Woodbine is a city in and the county seat of Camden County, Georgia, United States, an original county established when the state constitution was adopted in 1777.[6][7] The population was 1,062 at the 2020 census, down from 1,412 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsland, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Woodbine, Georgia | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Top, left to right: Camden County Courthouse, Old Camden County Courthouse, Satilla River, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Woodbine Historic District | |
 Seal  Logo | |
| Motto: "Cherish Yesterday, Embrace Today, Prepare for Tomorrow"[1] | |
 Location in Camden County and the state of Georgia | |
| Coordinates: 30°57′43″N 81°43′12″W / 30.96194°N 81.72000°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Camden |
| Settled | 1893 |
| Incorporated (town) | August 13, 1908 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1953 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Mayor | Kizzi Knight[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.61 sq mi (6.76 km2) |
| • Land | 2.54 sq mi (6.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.066 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,062 |
| • Density | 418/sq mi (161.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 31569 |
| Area code | 912 |
| FIPS code | 13-83868[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0325526[5] |
| Website | woodbinegeorgia |
The East Coast Greenway, a 3,000 mile long system of trails connecting Maine to Florida, runs along the Woodbine Riverwalk. Woodbine is promoted as the home of "Georgia's Official Crawfish Festival," an annual event held on the fourth Saturday of April since 1985.[8][9]
History
editRecords in 1765 show that John Brown, John McGillvary, William Molyneaux and William Trowin petitioned English authorities for 1,400 acres (570 ha) south of the Satilla River. They were granted the land named Pile's Bluff, which historians believe to be near Woodbine.[6]
A tract of land was granted to Anton Cunning by the state in 1808. It became known as the Woodbine Plantation. Luke John Bailey purchased it in 1835 and held it through the Civil War, during which the house was burned by Union troops. James King Bedell acquired the property, constructed a new house, and restored the plantation. The railroad entered Camden County in 1893, and Bedell sold a right-of-way across his land, but required that the first rail community be named "Woodbine".[6]
Woodbine was incorporated as a town on August 13, 1908,[10] and the word is the common English name for the honeysuckle, Lonicera.[10][11] The town grew more after the Atlantic Coastal Highway was constructed during 1927 and the county seat relocated there the following year. Woodbine re-incorporated as a city in 1953.[6]
On the morning of February 3, 1971, the Thiokol Chemical Corporation, a factory (13 miles east of Woodbine) that made tripflares for soldiers fighting in Vietnam, exploded. Twenty-eight employees of the factory, predominantly Black women, were killed after a flame in a small building, according to court records, triggered a massive explosion. The blast blew pieces of the building almost a mile away, left more than 50 other people injured.[12]
Spaceport Camden, a proposed commercial rocket-launch facility adjacent to the city, began limited development in 2014 but was cancelled in 2023 after the Georgia Supreme Court upheld a county referendum opposing it.[13]
A 40 MW hydrogen electrolyzer began operating in the city in 2024.[14]
Geography
editThe city is situated near the center of the county, which is located in the southeast corner of the state near the Florida border. It is located on the south bank of the Satilla River near the head of its tidal extent. U.S. Route 17 (Ocean Highway) passes through the center of the city, leading northeast 29 miles (47 km) to Brunswick and south 11 miles (18 km) to Kingsland. The city has extended its borders 2 miles (3 km) east along 10th Street to reach Interstate 95 at its Exit 14.
