McRae–Helena, Georgia


McRae–Helena is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia, formed on January 1, 2015, by the merger of the two cities of McRae and Helena. McRae–Helena is the county seat of Telfair County.
It is the largest city in Telfair County, with a population of 6,253 in 2020. This includes the population held as inmates at McRae Correctional Institution.

History

On January 1, 2015, McRae and the adjacent town of Helena merged to form McRae–Helena. This merge was initiated when Helena discovered it could no longer manage its wastewater supply. While it seemed to make sense to have nearby McRae take over Helena's water services, it would have not only reduced Helena's revenue, but left Helena with only two municipal services. The cities were united under House Bill 967, sponsored by Representative Jimmy Pruett of the 149th district. It was signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal on April 10, 2014.

Geography

McRae–Helena is located in northern Telfair County at .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total land area of and a total area of. The Little Ocmulgee River flows just northeast of the city limits, while Sugar Creek passes through the southwest border of the city.

Transportation

Several highways travel through McRae–Helena Area. U.S. Route 23, along with US 341/SR 27 travel through the city as a one-way pair using Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, heading northwest to Eastman and Oak Street heading southeast to Hazlehurst, while US 280/US 319/US 441/SR 30/SR 31 travel through as Third Avenue, crossing US 23/US 341/SR 27 in the center of the city. US 280/SR 30 heads northeast to Vidalia and west to Cordele, while US 319/US 441/SR 31 heads south to the small town of Jacksonville and north to Dublin.
Major railroad lines include the former Macon and Brunswick Railroad, now the Brunswick Division of Norfolk Southern Railway which passes through both former cities, and a former Seaboard Air Line Railroad line now owned by the Georgia Railroad that passed only through Helena. A junction between these lines exists in the former Helena.

Sites of interest

Located in downtown McRae–Helena is Liberty Square, home of a Statue of Liberty replica that is one-twelfth the size of the original. The square is also the site of a replica of the Liberty Bell and a marble memorial to Telfair County residents who died in military service.
On the outskirts of McRae–Helena is the Talmadge Home. This historic home was occupied by two former Georgia governors, Eugene Talmadge and Herman Eugene Talmadge. McRae–Helena was the birthplace of Marion B. Folsom, a longtime executive of the Eastman Kodak Company who served as the United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare during the Eisenhower administration.
Famous railfan photographer William B. Folsom is buried in McRae–Helena.

Education

Telfair County School District

The Telfair County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 112 full-time teachers and over 1,648 students.

Higher education

Demographics

American Community Survey estimates, there were people and households. The population density was. There were housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 41.6% White, 34.0% Black or African American, 10.5% some other race, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, and 0.2% Asian, with 13.5% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 24.6% of the population.
Of the households, 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% had seniors 65 years or older living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 2.1% were couples cohabitating, 18.1% had a male householder with no partner present, and 39.5% had a female householder with no partner present. The median household size was and the median family size was.
The age distribution was 24.5% under 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was years. For every 100 females, there were males.
The median income for a family household was $ and the median income for a non-family household was $. The per capita income was $. Males working full-time jobs had median earnings of $ compared to $ for females. Out of the people with a determined poverty status, 42.1% were below the poverty line. Further, 73.8% of minors and 28.0% of seniors were below the poverty line.
In the survey, residents self-identified with various ethnic ancestries. People of Scotch-Irish descent made up 13.7% of the population of the town, followed by American at 3.1%, English at 3.0%, Irish at 1.8%, and German at 0.9%.

Economy

Major employers in McRae–Helena include: