Jonesboro, Georgia - Wikipedia

This article is about the county seat of Clayton County, Georgia. For the American Civil War battle, see Battle of Jonesborough. For the city in Tennessee, see Jonesborough, Tennessee. City in Georgia, United States

Jonesboro, Georgia
City
Buildings in the Jonesboro Historic District
FlagSealLogo
Location in Clayton County and the state of Georgia
JonesboroLocation of Jonesboro in Metro Atlanta
Coordinates: 33°31′28″N 84°21′15″W / 33.52444°N 84.35417°W / 33.52444; -84.35417
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Clayton
Government
• Mayor	Donya Sartor
Area[1]
• Total	3.00 sq mi (7.76 km2)
• Land	2.98 sq mi (7.71 km2)
• Water	0.019 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation	920 ft (280 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	4,235
• Density	1,422.3/sq mi (549.16/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	30236-30238
Area codes	770/678/470
FIPS code	13-42604[2]
GNIS feature ID	0332118[3]
Website	jonesboroga.com

Jonesboro (/ˈdʒoʊnzbʌrə/) is a city in and the county seat of Clayton County, Georgia, United States.[4] The population was 4,235 in 2020.

The city's name was originally spelled Jonesborough.[citation needed] During the American Civil War, the final skirmish in the Atlanta campaign was fought here south of Atlanta, cutting off the city and forcing the mayor of Atlanta to surrender at Marietta in early September 1864. The final fall of Atlanta in the Battle of Jonesborough ended up being a decisive point in the nation's history, propelling Abraham Lincoln to re-election two months later, and continuing the war until the Confederacy finally surrendered the following year.

History

[edit]

Jonesboro was inhabited by settlers as early as 1821, as a result of the Treaty of Indian Springs,[5] and it was founded as Leaksville in 1823.[6] In 1825, the Flint River Baptist Church was erected on a hill in Leaksville. After the Macon and Western Railroad arrived into the area in 1846, the town was renamed to Jonesboro, in order to honor railroad official Samuel Goode Jones (son of Thomas G. Jones), who was also honored by its citizens.[5] Jonesboro was incorporated over three decades later, in 1859.[7]

Jonesboro hosted the beach volleyball at the 1996 Summer Olympics with the artificial beach created at Clayton County International Park.[8] Jonesboro elected its first Black Mayor, Dr. Sonya Sartor, in March 2023.[9]

In 2024, an investigation by the "FOX 5 I-Team" in Atlanta discovered that hundreds of traffic tickets had been issued improperly by robotic traffic control cameras in school zones. The city was compelled to issue refunds and an apology.[10]

Geography

[edit]

Jonesboro is located at 33°31′28″N 84°21′15″W / 33.52444°N 84.35417°W / 33.52444; -84.35417 (33.524512, -84.354290).[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), of which 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (1.89%) is water.[12]

The railroad through Jonesboro is built on the Eastern Continental Divide and there are no bridges for the tracks for many miles in either direction.

Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Jonesboro, Georgia, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1994–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	77(25)	81(27)	89(32)	92(33)	95(35)	103(39)	104(40)	104(40)	99(37)	98(37)	86(30)	78(26)	104(40)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	69.7(20.9)	73.6(23.1)	80.7(27.1)	85.3(29.6)	90.4(32.4)	95.9(35.5)	96.1(35.6)	95.9(35.5)	92.5(33.6)	82.8(28.2)	76.8(24.9)	72.6(22.6)	97.7(36.5)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	52.7(11.5)	56.5(13.6)	64.7(18.2)	73.0(22.8)	80.5(26.9)	86.7(30.4)	89.6(32.0)	88.6(31.4)	83.2(28.4)	73.4(23.0)	62.4(16.9)	54.7(12.6)	72.2(22.3)
Daily mean °F (°C)	42.5(5.8)	45.9(7.7)	53.3(11.8)	61.0(16.1)	69.7(20.9)	76.6(24.8)	79.8(26.6)	78.8(26.0)	73.3(22.9)	62.5(16.9)	51.7(10.9)	45.1(7.3)	61.7(16.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	32.3(0.2)	35.3(1.8)	41.8(5.4)	49.1(9.5)	58.8(14.9)	66.5(19.2)	70.0(21.1)	69.0(20.6)	63.3(17.4)	51.6(10.9)	40.9(4.9)	35.4(1.9)	51.2(10.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	17.1(−8.3)	22.3(−5.4)	28.6(−1.9)	36.3(2.4)	45.9(7.7)	58.2(14.6)	63.4(17.4)	63.5(17.5)	53.1(11.7)	37.1(2.8)	27.7(−2.4)	24.0(−4.4)	15.9(−8.9)
Record low °F (°C)	5(−15)	6(−14)	14(−10)	29(−2)	37(3)	50(10)	52(11)	57(14)	42(6)	29(−2)	19(−7)	7(−14)	5(−15)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	5.02(128)	4.86(123)	4.95(126)	4.19(106)	3.47(88)	4.59(117)	5.09(129)	4.42(112)	3.56(90)	3.62(92)	4.19(106)	4.96(126)	52.92(1,343)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	0.5(1.3)	0.0(0.0)	0.1(0.25)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.2(0.51)	0.8(2.06)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	10.5	10.6	9.7	8.5	8.3	10.8	11.2	10.2	7.9	6.8	8.2	10.4	113.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.4
Source 1: NOAA[13]
Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)[14]

