Hawkinsville, Georgia

Hawkinsville is a city in and the county seat of Pulaski County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,980 in 2020.

Hawkinsville is known as the "Harness Horse Capital" of Georgia. The Lawrence Bennett Harness Horse Racing facility is owned by the city and serves as an important training ground during winter months. The Harness Festival takes place every April at the end of training before horses head north for the harness racing season.

History


Hawkinsville was founded in 1830. In 1837, the seat of Pulaski County was transferred to Hawkinsville from Hartford. The community was named for Benjamin Hawkins, delegate to the Continental Congress, and the United States Indian Agent in the Southeast, appointed by President George Washington.

The city includes Hawkinsville High School and several historical sites, including Hawkinsville City Hall-Auditorium, Hawkinsville Public School, the Merritt-Ragan House, the Pulaski County Courthouse, and Taylor Hall. St. Thomas African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized after the American Civil War as one of hundreds of AME churches planted in the South by missionaries from the first black independent denomination in the United States, founded in the early 19th century in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Hawkinsville Commercial and Industrial Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Hawkinsville is also home to the historic Hawkinsville Opera House.

Geography
Many highways converge in the city. U.S. Routes 129 and 341 are the two main highways through town, and run through the downtown area together. Upon leaving the city, U.S. 341 leads northwest 21 mi (34 km) to Perry along Interstate 75 and southeast 20 mi (32 km) to Eastman. U.S. 129 follows the route of U.S. 341 north of the city, but splits off northwest of downtown, leading north 28 mi (45 km) to Warner Robins. South of downtown, U.S. 129 leads south 24 mi (39 km) to Abbeville. In addition, an alternate route of U.S. 129 connects the city to Cochran, 11 mi (18 km) to the northeast. Other highways that run through the city include Georgia State Routes 26, 27, 230, and 257.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.4 sqmi, of which 4.4 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (1.57%) is water.

Climate
Hawkinsville has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,980 people, 1,304 households, and 812 families residing in the city.

Pulaski County School District
The Pulaski County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve. It consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 122 full-time teachers and over 1,632 students.
 * Pulaski County Elementary School
 * Pulaski County Middle School
 * Hawkinsville High School

Industry
The Georgia Department of Corrections operates the Pulaski State Prison in Hawkinsville.

The United States Postal Service operates the Hawkinsville Post Office.

The United States Air Force operates the Hawkinsville Air Force Space Surveillance System.

Notable people

 * Exxon Valdez Captain Joseph Hazelwood was born in Hawkinsville.
 * Charles Johnson, former defensive end for the Carolina Panthers, was born in Hawkinsville.
 * Jeezy (musician and businessman) was born in Columbia, South Carolina but was raised in Hawkinsville.
 * Eva C. Mitchell, professor of education at Hampton University from 1930 to 1960, born in Hawkinsville
 * Robert Henry Scarborough Jr. (former Vice Admiral of the United States Coast Guard) was born and raised in Hawkinsville.