PhotosLocation


Warner_Robins,_Georgia Latitude and Longitude:

32°36′31″N 83°38′17″W / 32.60861°N 83.63806°W / 32.60861; -83.63806
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Warner Robins, Georgia
Warner Robins City Hall
Warner Robins City Hall
Flag of Warner Robins, Georgia
Official seal of Warner Robins, Georgia
Nicknames: 
The International City
Motto: 
Every Day In Middle Georgia Is Air Force Appreciation Day (EDIMGIAFAD)
Location in Houston County and the state of Georgia
Location in Houston County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°36′31″N 83°38′17″W / 32.60861°N 83.63806°W / 32.60861; -83.63806
CountryUnited States
State Georgia
Counties Houston, Peach
FoundedSeptember 1, 1942
Government
 •  MayorLaRhonda Patrick
Area
 •  City38.10 sq mi (98.68 km2)
 • Land37.78 sq mi (97.85 km2)
 • Water0.32 sq mi (0.83 km2)  0.8%
Elevation
365 ft (93 m)
Population
 ( 2020) [2]
 •  City80,308
 • Density2,100/sq mi (810/km2)
 •  Metro
179,605
Time zone UTC−5 ( Eastern)
 • Summer ( DST) UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code
31088, 31093, 31095, 31098, 31099
Area code478
FIPS code13-80508 [3]
GNIS feature ID0333366 [4]
Website wrga.gov

Warner Robins (typically /ˈwɑːrnɜːr ˈrɑːbənz/ wore-nur-RAH-bins) is a city in Houston and Peach counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is currently the state's eleventh-largest incorporated city, with a population of 80,308 in the 2020 census. [2]

The city is the main component of the Warner Robins metropolitan statistical area, including the entirety of Houston, Peach, and Pulaski counties, which had a census population of 201,469 in 2020; it, in turn, is a component of a larger trade area, the Macon–Warner Robins–Fort Valley combined statistical area, with an estimated 2018 population of 423,572. Robins Air Force Base, a major U.S. Air Force maintenance and logistics complex that was founded as the Warner Robins Air Depot in 1942, is located just east of the city limits; the base's expansion and the suburbanization of nearby Macon have led to the city's rapid growth in the post-World War II era.

History

Warner Robins was founded in 1942 when the small farming community of Wellston was renamed for General Augustine Warner Robins (1882-1940) of the United States Army Air Corps, which later became the United States Air Force. [5] It was incorporated as a town in 1943 and as a city in 1956. [6]

The 1940 census shows that the community of Wellston was sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by farmers and their families. Its most notable landmark was a stop on the railroad line. Wellston also had a small sawmill and a grocery store. Peach orchards covered parts of the surrounding land.

This changed during World War II. The War Department made plans to build an air depot in the Southeast. With the assistance of influential U.S. Representative Carl Vinson, Wellston community leader Charles Bostic "Boss" Watson worked with officials in Macon to make a bid to locate this air depot in Houston County. In June 1941, the U.S. government accepted this offer, which included 3,108 acres (12.58 km2) of land. [7]

This air force base was initially called Wellston Army Air Depot when it opened in 1942. The first commander was Colonel Charles E. Thomas. He wanted to name this depot in honor of his mentor Augustine Warner Robins, who was called by his middle name, Warner. Regulations prevented him from doing this, which required the base to be named after the nearest town. Not deterred by this, Colonel Thomas persuaded Boss Watson and the other community leaders to rename the town of Wellston. So on September 1, 1942, the town was given the new name of Warner Robins. [8] Soon thereafter, on October 14, 1942, the base was renamed to become Warner Robins Army Air Depot. The city has a unique name, shared with no other town in the United States.

Robins Air Force Base is not within the city limits of the town but is across U.S. Highway 129 ( Georgia State Highway 247), which serves as a boundary between the base and the city.

In 2018, First Solar announced a project for a 200-megawatt, 2,000-acre (8.1 km2) solar panel facility in Twiggs County east of Warner Robins. The facility would be the largest solar facility in the southeast. [9]

Tornadoes

Tornadoes have continually plagued the city since its inception with the 1950s seeing at least four catastrophic tornadoes strike the area. The first one occurred on April 30, 1953, when an F4 tornado with winds of over 200 mph hit the city and portions of Robins Air Force Base, killing 18 people and injuring 300 more. [10] [11] That same day, a second tornado that was rated F2 damaged the northwest side of town. [12] Just ten months later on March 13, 1954, a long-tracked F1 tornado struck the town, killing one and injuring five. [13] Three years later, on April 5, 1957, a long-tracked F2 tornado family hit the northwest side of the city, causing considerable damage. [14] To date, at least nine tornadoes have hit the town and the surrounding area. [15]

Geography

Warner Robins is located at 32°36′31″N 83°38′17″W / 32.60861°N 83.63806°W / 32.60861; -83.63806 (32.608720ºN, −83.638027ºE). [16] It is approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Macon and 100 miles (160 km) south of Atlanta. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.4 square miles (92 km2), of which 35.1 square miles (91 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.82%) is water.

