Ludowici, Georgia
Ludowici, Georgia | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 13-47784[2] | | |
GNIS feature ID | 0356371[3] |
Ludowici
The town, which was originally called Johnston Station, had its beginnings in the 1840s when the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad established a stop referred to as "Four and a Half".[7] The station was constructed across from the house of a landowner named Allen Johnston.
The Long County Courthouse and Ludowici Well Pavilion are listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Long County, Georgia.
History
In 1900, the population was about 300 and Johnston Station had a telegraph, post, and express offices.
In 1902, the Ludowici Roofing Tile Company built their "Dixie" plant in Johnson Station.[9][10] In 1905, when the town erected a new high school, the Ludowici company donated towards its construction costs and provided the roofing tile. In return, on August 23, 1905, the town was renamed and incorporated as Ludowici.
The Ludowici Dixie Plant in its heyday covered more than 1,100 acres (450 ha) and employed most people who resided in Long County. Tiles manufactured from this plant were stamped "Ludowici Dixie". "Dixie" tile can still be found throughout Georgia and Florida, on such prominent buildings as the
Before interstate highways were constructed, all motorists traveled on regular U.S. highways. Ludowici was at the crossroads of three U.S. highways, Routes 25, 82 and 301. Many vacationers on their way to Florida passed through Ludowici.
Speed Trap Designation
The city gained notoriety during the 1950s and 1960s for its aggressive traffic enforcement policies. The
Then-Governor Lester Maddox posted billboards warning tourists to avoid the town because ticket-related corruption was so bad.[14] Word of mouth and media exposure caused many motorists to detour around Ludowici. A 1970 TIME article said that Ludowici was "one of the last remaining speed traps in the country."[10]
Reason reported that it wasn't the activity of Governor Maddox that ultimately ended the speed trap activities of the town, but rather that, "In the end, Ludowici was brought down not by Maddox, but by Interstate 95. Tourists no longer had to run a gauntlet of cops and flim-flam men to reach Florida's sunnier climes, and the town faded into well-deserved obscurity."[15]
Geography
Ludowici, in southeast Georgia,[10] is located 30 miles (48 km) from the Atlantic coast. Nearby communities include Jesup 11 miles (18 km) to the southwest via US Routes 301, 84, and 25; Darien 32 miles (51 km) to the southeast via State Route 57; Hinesville/Fort Stewart 15 miles (24 km) to the northeast via US 84; and Glennville 21 miles (34 km) to the northwest via US 301 and 25.[16]
According to the United States Census Bureau, Ludowici has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.1 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.54%, are water.[17] The city drains west to Jones Creek and east to Doctors Creek, both tributaries of the Altamaha River.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1910 | 541 | — | |
1920 | 515 | −4.8% | |
1930 | 615 | 19.4% | |
1940 | 866 | 40.8% | |
1950 | 1,332 | 53.8% | |
1960 | 1,578 | 18.5% | |
1970 | 1,419 | −10.1% | |
1980 | 1,286 | −9.4% | |
1990 | 1,291 | 0.4% | |
2000 | 1,440 | 11.5% | |
2010 | 1,703 | 18.3% | |
2020 | 1,590 | −6.6% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[18] |
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic)
|
918 | 57.74% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
|
495 | 31.13% |
Asian
|
4 | 0.25% |
Pacific Islander
|
1 | 0.06% |
Other/Mixed
|
92 | 5.79% |
Latino
|
80 | 5.03% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,590 people, 763 households, and 573 families residing in the city.
Education
Long County School District
The Long County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.[20] The district has 119 full-time teachers and over 3,285 students.[21]
- Smiley Elementary School
- McClelland Elementary School
- Long County Middle School
- Long County High School
Private education
- Faith Baptist Christian School[22]
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1), Ludowici city, Georgia". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
- ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 4, 2019.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c New Georgia Encyclopedia
- ^ Candler, Allen Daniel; Evans, Clement Anselm (1906). "Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons Arranged in Cyclopedic Form".
- ^ ""Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)". - ^ TIME. Monday April 27, 1970. Retrieved on March 3, 2012.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ Lester Goes to Ludowici
- OCLC 69850486.
- ^ CIARAMELLA, C.J. (May 8, 2022). "11 Insanely Corrupt Speed-Trap Towns". reason.com. Reason. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- ^ "Ludowici, Georgia". Google Maps. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
- ^ "U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ Georgia Board of Education[permanent dead link], Retrieved June 23, 2010.
- ^ School Stats, Retrieved June 23, 2010.
- ^ Faith Baptist Christian Academy, Retrieved June 23, 2010.