Montezuma, Georgia
History
Montezuma had its start in 1851, when the railroad was extended to that point. The city was named after the famous Aztec leader by soldiers returning from the Mexican American War and was incorporated in 1854.
Montezuma is home to a thriving Mennonite community, founded when 10 to 15 Mennonite families moved from Virginia in the 1950s.
Geography
Montezuma is in south-central Macon County, on the east side of the Flint River. It is bordered to the west across the river by Oglethorpe, the Macon county seat. Several state highways converge in Montezuma. State Route 26 (Walnut Street) passes through the south side of the city, leading east 35 miles (56 km) to Hawkinsville and west past Oglethorpe 18 miles (29 km) to Ellaville. State Route 90 passes through the center of Montezuma, leading southeast 21 miles (34 km) to Vienna and northwest 20 miles (32 km) to Rupert. State Route 49 also passes through the city center, leading northeast 13 miles (21 km) to Marshallville and southwest 11 miles (18 km) to Andersonville.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (12 km), of which 0.07 square miles (0.18 km), or 1.49%, are water.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 440 | — | |
1890 | 706 | 60.5% | |
1900 | 903 | 27.9% | |
1910 | 1,630 | 80.5% | |
1920 | 1,827 | 12.1% | |
1930 | 2,284 | 25.0% | |
1940 | 2,346 | 2.7% | |
1950 | 2,921 | 24.5% | |
1960 | 3,744 | 28.2% | |
1970 | 4,125 | 10.2% | |
1980 | 4,830 | 17.1% | |
1990 | 4,506 | −6.7% | |
2000 | 3,999 | −11.3% | |
2010 | 3,460 | −13.5% | |
2020 | 3,047 | −11.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-19801990 |
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 609 | 19.99% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,175 | 71.38% |
Native American | 2 | 0.07% |
Asian | 91 | 2.99% |
Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.07% |
Other/Mixed | 46 | 1.51% |
Hispanic or Latino | 122 | 4.0% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,047 people, 1,276 households, and 898 families residing in the city.
Education
Education is provided by the Macon County School District. Macon County Middle School, and Macon County High School, are both located in Montezuma.
Notable people
- Jim Colzie, baseball player in the Negro leagues
- J. Griffen Greene, educator
- Roquan Smith, NFL All-Pro Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens
References
- ^ "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- ^ "P1. Race – Montezuma city, Georgia: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 150. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
- ^ Acts Passed by the General Assembly of Georgia. J. Johnston. 1854. p. 232.
- ^ Watson, Stephanie; Lisa Wojna (2008). Weird, Wacky, and Wild Georgia Trivia. Blue Bike Books. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-897278-44-4.
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
- ^ "1870 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1870.
- ^ "1880 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1880.
- ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930.
- ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930. p. 253.
- ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1940.
- ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
- ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
- ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1990.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ "Macon County Middle School". Macon County School District. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "Macon County High School". Macon County School District. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "Negro Leagues Baseball eMuseum: Personal Profiles: James Colzie". www.nlbemuseum.com. Retrieved August 20, 2020.