Oak Park, Georgia

Oak Park is a city in Emanuel County, Georgia, United States. In 1934 the town got national attention when it elected a municipal government that entirely consisted of women. The population was 484 at the 2010 census,[4] up from 366 in 2000.

Oak Park, Georgia
City
Location in Emanuel County and the state of Georgia
Location in Emanuel County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°22′15″N 82°18′36″W
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyEmanuel
Area
[1]
 • Total7.22 sq mi (18.71 km2)
 • Land7.07 sq mi (18.30 km2)
 • Water0.16 sq mi (0.41 km2)
Elevation
259 ft (79 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total512
 • Density72.45/sq mi (27.97/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30401
Area code478
FIPS code13-57232[2]
GNIS feature ID0332536[3]
Websitewww.oakparkga.org

History

The town was originally named Sol, Georgia from June to August 1880 then the town name was changed to Horace, Georgia. The town name was later changed to Oak Park, Georgia in 1904.

In 1914 a murder–suicide committed by local farmer J.A. Eubanks got national news coverage.[5][6] He murdered his wife and two daughters with an axe, set fire to some farm buildings, and shot himself in the head. Before killing himself, he woke a neighbor and told them what he had done. He did leave a suicide note.[5] Several structures were destroyed in the fire, including houses of others. He had even cut the rope for the well bucket to keep the fire from being put out.[6]

In a December 14, 1934 municipal election, Oak Park elected a mayor and five-person town council composed entirely of women.[7] The election of an all-woman government was a first for Georgia, and novel enough that the event was covered by Associated Press[7] and United Press[8] news stories, both calling it "Petticoat Rule".[7][8] It was not a surprise to the town however, as the all-woman slate had been nominated by men when the previous mayor retired[8] and no men volunteered to replace him.[7]

Some in the town apparently dissented, as the jail was set ablaze the night before the election[8] and dynamite blasts were set off after it, damaging buildings.[7] Despite that, Mrs. Solomon S. Youmans (the wife of a local physician) was elected mayor, and the council consisted of Mrs. J.D. Tyson, Mrs. G.C. Corbin, Mrs. J.J. Powell, Mrs. G.C. Williamson and Miss Ada Belle Thompson.[8]

Geography

Oak Park is located in southern Emanuel County at 32°22′15″N 82°18′36″W (32.370747, -82.309915),[9] along U.S. Route 1. Interstate 16 passes through the northern part of the town, 3 miles (5 km) north of the original town center, with access to US 1 from Exit 90. I-16 leads east 77 miles (124 km) to Savannah and west 88 miles (142 km) to Macon, while US 1 leads north 18 miles (29 km) to Swainsboro, the Emanuel County seat, and south 11 miles (18 km) to Lyons.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Oak Park has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.7 km2), of which 7.1 square miles (18.3 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 2.17%, is water.[4]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910144—
192019535.4%
193029149.2%
1940208−28.5%
195030848.1%
1960302−1.9%
1970226−25.2%
198025613.3%
19902695.1%
200036636.1%
201048432.2%
20205125.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2020 census
Oak Park racial composition[11]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 380 74.22%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 24 4.69%
Native American 3 0.59%
Asian 1 0.2%
Other/Mixed 18 3.52%
Hispanic or Latino 86 16.8%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 512 people, 238 households, and 166 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 366 people, 148 households, and 103 families residing in the town. The population density was 51.3 inhabitants per square mile (19.8/km2). There were 199 housing units at an average density of 27.9 per square mile (10.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 90.98% White, 0.82% African American, 8.20% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.11% of the population.

There were 148 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,808, and the median income for a family was $33,333. Males had a median income of $30,625, versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,317. About 14.0% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

References
  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. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Oak Park town, Georgia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  5. "Georgia Farmer Murders Family; Shoots Self". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. Associated Press. March 20, 1914. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  6. "In Maniacal Fury Man Slays Four". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. March 21, 1914. p. 5. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  7. "Petticoat Rule Supplanting Men in Georgia Town". Palm Beach Post-Times. Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press. December 15, 1934. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  8. United Press (January 2, 1935). "Petticoat Rule is Adopted by Georgia Town". Mount Carmel Item. Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. p. 5. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
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