Bainbridge, Georgia

Bainbridge is a city in Decatur County, Georgia, United States. The city is the county seat of Decatur County. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 14,468, up from 12,697 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Bainbridge, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area and a principal city in the Tallahassee—Bainbridge, FL-GA Combined Statistical Area.

History
The first European settlement in what is today Bainbridge was a trading post set up by James Burges in the late 18th century. From him comes the name Burges's Bluff. The town was named after U.S. Navy Commodore William Bainbridge, commander of the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides"), and was incorporated on December 22, 1829.

In 1824, Bainbridge was designated seat of the newly formed Decatur County.

On October 10, 2018, Bainbridge fell victim to Hurricane Michael. The storm left widespread damage through the city limits, including downed trees, power lines, and structural damage. Many residents affected suffered severe damage to their homes.

Geography
Bainbridge is located in the center of Decatur County. The city is in southwestern Georgia along U.S. Routes 27 and 84, which form a bypass around the southern part of the city. U.S. Route 27 leads southeast 42 mi to Tallahassee, Florida, and north 128 mi to Columbus. U.S. Route 84 leads east 38 mi to Thomasville and northwest 54 mi to Dothan, Alabama. Other highways which run through the city include Georgia State Routes 97, 253, 309, and 311.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 52.0 sqkm, of which 48.7 sqkm is land and 3.3 sqkm, or 6.40%, is water.

Bainbridge is located on the Flint River, which flows southwest to meet the Chattahoochee. Together they form the Apalachicola River which flows to the Gulf of Mexico. At the junction of the two rivers, the Jim Woodruff Dam forms Lake Seminole. A system of locks at the dam allows barge traffic to travel between the inland port at Bainbridge and the Gulf of Mexico.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,468 people, 4,471 households, and 3,111 families residing in the city.

Economy
It was announced in December 2019 that Brazil-based gun manufacturer Taurus had been granted a $39 million tax-incentive package to move from the Miami, Florida area to Bainbridge in return for creating 300 jobs. The package includes $20 million for construction, $7.9 million in tax credits, $4.5 million for infrastructure, $4.3 million in property-tax abatements, and $3 million for equipment, in addition to a land lease arrangement of $1/year for 73 acres (20 hectares) of land. The subsidy totals $130,000 per job.

In December 2023 it was announced that significant tax breaks for a large primate breeding operation were approved by the Bainbridge City Council despite a lack of transparency to local residents who have since expressed outrage and strong opposition to the project. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has highlighted several dangerous aspects of this project that threaten the health and well-being of local human and wildlife populations. Examples include the spread of numerous exotic diseases from animals imported from foreign countries through the international primate trade, and the disposal of millions of gallons of toxic animal waste that will be generated from the project and dumped in to the local ecosystem. PETA has also noted that officials representing the newly formed company spearheading the Bainbridge primate project were recent high-level employees of companies currently under investigation for an alleged illegal primate import scheme.

Arts

 * The Firehouse Gallery Art Gallery
 * Bainbridge Little Theatre

Annual cultural events
River Town Days is held each year the second weekend of March.

The Swine Time Festival and Decatur County Fall Festival and Fair are annual events.

National Register of Historic Places
The Decatur County Courthouse was constructed in 1902, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also listed on the Register is the First African Missionary Baptist Church.

Public library
The Decatur County Gilbert H. Gragg Library is located in Bainbridge. The library serves the population of Decatur County and acts as the headquarters for the Southwest Georgia Regional Library.

Decatur County School District
The Decatur County School District holds pre-school to grade 12, and consists of two primary schools, one elementary school, one middle school, and a high school. The district has 384 full-time teachers and over 5,782 students.

Schools include:
 * Jones-Wheat Primary School (grades PreK-2)
 * West Bainbridge Primary School (grades PreK-2)
 * Hutto Elementary School (grades 3-5)
 * Bainbridge Middle School (grades 6-8)
 * Bainbridge High School (grades 9-12)

Other schools

 * Grace Christian Academy (PreK-12)
 * Spring Creek Charter Academy (PreK-10)

Parks and recreation
The Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA opened on September 15, 1986. Its building had a cost of $1,000,000.

Transportation
The city is a seaport linked to the Gulf of Mexico via Florida's Apalachicola River. Officially known as Port Bainbridge, these facilities are managed entirely by the Georgia Ports Authority.

The Decatur County Industrial Air Park, located 6 mi northwest of the city, provides general aviation service to the community.

Notable people

 * James Butler, NFL player
 * Alfred Corn, poet and essayist; born Bainbridge, raised in Valdosta
 * Marvin Griffin, former Georgia governor
 * Miriam Hopkins, Academy Award-nominated film actress
 * Paul Kwilecki, documentary photographer
 * Jason Lancaster, Singer and guitarist of Mayday Parade, singer of Go Radio, and solo career
 * Dameon Pierce, NFL player - Houston Texans
 * Brian Powell, former MLB pitcher - Drafted by Detroit Tigers
 * David Ross, MLB catcher, two-time World Series champion, Dancing with the Stars contestant
 * Kirby Smart, head football coach for the University of Georgia
 * Travis Smith, former drummer of Trivium
 * Young Stribling, professional heavyweight boxer