Climate

Warner Robins has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa). It experiences hot, humid summers and generally mild winters, with average high temperatures ranging from 92.0 °F (33.3 °C) in the summer to 58.0 °F (14.4 °C) high during winter. Snowfall is a moderately rare event. Warner Robins-area historical tornado activity is slightly above the state average. It is 86% greater than the overall U.S. average. [17]

Climate data for Warner Robins, Georgia
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 84
(29)
85
(29)
90
(32)
96
(36)
99
(37)
106
(41)
108
(42)
105
(41)
102
(39)
100
(38)
88
(31)
82
(28)
108
(42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 58
(14)
62
(17)
70
(21)
77
(25)
85
(29)
90
(32)
92
(33)
91
(33)
86
(30)
77
(25)
69
(21)
60
(16)
76
(25)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 35
(2)
38
(3)
44
(7)
50
(10)
59
(15)
68
(20)
71
(22)
70
(21)
64
(18)
53
(12)
43
(6)
36
(2)
53
(12)
Record low °F (°C) −6
(−21)
9
(−13)
14
(−10)
28
(−2)
40
(4)
46
(8)
54
(12)
55
(13)
35
(2)
26
(−3)
10
(−12)
5
(−15)
−6
(−21)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.2
(110)
4.5
(110)
4.6
(120)
3.0
(76)
2.7
(69)
4.1
(100)
5.0
(130)
4.1
(100)
3.6
(91)
2.8
(71)
3.3
(84)
4.0
(100)
45.9
(1,161)
Source: City-data.com, [18] the Weather Channel (records only) [18]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.Note
194050
19507,98615,872.0%
196018,633133.3%
197033,49179.7%
198039,89319.1%
199043,7269.6%
200048,80411.6%
201066,58836.4%
202080,30820.6%
2022 (est.)82,1752.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [19]
1850-1870 [20] 1870-1880 [21]
1890-1910 [22] 1920-1930 [23]
1940 [24] [25] 1950 [26] 1960 [27]
1970 [28] 1980 [29] 1990 [30]
2000 [31] 2010 [32] 2020 [33]

Local sources indicate that Warner Robbins had a population of 50 in 1940. [24] Warner Robbins first appeared in the 1950 U.S. Census. [26]

2020

Warner Robins, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000 [34] Pop 2010 [32] Pop 2020 [33] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 29,538 33,304 33,491 60.52% 50.02% 41.70%
Black or African American alone (NH) 15,504 24,379 32,936 31.77% 36.61% 41.01%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 135 184 160 0.28% 0.28% 0.20%
Asian alone (NH) 861 1,730 2,949 1.76% 2.60% 3.67%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 33 59 54 0.07% 0.09% 0.07%
Other race alone (NH) 80 105 375 0.16% 0.16% 0.47%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 797 1,738 3,836 1.63% 2.61% 4.78%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,856 5,089 6,507 3.80% 7.64% 8.10%
Total 48,804 66,588 80,308 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 80,308 people, 29,742 households, and 19,256 families residing in the city.

Quality of life

In 2009, Business Week magazine named Warner Robins the best place in Georgia to raise a family. [35] The ranking was bestowed again for 2010. [36] The Warner Robins Area Chamber was named one of the top three chambers of commerce in the U.S. for a chamber in its division in 2009 by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association.[ citation needed] In 2012, CNN Money named Warner Robins No. 7 on its Best Places To Live list for America's best small cities. [37]

Government

Warner Robins is governed by a mayor and a six-member city council, four of whom are elected by district and two of whom are elected at-large. LaRhonda Patrick has been serving as mayor since 2022, after defeating incumbent mayor Randy Toms in a November 2021 runoff election. She is the first woman and first person of color to be elected mayor of Warner Robins. [38]

Since 2013, most of the city is within the 147th district of the Georgia House of Representatives, currently represented by Republican member Bethany Ballard.

Transportation

Major roads

Warner Robins is generally located between U.S. Highway 129/ Georgia State Route 247 and Interstate 75 about 6 miles (10 km) to the west; Georgia State Route 96 passes through the southern edge of the city. U.S. Highway 129 leads north 19 mi (31 km) to downtown Macon and south 28 mi (45 km) to Hawkinsville. GA-247 follows U.S. Highway 129 throughout the city, and leads north to Macon and south to Hawkinsville. GA-96 leads east-northeast 27 mi (43 km) to Jeffersonville and west 20 mi (32 km) to Fort Valley.