Demographics

[edit] Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	531	—
1880	1,048	97.4%
1890	803	−23.4%
1900	877	9.2%
1910	970	10.6%
1920	1,060	9.3%
1930	1,065	0.5%
1940	1,204	13.1%
1950	1,741	44.6%
1960	3,014	73.1%
1970	4,105	36.2%
1980	4,132	0.7%
1990	3,635	−12.0%
2000	3,829	5.3%
2010	4,724	23.4%
2020	4,235	−10.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

Jonesboro city, Georgia – Racial compositionNote: 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 (NH = Non-Hispanic)	% 2020[16]	% 2010[17]	% 2000[18]	Pop 2020	Pop 2010	Pop 2000
White alone (NH)	26.6%	31.4%	59.5%	1,126	1,483	2,279
Black alone (NH)	53.1%	57.4%	30.3%	2,247	2,712	1,161
American Indian alone (NH)	0.1%	0%	0.2%	6	2	8
Asian alone (NH)	2.9%	2.1%	0.6%	124	101	23
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0.1%	0%	0.3%	3	1	12
Other race alone (NH)	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	6	5	5
Multiracial (NH)	3.3%	1.7%	1.4%	140	79	52
Hispanic/Latino (any race)	13.8%	7.2%	7.5%	583	341	289

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,235 people, 1,195 households, and 771 families residing in the city.

Infrastructure

[edit]

Transit systems

[edit]

MARTA and Xpress GA/Georgia RTA buses serve the city.

Movies and literature

[edit]

Many of the scenes from the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit were filmed in Jonesboro. Another 1977 movie, the obscure 'In Hot Pursuit (aka The Polk County Pot Plane), was filmed in and around Jonesboro.

Tara, the fictional plantation in Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone with the Wind was supposed to be located approximately five miles outside of Jonesboro, the closest town.

"We Are Marshall" was briefly filmed at Tara Stadium in Jonesboro. The stadium was changed from green to light blue and light yellow for the scene.

Lynyrd Skynyrd's (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd) album cover was photographed near the corner of Mill and Main streets.

Landmarks

[edit]

• Rural Home (now demolished)
• Stately Oaks

Education

[edit]

Clayton County Public Schools operates public schools.

Notable people

[edit]

• Dan T. Cathy (born 1953), CEO of Chick-fil-A
• Chidi "Chi Chi" Osondu, Nigerian-American record producer and songwriter
• Tashard Choice, former running back in National Football League
• Harry Douglas, former NFL wide receiver
• Toney Douglas (born 1986), basketball player for FC Porto of the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol
• Jesse Fuller, Afro-American blues musician
• Sister Mary Melanie Holliday, Catholic nun
• Garrett Liberty, racing driver
• Steve Lundquist, two-time gold medal swimmer in 1984 Olympics
• Johnny Nave, racing driver
• Thomas Milton Rivers, bacteriologist and virologist with the Rockefeller Institute, Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy
• Adam Smith (born 1992), basketball player for Hapoel Holon in the Israel Basketball Premier League
• Annie Fitzgerald Stephens, landowner and businesswoman, grandmother of Margaret Mitchell
• Cameron Sutton, cornerback for the Detroit Lions
• M. J. Walker, shooting guard for Florida State

References

[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
2. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. ^ "Jonesboro". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. ^ a b "Jonesboro, GA - City History". www.jonesboroga.com. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
6. ^ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 234. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
7. ^ "City History." (Archive) City of Jonesboro. Retrieved on September 21, 2012.
8. ^ Georgia Department of Economic Development. "Clayton County International Park". Explore Georgia.
9. ^ "Jonesboro voters elect Dr. Donya Sartor as their first-ever Black mayor". March 24, 2023.
10. ^ Edwards, Johnny. "More speed camera trouble: FOX 5 I-Team investigation finds another 6K erroneous tickets". Fox 5 Atlanta. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
11. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
12. ^ "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
13. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Jonesboro, GA". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
14. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Atlanta". National Weather Service. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
15. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
16. ^ "HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2020)". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau.
17. ^ "HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2010)". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau.
18. ^ Georgia: 2000 (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. pp. 68–69.

