Byron is a city located primarily in Peach County, Georgia, United States. A small portion of the city also extends into parts of Houston and Crawford counties. The population was estimated to be 5,149 in 2019 by the Census Bureau,[4] an increasing of 14.1% from 4,512 at the 2010 census.[5] The city is in the Warner Robins metropolitan statistical area.
Byron, Georgia | |
|---|---|
 Byron Municipal Complex | |
 Location in Peach County and the state of Georgia | |
| Coordinates: 32°38′56″N 83°45′20″W / 32.64889°N 83.75556°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| Counties | Peach, Houston |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.79 sq mi (22.77 km2) |
| • Land | 8.77 sq mi (22.70 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 509 ft (155 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,702 |
| • Density | 650.47/sq mi (251.15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 31008 |
| Area code | 478 |
| FIPS code | 13-12260[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0354930[3] |
| Website | byronga |
Byron was home to the Middle Georgia Raceway, an auto racetrack that hosted NASCAR races and the filming of TV commercials and a feature movie. From July 3–5, 1970, in a field next to the raceway, the Atlanta International Pop Festival was held, which was the largest gathering in Georgia history until the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.[6] On September 15, 2012, an official Georgia Historical Society marker was placed near the raceway site to commemorate the festival.[7]
History
editThe community was named after Lord Byron, the British Romantic poet.[8] A former variant name was "Jackson", but the name was changed in order to avoid repetition with the Jackson in Butts County.[9] The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the place as the "Town of Byron" in 1874.[10]
Geography
editByron is located in the northeast corner of Peach County at 32°38′56″N 83°45′20″W / 32.64889°N 83.75556°W (32.648908, -83.755640),[11] near the geographic center of Georgia. Interstate 75 passes through the eastern side of the city, with access from Exits 146 and 149 (Georgia State Route 49). Byron is 93 miles (150 km) south of Atlanta, 16 miles (26 km) south of Macon, and 11 miles (18 km) northeast of the Peach County seat of Fort Valley.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.4 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), or 0.28%, are water.[5]
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 137 | — | |
| 1930 | 318 | — | |
| 1940 | 305 | −4.1% | |
| 1950 | 379 | 24.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,138 | 200.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,368 | 20.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,661 | 21.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,276 | 37.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,887 | 26.8% | |
| 2010 | 4,512 | 56.3% | |
| 2020 | 5,702 | 26.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 3,056 | 53.6% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,055 | 36.04% |
| Native American | 12 | 0.21% |
| Asian | 84 | 1.47% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 237 | 4.16% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 257 | 4.51% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,702 people, 2,198 households, and 1,588 families residing in the city.
Circa 2023, of the 4,512 residents, all of them were in Peach County and none of them were in Houston County.[14]
Arts and culture
editThe city hosts the Battle of Byron, an annual charity fundraiser.[15]
Education
editAreas in Peach County are within the Peach County School District (as are all other parts of Peach County).[16]
Areas in Houston County are within the Houston County School System (as are all other parts of Houston County).[17] As of 2023[update] no residents of Byron lived in Houston County.[14]
References
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Byron city, Georgia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2017.[dead link]
- ^ "Alex Cooley Presents: The 2nd Atlanta International Pop Festival".
- ^ Kulkosky, Victor. (2012-09-19). "Byron Pop Festival Gets Historic Marker". The Leader Tribune, Peach County, GA.
- ^ "Peach County". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 30. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
- ^ Bulletin of the New York Public Library. New York Public Library. 1912. p. 676.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "General Highway Map Peach County Georgia" (PDF). Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "The Battle of Byron". City of Byron. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Peach County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2024. - Text list
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Houston County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2024. - Text list