Pedestrians and cycling [39]

  • The Walk at Sandy Run
  • Walker's Pond Trail
  • Wellston Trail

Arts and recreation

Museum of Aviation

Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base

Warner Robins is home to the Museum of Aviation, which honors the history of military aviation. Located next to the Air Force base, the museum contains exhibits on military memorabilia, airplanes and ground vehicles, the Tuskegee Airmen, and Operation Desert Storm. It is the second largest museum sponsored by the United States Air Force and the fourth-most visited museum in the Department of Defense. [40] It is also the largest tourist attraction outside Atlanta in the state of Georgia.

Baseball and softball

According to Warner Robins residents in 1958 Claude Lewis, director of the Warner Robins Recreation Department, invented the game of tee-ball. The first game was played in March of that year with 20 children participating. Lewis wrote rules for the new game and sent rule books out to recreation departments all over the country.[ citation needed] In 2006, a field was dedicated and named for Lewis, "the father of tee-ball", at the Warner Robins American Little League complex.[ citation needed]

Warner Robins American Little League won the 2007 Little League World Series, defeating Tokyo Kitasuna Little League of Tokyo, Japan 3-2 in the final. [41] Dalton Carriker hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 6th inning to win the game for Georgia.

Southeast Region Headquarters of Little League

On December 9, 2008, the Little League International Board of Directors unanimously voted for Warner Robins to become the new Southeast Region Headquarters of Little League Baseball and Softball. Games began to be played in Warner Robins in 2010. [42]

The Warner Robins American Little League girls' softball team won the 2009 Little League Softball World Series by defeating Crawford, Texas, making Warner Robins the only Little League to have won both a baseball and a softball title. [43]

The Warner Robins American Little League girls' softball team defended their 2009 championship by defeating Burbank, California in the 2010 Little League Softball World Series. By doing so, Warner Robins became only the fourth Little League program to produce back-to-back championship teams, and the first since Waco, Texas, which had won in 2003–2004. [44]

Economy

View of Robins Air Force Base from Warner Robins

Robins Air Force Base is one of the largest employers in the state of Georgia and directly contributes over 25,000 military, civil service, and contractor jobs to the local economy. [45] It has provided economic stability for Warner Robins that has benefited the entire Middle Georgia community.

The city of Warner Robins is working on redeveloping and renewing areas that have suffered from urban decay and/or abandonment through neglect and city growth. The city's plans include development of a centralized downtown center "for pedestrian-oriented businesses, culture and community gathering" to be re-established at Commercial Circle in order to "connect commerce and culture back to Downtown."[ citation needed] [46]

In May 2009 Warner Robins was listed by the Adversity Index as one of four Georgia metro areas that have had less than nine months of recession over the past fifteen years and have only recently been affected by the Global Financial Crisis of 2008–2009.[ citation needed]

In June 2011, Warner Robins was listed in Wired magazine as one of 12 small cities that are driving the "Knowledge Economy". [47] Georgia was the only Southeastern state listed, and Warner Robins was one of two Georgia cities ranked (the other one being Hinesville-Ft. Stewart). The rankings featured small cities that are luring knowledge workers and entrepreneurs and which have both a relatively high median family income and a relatively high percentage of creative workers who drive the economy.

Houston Medical Center

Houston Medical Center on Watson Boulevard

Houston County Hospital was dedicated on July 2, 1960, with 50 beds. The hospital was renamed Houston Medical Center in 1986 after renovations. The patient rooms were converted at this time from semi-private to private, with 186 beds available. The addition of a new five-story northwest tower was completed in 2009, making a total of 237 beds. Houston Medical Center is part of the Houston Healthcare system, which serves over 300,000 people annually. [48]

Warner Robins Little Theatre

Warner Robins Little Theatre playhouse

The Warner Robins Little Theatre was established in 1962 as a non-profit community theatre. This organization now owns their theatre playhouse debt-free. The theatre continues to thrive. Five main shows are produced every year. Occasionally workshops and other special events are held for the Middle Georgia community. [49]

Popular culture

The bands Rehab, Stillwater, Doc Holliday, Sugar Creek, and Luke's Cabbage Store are based in Warner Robins.