External links

[edit]

• Media related to Jonesboro, Georgia at Wikimedia Commons
• City of Jonesboro

v t e Municipalities and communities of Clayton County, Georgia, United States
County seat: Jonesboro
Cities	College Park‡ Forest Park Jonesboro Lake City Lovejoy Morrow Riverdale
CDPs	Bonanza Conley Irondale
Unincorporatedcommunities	Ellenwood‡ Mountain View Mundys Mill Rex
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Georgia portal United States portal

v t e Historic districts in metro Atlanta
Clayton County	Jonesboro
Cobb County	Acworth Acworth Collins Ave. Clarkdale Clarkdale Kennesaw Cherokee St. North Main St. Summers St. Marietta Church St.–Cherokee St. North Marietta Washington Ave. Whitlock Ave.
Coweta County	Newnan Cole Town Greenville St.–LaGrange St. Newnan Commercial Newnan Cotton Mill and Mill Village Northwest Newnan Residential Platinum Point Other Grantville Roscoe–Dunaway Gardens Sargent Senoia
DeKalb County	Atlanta Candler Park Druid Hills (Atlanta) Inman Park–Moreland Kirkwood Avondale Estates Brookhaven Oglethorpe University Decatur Clairemont MAK (McDonough, Adams, King) Ponce de Leon Court South Candler Street–Agnes Scott College Winnona Park Druid Hills Emory Grove Emory University District University Park–Emory Highlands–Emory Estate Stone Mountain
Douglas County	Douglasville
Fulton County	Atlanta Adair Park Ansley Park Atkins Park Atlanta University Center Berkeley Park Brookhaven Brookwood Hills Cabbagetown Castleberry Hill Collier Heights Fairlie–Poplar Fox Theatre Historic District Garden Hills Georgia Tech Grant Park Hotel Row Howell Interlocking Knight Park–Howell Station Inman Park Inman Park–Moreland King Plow/Railroad Historic District (proposed) Knox Apts., Cauthorn House and Peachtree Rd. Apts. Lakewood Heights Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Means St. Midtown Mozley Park Oakland City Peachtree Highlands–Peachtree Park Pittsburgh Reynoldstown Southern Ry. North Ave. Yards Sunset Ave. (proposed) Sweet Auburn Techwood Homes Underground Atlanta Virginia-Highland Washington Park West End · Whittier Mills Other College Park East Point Industrial District Fairburn Hapeville Roswell
Gwinnett County	Norcross
Hall County	Gainesville Brenau University Chicopee Mill and Village Gainesville Commercial Green Street Green St.–Brenau Other Clermont Flowery Branch Gillsville Lula
Newton County	Covington Covington Covington Mills and Mill Village Floyd Street Other Newborn North Covington Oxford Porterdale Starrsville
Rockdale County	Conyers Commercial Residential

v t e County seats of Georgia

Abbeville Adel Alamo Albany Alma Americus Appling Ashburn Athens Atlanta Augusta Bainbridge Barnesville Baxley Blackshear BlaIrsville Blakely Blue Ridge Brunswick Buchanan Buena Vista Butler Cairo Calhoun Camilla Canton Carnesville Carrollton Cartersville Cedartown Chatsworth Clarkesville Claxton Clayton Cleveland Cochran Colquitt Columbus Conyers Cordele Covington Crawfordville Cumming Cusseta Cuthbert Dahlonega Dallas Dalton Danielsville Darien Dawson Dawsonville Decatur Donalsonville Douglas Douglasville Dublin Eastman Eatonton Elberton Ellaville Ellijay Evans Fayetteville Fitzgerald Folkston Fort Gaines Fort Valley Franklin Gainesville Georgetown Gibson Gray Greensboro Greenville Griffin Hamilton Hartwell Hawkinsville Hazlehurst Hiawassee Hinesville Homer Homerville Irwinton Jackson Jasper Jefferson Jeffersonville Jesup Jonesboro Knoxville LaFayette LaGrange Lakeland Lawrenceville Leesburg Lexington Lincolnton Louisville Ludowici Lumpkin Lyons Macon Madison Marietta McDonough McRae–Helena Metter Milledgeville Millen Monroe Monticello Morgan Moultrie Mount Vernon Nahunta Nashville Newnan Newton Ocilla Oglethorpe Pearson Pembroke Perry Preston Quitman Reidsville Ringgold Rome Sandersville Savannah Soperton Sparta Springfield Statenville Statesboro Summerville Swainsboro Sylvania Sylvester Talbotton Thomaston Thomasville Thomson Tifton Toccoa Trenton Valdosta Vienna Warrenton Washington Watkinsville Waycross Waynesboro Winder Woodbine Wrightsville Zebulon

Authority control databases
International	VIAF WorldCat
National	United States Israel
Geographic	MusicBrainz area
Other	NARA Yale LUX