Quitman, Georgia


Quitman is a city in and the county seat of Brooks County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,064 in 2020. The Quitman Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Quitman was the home of James Pierpont, author of the song "Jingle Bells", and uncle of American financier J.P. Morgan. Pierpont was an organist for the First Presbyterian Church. James' daughter, Lillie, was Quitman's first librarian in 1880.
A local Quitman ordinance prohibits chickens from crossing the road.
It is called "Camellia City", as the tree grows in profusion around the area.

History

Quitman was designated the county seat of the newly formed Brooks County in 1858. It was incorporated as a town in 1859 and as a city in 1904. As the county seat, it was the center of trading in the county, which was devoted to cotton plantations before and after the American Civil War. The community was named for John A. Quitman, a hero of the Mexican–American War.

Geography

Quitman is located in southern Georgia at. U.S. Routes 84 in Georgia|84] and 221 in Georgia|221] pass through the center of the city. US 84 leads west 121 miles to Dothan, Alabama, while US 221 leads south to Greenville, Florida, and to Interstate 10. US 84 and US 221 together lead east to Interstate 75 and to Valdosta.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Quitman has a total area of, of which, or.50%, is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification System, Quitman has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. As of 2023, Quitman is in USDA hardiness zone 9a.

Demographics

RaceNum.Perc.
White98324.19%
Black or African American2,80569.02%
Native American30.07%
Asian300.74%
Pacific Islander20.05%
Other/Mixed1132.78%
Hispanic or Latino1283.15%

As of the 2020 [United States census], there were 4,064 people, 1,476 households, and 836 families residing in the city.

Industry

The prevalent industries in Quitman are farming and automotive.

Education

Schools for Quitman are Quitman Elementary School, Brooks County Middle School, and Brooks County High School.

Media

Radio station WGOV-FM 96.7 is licensed to broadcast from Quitman. The Quitman Free Press, a weekly newspaper, is the official legal publication for Brooks County. It has been in operation since 1876.

Notable people