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Cordele, GA

Frequently asked questions

Cordele, GA

Cordele is a city in and the county seat of Crisp County, Georgia. The population was 11,165 at the 2010 census, and 10,220 in 2020. Cordele calls itself the watermelon capital of the world. 

Cordele was incorporated on January 1, 1888, and named for Cordelia Hawkins, eldest daughter of Colonel Samuel Hawkins, the president of the Savannah, Americus and Montgomery Railway.

In November 1864, the area that is now Cordele served as the temporary capital of Georgia. During the last days of the Confederacy, Georgia's war governor Joseph E. Brown used his rural farmhouse to escape the wrath of Sherman's March to the Sea. During that time, the farmhouse, which Brown called "Dooly County Place," served as the official capital for only a few days. It was replaced in 1890 by the Suwanee Hotel, located in what became downtown Cordele. The hotel was destroyed by a fire in late 1994 and was rebuilt.

Cordele was founded in 1888 by J.E.D. Shipp of Americus. The town was located at the junction of two major railroads – the Savannah, Americus & Montgomery line, and the Georgia Southern & Florida. As the railroads brought more people and business to the newly settled territory, Cordele experienced phenomenal growth. Before 1905 Cordele was located in southern Dooly County, 9 miles (14 km) from the county seat in Vienna.

Cordele is located north of the center of Crisp County at 31°57′51″N 83°46′38″W (31.964178, -83.777277). U.S. Route 41 passes through the city as Seventh Street and leads north 9 miles (14 km) to Vienna and south 20 miles (32 km) to Ashburn. U.S. Route 280 (16th Avenue) crosses US 41 in the center of the city and leads east 29 miles (47 km) to Abbeville and west 31 miles (50 km) to Americus. Interstate 75 passes through the east side of the city, with access from exits 99, 101, and 102, and leads 65 miles (105 km) north to Macon and 103 miles (166 km) south to the Florida state line. State Route 300 leads from the south side of the city 37 miles (60 km) southwest to Albany.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Cordele has a total area of 10.2 square miles (26.5 km²), of which 10.2 square miles (26.3 km²) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km²), or 0.82%, is water.

Cordele places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Cordele is also home to medical facilities like Crisp Regional Health Services, ensuring that residents have access to quality healthcare services. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy boating and fishing at Lake Blackshear, a serene location for engaging with nature. Georgia Veterans State Park provides numerous recreational opportunities, including hiking and picnicking. Effingham YMCA offers comprehensive health and wellness services, including swimming, gym facilities, and wellness coaching. Flourish Acupuncture & Healing Arts provides traditional Chinese medicine treatments to balance your body’s energy. The Planet Fitness is a great option for affordable gym memberships and fitness training. For fitness, Destiny Fitness of Cordele has excellent facilities and personalized training programs.

Top sites in Cordele, GA include Cordele Railway Park, Pine Hills Country Club, and Georgia Veterans Memorial Golf Course.

Population: 10,826 (2021). Elevation: 339 ft (103 m). Area: 10.51 sq mi (27.21 km²). ZIP Code: 31015. Area code(s): 229.

FAQs

What is Cordele, GA famous for?

Primarily an agricultural community of South Central Georgia, Cordele is known as the “Watermelon Capital of the World” and if you ever taste our home-grown melons, you’ll understand why!  Other major crops grown in the area are cotton, peanuts, and pecans.  We have a State Farmer’s Market that caters to our local farming vendors and has some of the best-tasting fruits and vegetables to be found.

What is the race population in Cordele, GA?

Cordele is a city located in Crisp County, Dooly County, and Wilcox County Georgia. Cordele has a 2024 population of 9,655. It is also the county seat of Crisp County. Cordele is currently declining at a rate of -1.32% annually and its population has decreased by -5.09% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 10,173 in 2020. According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Cordele was: Black or African American: 69.73%, White: 28.86%, Other race: 0.91%, Two or more races: 0.44%, Native American: 0.04%, Asian: 0.02%, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%

What is the crime rate in Cordele, GA?

With a crime rate of 65 per one thousand residents, Cordele has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 15. Within Georgia, more than 99% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Cordele. Separately, it is always interesting and important to compare a city's crime rate with those of similarly sized communities - a fair comparison as larger cities tend to have more crime. NeighborhoodScout has done just that. With a population of 9,914, Cordele has a combined rate of violent and property crime that is very high compared to other places of similar population size.

Sources

City of Cordele

Wikipedia

World Population Review

Neighborhood Scout

Cordele Railway Park

Pine Hills Country Club

Georgia Veterans Memorial Golf Course

Crisp Regional Health Services

Lake Blackshear

Georgia Veterans State Park

Destiny Fitness of Cordele

Effingham YMCA

Flourish Acupuncture & Healing Arts

Planet Fitness

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