]] government consists of a [[mayor]] and 10 [[commissioner]]s. Eight commissioners represent specific districts, while the other two represent super districts comprised of the other eight.
Politics in Augusta often tend to be racially based,{{Fact|date=May 2008}} and several former holders of office have been the centers of controversy. An Augusta [[State Senator]], [[Charles Walker (Georgia politician)|Charles Walker]] (D), was convicted on numerous federal felony charges in 2005 and was removed from his position. Around the same time, former Augusta State Representative Robin Williams (R) was also convicted on federal fraud charges. [[Linda Schrenko]], a former Georgia State School Superintendent who is from nearby Columbia County, recently plead guilty to numerous federal corruption charges for embezzling state education money and funneling it to her unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign and for plastic surgery. She received an eight-year prison sentence for her crimes. A former mayor, [[Ed McIntyre]], was convicted of bribery and extortion charges in the mid 1980s regarding the sale of city-owned riverfront real estate. Augusta and Richmond County also have a long history{{Fact|date=May 2008}} of [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] political machines such as The Crackers, which had a monopoly on local politics for much of the first half of the 20th century. The Southside Mafia was a political machine that dominated county government for much of the latter half of the 20th century prior to consolidation in 1996.
In early 2006 an organization founded by Woody Merry, CSRAHelp, filed suit against the consolidated government. The lawsuit, Merry v. Williams, was an attempt to force recalcitrant County Commissioners to perform the duties for which they had been elected{{Lopsided}} {{Fact|date=August 2007}}
==Education==
===Colleges and universities===
[[Image:Augusta 013.JPG|right|thumb|MCG Medical Center with Fifteenth Street in the foreground]]
*[[Augusta State University]] (public university)
*[[Augusta Technical College]] (public technical college)
*[[Medical College of Georgia]] (public medical college)
*[[Paine College]] (private [[historically black college]])
*[[Savannah River College]] (public technical college)
===K-12 schools===
Public [[K-12]] schools in Augusta are managed by the [[Richmond County School District|Richmond County School System]]. The system has 8 high schools, 10 middle schools, 36 elementary schools, 4 [[magnet schools]], and 3 other-format schools.
Private schools in Augusta include [[Aquinas High School (Augusta, Georgia)|Aquinas High School]], [[Episcopal Day School]], St. Mary on the Hill School, Curtis Baptist School, and [[Westminster Schools of Augusta]]. [[Augusta Christian School]] and [[Augusta Preparatory Day School]] serve Augusta, but are located in neighboring [[Martinez, Georgia]].
==Media==
{{main|Media in Augusta, Georgia}}
==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[Image:Augusta Georgia City Bus.jpg|thumb|right|Augusta city bus]]
Augusta is linked to Atlanta, Georgia to the west and [[Columbia, South Carolina]] to the east by [[Interstate 20]]. [[Interstate 520]] ([[Bobby Jones]] Expressway) runs from I-20 Exit 196 through Augusta's western and southern suburban areas, eventually crossing the Savannah River to South Carolina where it becomes the Palmetto Parkway. The current South Carolina terminus of I-520 is at [[U.S. Route 1]], but construction is currently underway to complete its connection to I-20 in South Carolina near Exit 5.
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!Other U.S. and State Routes include:
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*U.S. Route 1
*[[U.S. Route 25]]
*[[U.S. Route 278]]
*[[State Route 4 (Georgia)|State Route 4]]
*[[State Route 10 (Georgia)|State Route 10]]
*[[State Route 28 (Georgia)|State Route 28]]
*[[State Route 56 (Georgia)|State Route 56]]
| width="50%" align="{{{align|left}}}" valign="{{{valign|top}}}" style="border:0"|
*[[State Route 104 (Georgia)|State Route 104]]
*[[State Route 232 (Georgia)|State Route 232]]
*[[State Route 383 (Georgia)|State Route 383]]
*[[State Route 388 (Georgia)|State Route 388]]
*Interstate 20
*Interstate 520
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Augusta is served by city transit service Augusta Public Transit (APT), but the main mode of transportation within the city is by car. The city has 2 airports: [[Augusta Regional Airport]] and a smaller airport for private and chartered planes, Daniel Field Airport. Augusta is also served by a number of Taxi companies. There was a proposal for a possible four mile long Trolley system that would run through the city's Downtown district.
==Sister cities==
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Takarazuka, Hyōgo|Takarazuka]], [[Japan]]
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Biarritz]], [[France]]
==See also==
*[[List of people from Augusta, Georgia]]
*[[Central Savannah River Area]]
*[[Masters Tournament]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{Commonscat|Augusta, Georgia}}
*[http://www.augustaga.gov Augusta-Richmond County official web site]
*[http://www.augustaga.org Augusta Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau]
*[http://www.augustaeda.com Augusta Economic Development Authority Homepage]
*[http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/03/04/augusta.gridlock.ap/index.html CNN.com article on Augusta's racially divided government]
*[http://www.theCSRA.com Serving Augusta, Aiken, and Surrounding cities of the C.S.R.A.]
*[http://www.shapelessmass.com/visuals/downtown/ Extensive, often artistic photos of Augusta, Georgia and the CSRA]
<br>
{{Augusta, Georgia}}
{{Richmond County, Georgia}}
{{Central Savannah River Area}}
{{Georgia}}
{{Coord|33|28|12|N|81|58|30|W|city|display=title}}
[[Category:Settlements established in 1735]]
[[Category:Augusta, Georgia| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Former United States state capitals|Georgia]]
[[Category:Richmond County, Georgia]]
[[Category:County seats in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:United States communities with African American majority populations]]
[[Category:Census balances in the United States]]
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