Byron, Georgia Explained

Official Name:Byron, Georgia
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Name:United States
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:22.77
Area Land Km2:22.70
Area Water Km2:0.06
Area Total Sq Mi:8.79
Area Land Sq Mi:8.77
Area Water Sq Mi:0.02
Population Total:5702
Population Density Km2:251.15
Population Density Sq Mi:650.47
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:32.6489°N -83.7556°W
Elevation M:155
Elevation Ft:509
Postal Code:31008
Blank Info:13-12260[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0354930[3]

Byron is a city located primarily in Peach County, Georgia, United States. A small portion of the city also extends into parts of Houston and Crawford counties. The population was estimated to be 5,149 in 2019 by the Census Bureau,[4] an increasing of 14.1% from 4,512 at the 2010 census.[5] The city is in the Warner Robins metropolitan statistical area.

Byron was home to the Middle Georgia Raceway, an auto racetrack that hosted NASCAR races and the filming of TV commercials and a feature movie. From July 3–5, 1970, in a field next to the raceway, the Atlanta International Pop Festival was held, which was the largest gathering in Georgia history until the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.[6] On September 15, 2012, an official Georgia Historical Society marker was placed near the raceway site to commemorate the festival.[7]

History

The community was named after Lord Byron, the British Romantic poet.[8] A former variant name was "Jackson", but the name was changed in order to avoid repetition with the Jackson in Butts County.[9] The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the place as the "Town of Byron" in 1874.[10]

Geography

Byron is located in the northeast corner of Peach County at 32.6489°N -83.7556°W (32.648908, -83.755640),[11] near the geographic center of Georgia. Interstate 75 passes through the eastern side of the city, with access from Exits 146 and 149 (Georgia State Route 49). Byron is south of Atlanta, south of Macon, and northeast of the Peach County seat of Fort Valley.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.4km2, of which 0.06km2, or 0.28%, are water.[5]

Demographics

Byron racial composition as of 2020[12] !Race!Num.!Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)3,05653.6%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)2,05536.04%
Native American120.21%
Asian841.47%
Pacific Islander10.02%
Other/Mixed2374.16%
Hispanic or Latino2574.51%
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,702 people, 2,198 households, and 1,588 families residing in the city.

Arts and culture

The city hosts the Battle of Byron, an annual charity fundraiser.[13]

References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. December 18, 2021.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .
  3. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  4. Web site: Explore Census Data. 2021-04-27. data.census.gov.
  5. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Byron city, Georgia. U.S. Census Bureau. American Factfinder. May 18, 2017.
  6. Web site: Alex Cooley Presents: The 2nd Atlanta International Pop Festival.
  7. Kulkosky, Victor. (2012-09-19). "Byron Pop Festival Gets Historic Marker". The Leader Tribune, Peach County, GA.
  8. Web site: Peach County . New Georgia Encyclopedia . 4 April 2018.
  9. Book: Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins . Winship Press . Krakow, Kenneth K. . 1975 . Macon, GA . 30 . 0-915430-00-2.
  10. Book: Bulletin of the New York Public Library. New York Public Library.. 1912. 676.
  11. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  12. Web site: Explore Census Data. 2021-12-18. data.census.gov.
  13. Web site: The Battle of Byron . City of Byron . 4 April 2018.

External links