Woodbine is located at 30°57′43″N 81°43′12″W / 30.96194°N 81.72000°W (30.961869, -81.720017).[15]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.61 square miles (6.76 km2), of which 2.54 square miles (6.59 km2) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.17 km2), or 2.51%, is water.[3]
Climate
edit| Climate data for Woodbine, Georgia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) |
86 (30) |
91 (33) |
94 (34) |
98 (37) |
100 (38) |
102 (39) |
102 (39) |
96 (36) |
94 (34) |
89 (32) |
85 (29) |
102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 62.6 (17.0) |
65.9 (18.8) |
71.9 (22.2) |
77.7 (25.4) |
83.7 (28.7) |
88.2 (31.2) |
90.9 (32.7) |
89.2 (31.8) |
85.3 (29.6) |
78.6 (25.9) |
70.4 (21.3) |
64.5 (18.1) |
77.4 (25.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 50.3 (10.2) |
53.7 (12.1) |
59.3 (15.2) |
65.2 (18.4) |
72.3 (22.4) |
78.2 (25.7) |
80.9 (27.2) |
80.2 (26.8) |
76.4 (24.7) |
68.0 (20.0) |
59.0 (15.0) |
53.0 (11.7) |
66.4 (19.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 38.0 (3.3) |
41.5 (5.3) |
46.7 (8.2) |
52.7 (11.5) |
61.0 (16.1) |
68.2 (20.1) |
70.9 (21.6) |
71.1 (21.7) |
67.4 (19.7) |
57.3 (14.1) |
47.6 (8.7) |
41.5 (5.3) |
55.3 (12.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 10 (−12) |
10 (−12) |
21 (−6) |
22 (−6) |
41 (5) |
51 (11) |
58 (14) |
57 (14) |
50 (10) |
30 (−1) |
24 (−4) |
19 (−7) |
10 (−12) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.61 (92) |
3.67 (93) |
3.58 (91) |
3.52 (89) |
3.92 (100) |
6.20 (157) |
5.51 (140) |
7.76 (197) |
6.70 (170) |
4.74 (120) |
2.33 (59) |
3.04 (77) |
54.58 (1,386) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.3 | 7.9 | 6.9 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 14.1 | 11.0 | 6.8 | 5.3 | 6.9 | 101.6 |
| Source: NOAA[16][17] | |||||||||||||
Government
editWoodbine operates under a mayor–council form of government, with an elected mayor and a four-member city council; day-to-day administrative duties are handled by a city clerk.[2]
Economy
editAs the county seat, Woodbine is home to the Camden County Courthouse and other county government offices, which form a significant part of the local economy.[2] Plug Power's hydrogen production facility, which began operating in the city in January 2024, is also a notable employer.[18]
Demographics
edit
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 155 | — | |
| 1920 | 172 | 11.0% | |
| 1930 | 335 | 94.8% | |
| 1940 | 373 | 11.3% | |
| 1950 | 750 | 101.1% | |
| 1960 | 845 | 12.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,002 | 18.6% | |
| 1980 | 910 | −9.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,212 | 33.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,218 | 0.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,412 | 15.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,062 | −24.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[19] 1850–1870[20] 1870–1880[21] 1890–1910[22] 1920–1930[23] 1940[24] 1950[25] 1960[26] 1970[27] 1980[28] 1990[29] 2000[30] 2010[31] | |||
2020 census
editAs of the 2020 census, Woodbine had a population of 1,062. The median age was 42.6 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 79.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 74.6 males age 18 and over.[32][33]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[34]
There were 472 households in Woodbine, including 316 families, and 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 35.8% were married-couple households, 16.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 41.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[32]
There were 540 housing units, of which 12.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.[32][33]
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 606 | 57.06% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 385 | 36.25% |
| Native American | 4 | 0.38% |
| Asian | 7 | 0.66% |
| Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.38% |
| Other/Mixed | 44 | 4.14% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12 | 1.13% |
Education
editWoodbine is served by the Camden County School District. Woodbine Elementary School, located within the city, serves the surrounding area.[36]
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "City of Woodbine Georgia Website". City of Woodbine Georgia Website. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
- 1 2 3 "Woodbine". Georgia Municipal Association. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
- 1 2 "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ↑ "Woodbine". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Woodbine History". City of Woodbine, Georgia. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
- ↑ "Woodbine". Georgia Gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
- ↑ "City of Woodbine – County Seat of Camden County Georgia". City of Woodbine, Georgia. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Mayor Kizzi Knight". Paisley Magazine. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
- 1 2 "Woodbine". Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Retrieved September 6, 2012.[dead link]
- ↑ "Woodbine". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Reclaiming History: Museum documents deadly explosion that devastated a Black community in Georgia". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ↑ "Camden County spaceport dream scuttled by Georgia Supreme Court ruling". Georgia Recorder. February 8, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
- ↑ Balaraman, Kavya (January 25, 2024). "Plug Power launches largest U.S. liquid green hydrogen plant in Georgia". pv magazine USA.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ↑ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ↑ "Station: Woodbine, GA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ↑ "Plug Power Starts Production of Liquid Green Hydrogen at its Georgia Plant". Plug Power Inc. January 23, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
- ↑ "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. 1910. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024.
- ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930. pp. 251–256.
- ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
- ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "2010 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2010.
- 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ↑ "Search for Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
External links
edit
- City of Woodbine official website
- Woodbine at City-Data.com