Allentown is a city in Bleckley, Laurens, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, primarily in Wilkinson County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 169,[4] down from 287 at the 2000 census. In 2020, its population was 195. The Twiggs County portion is part of the Macon metropolitan statistical area, while the Laurens County portion is part of the Dublin micropolitan statistical area. The remaining Wilkinson and Bleckley County portions are not part of any metropolitan or micropolitan area.
Allentown, Georgia | |
|---|---|
 Location of Allentown, Georgia | |
| Coordinates: 32°35′31″N 83°13′41″W / 32.59194°N 83.22806°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| Counties | Wilkinson, Twiggs, Laurens, Bleckley |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.60 sq mi (11.92 km2) |
| • Land | 4.58 sq mi (11.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) |
| Elevation | 430 ft (130 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 195 |
| • Density | 42.60/sq mi (16.45/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 31003 |
| Area code | 478 |
| FIPS code | 13-01500[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0310468[2] |
| Website | cityofallentownga |
History
editAllentown was named in 1891 when the Macon, Dublin & Savannah Railroad was extended to that point.[5] John Allen, an early postmaster, gave the town his last name.[5] Allentown was incorporated in 1901.[6]
Geography
editThe center of Allentown and most of the buildings are in the southern corner of Wilkinson County, but the city limits extend west into Twiggs County, south into Bleckley County, and southeast into Laurens County.
U.S. Route 80 passes through the center of town, leading northwest 10 miles (16 km) to Jeffersonville and southeast 20 miles (32 km) to Dublin. Interstate 16 passes through the south end of the city, with access from Exit 32 (State Route 112). I-16 leads northwest 31 miles (50 km) to Macon and southeast 134 miles (216 km) to Savannah. State Route 112 passes through the center of Allentown as Balls Ferry Road, leading northeast 10 miles (16 km) to U.S. Route 441 at Nicklesville and southwest 18 miles (29 km) to Cochran.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Allentown has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km2), of which 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2), or 0.55%, are water.[7]
The north side of Allentown drains to Devils Branch, a tributary of Turkey Creek and part of the Oconee River watershed. The south side drains to Little Rocky Creek, a tributary of Rocky Creek, then Turkey Creek and the Oconee.[8]
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 450 | — | |
| 1970 | 295 | −34.4% | |
| 1980 | 321 | 8.8% | |
| 1990 | 273 | −15.0% | |
| 2000 | 287 | 5.1% | |
| 2010 | 169 | −41.1% | |
| 2020 | 195 | 15.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1850-1870[10] 1870-1880[11] 1890-1910[12] 1920-1930[13] 1940[14] 1950[15] 1960[16] 1970[17] 1980[18] 1990[19] 2000[20] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 287 people, 121 households, and 72 families residing in the town. In 2020, its population declined to 195.
In 2023, of the 195 people who lived in Allentown, 110 of them lived in Wilkinson County and 59 of them lived in Twiggs County. No persons lived in the portions in Bleckly and Laurens counties.[21]
Education
editThe Wilkinson County portion is in the Wilkinson County School District.[22]
The Twiggs County portion is in the Twiggs County School District.[23]
The Bleckley County portion is in the Bleckley County School District,[24] and the Laurens County portion is in the Laurens County School District.[25] As of 2023[update] there were no residents in the parts in Bleckley and Laurens counties.[21]
References
edit- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Allentown, Georgia
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1), Allentown city, Georgia". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ a b Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 3. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
- ^ Candler, Allen Daniel; Evans, Clement Anselm (1906). Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons. State historical association. p. 51.
- ^ "U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ Danville East, GA, 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1974
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1870.
- ^ "1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
- ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
- ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930. p. 251-256.
- ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
- ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
- ^ "1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1960.
- ^ "1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1970.
- ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
- ^ "1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1990.
- ^ "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
- ^ a b "General Highway Map Laurens County" (PDF). Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wilkinson County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2024. - Text list
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Twiggs County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2024. - Text list
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Bleckly County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2024. - Text list
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Laurens County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. pp. 1, 5 (PDF pp. 2, 6/18). Retrieved September 27, 2024. - Text list