College Park, Georgia

College Park is a city located partly in Fulton County, Georgia and partially in Clayton County, Georgia, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 20,382 (Fulton: 18,810; Clayton: 1,572). College Park is a predominantly African American city adjacent to the busy Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Just west of the Atlanta Airport is the Georgia International Convention Center (opened April 2003), which is Georgia's second largest convetion center-- second only to the Georgia World Congress Center. The GICC is owned and operated by the City of College Park.

The city is the hometown of music sensations such as Jermaine Dupri and Yung Joc. College Park is also home to the corporate offices of John Wieland Homes. Just outside the city limits of College Park, but maintaining a College Park address, is the mega-church World Changers Ministries.

Geography

College Park is located at (33.648209, -84.456007).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.2 km² (9.7 mi²). 25.1 km² (9.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.10% is water.

History

Established in 1890, College Park has a rich history. The city has 853 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. Originally, College Park was known as Manchester and was renamed by Lula Roper-- who placed the name in a lottery. The reason for the name College Park was that the city was once home to Cox College (where the city hall and other buildings now reside) and Georgia Military Academy (now Woodward Academy).

Also, the east-west streets (avenues) are named for Ivy League institutions and the north-south streets are named for influential College Park residents.

Recreation

The City of College Park is serviced by two recreation centers-- the Wayman & Bessie Brady Recreation Center and the Hugh C. Conley Recreation Center. Both centers were opened in 1956 and named in honor of three prominent city residents. When they were opened, they were segregated-- the whites utilized the Conley Center, while the blacks used the Brady Center. Both were equipped with basketball gymnasiums; after segregation, Conley was used for gymnastics and Brady was used for basketball. The Brady Center has one of the top-notch programs in the State of Georgia.

The city is also serviced by four parks: Barrett Park, which is located along affluent Rugby Avenue; Brenningham Park, which surrounds the Brady Center; Jamestown Park and Richard D. Zupp Park, which was named in honor of a well-respected College Park resident.

College Park is also home to the College Park Municipal Golf Course, which was established in 1929. The course is nine holes and is built on very hilly terrain.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,382 people, 7,810 households, and 4,600 families residing in the city. The population density was 810.5/km² (2,099.8/mi²). There were 8,351 housing units at an average density of 332.1/km² (860.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 12.39% White, 81.81% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 3.33% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.86% of the population.

There were 7,810 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 22.9% were married couples living together, 28.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 14.4% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,846, and the median income for a family was $32,655. Males had a median income of $26,644 versus $22,412 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,371. About 16.9% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

The city of College Park is governed by a Mayor and four council members. The Mayor is Jack Longino and the council members are Ward 1, Russell Slider, Ward 2, Tracey Wyatt, Ward 3, Joseph A. Carn and Ward 4, Charles Phillips.

External links

Cities in Georgia (U.S. state) | Fulton County, Georgia | Clayton County, Georgia