Cochran, Georgia

Cochran is a city in Bleckley County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 5,026. The city is the county seat of Bleckley County.

Cochran is named for Judge Arthur E. Cochran and was incorporated on March 19, 1869. Judge Cochran was largely instrumental in developing this section of Georgia through his work as president of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad, now the Southern Railway (a component of Norfolk Southern Railway). Once known as Dykesboro, Cochran was settled by B. B. Dykes, who owned the site on which the town is built. The earliest settlers located here to work in the turpentine industry.

Cochran is home to Bleckley County High School and Middle Georgia State University. The city's nickname, Castle City, comes from the similar theme the mascots of each school's athletic program share (Barons, Royals, and Knights).

Three properties in Cochran are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Bleckley County Courthouse in Courthouse Square, the Cochran Municipal Building and School at the junction of Dykes and Second streets, and Hillcrest at 706 Beech Street.

History
Cochran, originally known as Dykesboro, was settled in the 1850s by B. B. Dykes. It was renamed Cochran in 1869 after Arthur Cochran, a railroad official who brought the Macon and Brunswick Railroad to town. In 1912, Cochran was designated seat of the newly formed Bleckley County.

Geography
Cochran is located at 32.38667°N, -83.35056°W (32.386646, -83.350684).

The city is located in the central part of the state along U.S. Route 23, which runs from southeast to northwest to the northeast of downtown, leading northwest 40 mi to Macon and southeast 18 mi to Eastman. Georgia State Route 26 runs from southwest to northeast through the center of the city, leading northeast 21 mi to Dudley (after meeting U.S. Route 80), and southwest 11 mi to Hawkinsville, concurrent with U.S. Route 129 Alternate.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.3 km2, of which 11.9 km2 is land and 0.4 km2, or 3.63%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,026 people, 1,406 households, and 814 families residing in the city.

Bleckley County School District
Bleckley County students in kindergarten to grade twelve are in the Bleckley County School District, which consists of a primary school, an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. The district has 151 full-time teachers and over 2,355 students.
 * Bleckley County Learning Center
 * Bleckley County Primary School
 * Bleckley County Elementary School
 * Bleckley County Middle School
 * Bleckley County Success Academy
 * Bleckley County High School

Middle Georgia State University
Middle Georgia State University is a public university with its main campus in Macon, Georgia. It was founded in 2013 through the merger of Middle Georgia College and Macon State College. Middle Georgia College's campus in Cochran is now one of the multiple campuses of Middle Georgia State University.

Government
Cochran operates under a Mayor-Council system of government, with the day-to-day business being handled by a city manager. The city manager is Richard Newburn. The Mayor is Billy Yeomans. The Police Chief is Jeff Trawick, and the fire chief is Brock Wilcher.

In 2016, at a City Council meeting held on October 11, Mayor Michael Stoy resigned from office, alleging that certain City Council members had participated in an illegal meeting. Since there was more than a year remaining in his term, a special election was held to elect another Mayor.

In 2013, the city manager decided to terminate the employment of the police and fire chief, and replace them with a public safety director in order to save money, but rescinded his decision days later amidst public disapproval, and announced the appointment of a task force to look at the budget and advise him on choices.

In 2011, Mayor Cliff Avant was charged with felony theft for allegedly donating city-owned PVC pipe to a local church. He admitted the donation and the mistake of not having it declared surplus property by the city council. On the day of the trial, as a result of a plea deal, Avant resigned as mayor, and pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal trespass.

In 2008, some of the Cochran Police Force came under scrutiny for various acts of misconduct, which included child molestation charges. One officer was charged and another resigned after being investigated for interference with custody.

Tourist attractions

 * Cochran-Bleckley Cotton & Peanut Museum
 * Terry L. Coleman Museum and Archives
 * Old Bleckley County Jail

Notable people

 * Ronald Gray - convicted spree killer
 * Amberle L. Husbands - writer of pulp-noir and science fiction short stories and novels
 * Danny Mathis - Politician and coroner.
 * Nancye Radmin (1938–2020), American businesswoman, founder of The Forgotten Woman retail chain
 * Clarence Reid, a.k.a. Blowfly - musician and songwriter
 * Ed Roberts - Physician and founder of MITS where he created the Altair 8800 microcomputer, starting the microcomputer revolution. It featured Microsoft's first software, the Altair BASIC and employed Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Monte Davidoff.
 * Obie Walker - claimant of the World Colored Heavyweight Championship boxing title in the 1930s
 * Amarius Mims -- UGA, drafted #19 by Cincinnati Bengals 2024