Gallery

Local media

Newspapers

  • The Telegraph, daily
  • The Sun, a section of the Telegraph printed weekly devoted to news in Houston and Peach Counties
  • Houston Home Journal, twice weekly, the legal organ for Houston County

Television stations

Warner Robins is part of the Macon DMA, which is the nation's 120th largest television market. See the box below for local television stations:

Radio stations

Warner Robins is part of the Macon Arbitron Metro, which is the nation's 130th largest radio market with a person 12+ population of 372,400. See the box below for the local radio stations:

Education

Warner Robins campus of Central Georgia Technical College
Middle Georgia State College in Warner Robins

The portion of Warner Robins in Houston County is served by the Houston County School System. The portion of the city in Peach County is served by Peach County School District.[ citation needed]

Branch campuses of colleges and universities

High schools

Libraries

Nola Brantley Memorial Library

The library is the Nola Brantley Memorial Library. [50]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Warner Robins, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 246. ISBN  0-915430-00-2.
  6. ^ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 251. ISBN  978-1135948597. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  7. ^ The New Georgia Guide. Athens, GA: The University of Georgia Press. 1996. p.  433. ISBN  0-8203-1799-3.
  8. ^ Dixon, Claire (1993). Warner Robins: The Second 25 Years. Alpharetta, GA: WH Wolfe Associates. pp. 1–2.
  9. ^ "Largest Solar Plant in Southeast Will Be Built in Georgia". powermag.com. February 22, 2018. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  10. ^ Mackie, Matt. "Midstate residents remember EF4 tornado in Warner Robins 65 years ago". WGXA. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  11. ^ National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  12. ^ National Weather Service (February 2020). Georgia Event Report: F2 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  13. ^ "Georgia F1". Tornado History Projects. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  14. ^ "Georgia F2". Tornado History Projects. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  15. ^ "Tornado History Project: Houston County, Georgia". Tornado History Projects. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  16. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  17. ^ "Warner Robins, Georgia (GA 31005, 31088) profile: population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders". City-data.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  18. ^ a b "Average Weather for Warner Robins, GA". The Weather Channel, LLC weather.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  19. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  20. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1870.
  21. ^ "1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1880.
  22. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930.
  23. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930. p. 251-256.
  24. ^ a b "Our History - Warner Robins, GA - Official Website". www.wrga.gov. Archived from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2021. When it comes to phenomenal growth, one would have to search far and wide to top the Warner Robins success story. From slightly over 50 souls in 1940 to over 62,000 today.
  25. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1940.
  26. ^ a b "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  27. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1960.
  28. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1970.
  29. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  30. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1990.
  31. ^ "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 2000.
  32. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Warner Robins city, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  33. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Warner Robins city, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  34. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Warner Robins city, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  35. ^ Gopal, Prashant (November 10, 2008). "Business Week Rankings – Top Cities To Raise A Family". Business Week. Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
  36. ^ "Best Places to Raise Your Kids: 2010". Archived from the original on August 14, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  37. ^ Clark, Anita (September 1, 2012). "CNN Money Best Places to Live – Money's list of America's best small cities". CNN Money. Cable News Network. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  38. ^ "LaRhonda Patrick sworn in as Warner Robins mayor". Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  39. ^ "Warner Robins, GA - Official Website". www.wrga.gov. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  40. ^ "About the Museum of Aviation - Museum of Aviation". Museumofaviation.org. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  41. ^ "Georgia crowned LLWS champs behind Carriker's 8th-inning jack", ESPN, The Associated Press, August 26, 2007, archived from the original on October 6, 2010, retrieved December 4, 2009
  42. ^ "Warner Robins, Ga., Selected as Site of New Little League Southeast Region Headquarters". Little League Online. Little League. December 9, 2008. Archived from the original on May 25, 2009. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
  43. ^ "Warner Robins team routs Crawford". ESPN. August 25, 2009. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  44. ^ "Warner Robins American Little League Repeats as Little League Softball World Series Champions". Little League Online. August 18, 2010. Archived from the original on August 22, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2010. Warner Robins American Little League made it back to the Little League Baseball World Series in 2011, going 1–2. The team, led by "Man Child" Jake Fromm, was coached by Buddy Deal, Shane Williams, and managed by Phillip Johnson.
  45. ^ "Robins Air Force Base, Georgia" Archived July 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on 05 July 2014.
  46. ^ "Downtown Redevelopment Plan: Warner Robins, Georgia". Wrga.gov. January 2009. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  47. ^ Davidson, Adam. "Small Cities Feed the Knowledge Economy". Wired.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  48. ^ "History Of Houston Healthcare". Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.
  49. ^ "About WRLT". Wrlt.org. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  50. ^ "Nola Brantley Memorial Library". libraries.org. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  51. ^ "Eddie Lee Anderson, Jr". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  52. ^ "Russell Branyan Stats". Baseball Almanac. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  53. ^ "James Robert Brooks". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  54. ^ Deming, Mark. "Travis Denning biography". Allmusic. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  55. ^ "Ben Smith". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  56. ^ "Savannah State Athletics Hall of Fame". ssuathletics.com. Savannah State University Athletics. Retrieved June 15, 2023.

External links