Comer, Georgia

The present city of Comer was incorporated by an act of the Georgia Legislature on January 1, 1893.[6] The community was named after A. J. Comer, a pioneer citizen.[7]

Comer is located in southeastern Madison County at 34°03′47″N 83°07′30″W.[8] It is concentrated around the intersection of Georgia State Routes 72, 98, and 22. Athens is 18 miles (29 km) to the southwest; Danielsville, the Madison county seat, is 8 miles (13 km) to the northwest; Elberton is 18 miles (29 km) to the east; and Lexington is 14 miles (23 km) to the south. Comer is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin. Watson Mill Bridge State Park lies just to the southeast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), of which 0.03 square miles (0.08 km²), or 0.80%, are water.[2]

Children in the city of Comer attend the following schools for the Comer School Zone, Madison County School District.

• Comer Elementary School (CES), home of the Comer Comets
• Madison County Middle School (MCMS), home of the Mustangs
• Madison County High School (MCHS), home of the Red Raiders
• Broad River College and Career Academy

The Gholston Fund is an education-directed trust set up by J. Knox Gholston before his death to continue his legacy of funding local education projects in Comer.[9]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,052 people, 391 households, and 251 families residing in the city. The population density was 330.6 inhabitants per square mile (127.6/km²). There were 424 housing units at an average density of 133.2 per square mile (51.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.95% White, 20.25% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.

There were 391 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.04.

Main Street

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 73.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,059, and the median income for a family was $40,750. Males had a median income of $33,333 versus $22,969 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,742. About 12.4% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 24.1% of those age 65 or over.

Comer is divided into four city districts, each represented by a single elected city council member, elected at-large city mayor, as well as an elected county commissioner who serves one of five county districts.[1]

Comer Health and Rehabilitation Center is a 24/7 short or long term personal care facility that offers physical therapy, in-house wound care and restorative care. Comer Health and Rehabilitation is a subsidiary of Ethica Health and Retirement Services.[11]

A sister program to Habitat for Humanity, Jubilee Partners is a 258-acre (104 ha) Christian service community located on Jubilee Road in Comer. It was founded in 1979 by a small group of people from Koinonia Farms in Americus, Georgia, who wanted to establish a community in northeast Georgia that would function similar to the Americus community.[12]

• List of schools in Madison County
• Smithonia, Georgia

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Comer, Georgia.

• Official website