Moving to Harlem, Georgia

Harlem, located in Columbia County, was incorporated as a village in October 24, 1870. The city is said to be named by a New York resident visiting relatives who thought the town resembled Harlem, N.Y., the elite artistic area near New York City.

When the Georgia Railroad was built from Augusta to Eatonton, Ga., in 1835, the community of Saw Dust was a main stop. The booming lumber town was situated a mile from where Harlem is today. Travelers often stayed overnight in the town, which sold liquor and bore a reputation of being a little wild. Saw Dust was absorbed by Harlem in 1887.

The city is the birthplace of Oliver Hardy, the film comedian, and it hosts the Oliver Hardy Festival the first Saturday of every October. This festival is a local success and provides global recognition for Harlem.

Also, Harlem hosts the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and the Christmas Parade.

Population: 1,814. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,818 (+0.2% change)
Males: 808 (44.5%), Females: 1,006 (55.5%)

Columbia County

Zip code: 30814

Demographics

Median resident age: 33.6 years
Median household income: $30,500
Median house value: $76,300

Population by Race

Races in Harlem:

• White Non-Hispanic (70.0%)
• Black (25.4%)
• Hispanic (2.3%)
• Two or more races (1.3%)
• Other race (1.1%)
• American Indian (0.7%)

Ancestries: United States (26.7%), German (7.4%), English (5.7%), Irish (4.1%), Scotch-Irish (1.9%), Italian (1.6%).

Elevation: 540 feet

Land area: 2.5 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Harlem

• High school or higher: 76.5%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.1%
• Graduate or professional degree: 1.6%
• Unemployed: 4.3%
• Mean travel time to work: 25.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Harlem city

• Never married: 22.9%
• Now married: 51.2%
• Separated: 3.7%
• Widowed: 8.8%
• Divorced: 13.4%

3.0% Foreign born (1.2% Europe, 0.9% Latin America, 0.8% Asia).

Population change in the 1990s: -480 (-20.9%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Harlem:

• MCDUFFIE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 15 miles; THOMSON, GA)
• MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GA HOSPIT&CLINICS (about 16 miles; AUGUSTA, GA)
• UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL (about 16 miles; AUGUSTA, GA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Harlem:

• AUGUSTA RGNL AT BUSH FIELD (about 26 miles; AUGUSTA, GA; Abbreviation: AGS)
• ATHENS/BEN EPPS (about 78 miles; ATHENS, GA; Abbreviation: AHN)
• ANDERSON RGNL (about 78 miles; ANDERSON, SC; Abbreviation: AND)

Other public-use airports nearest to Harlem:

• WRENS MEMORIAL (about 15 miles; WRENS, GA; Abbreviation: 65J)
• THOMSON-MCDUFFIE COUNTY (about 15 miles; THOMSON, GA; Abbreviation: HQU)
• DANIEL FIELD (about 20 miles; AUGUSTA, GA; Abbreviation: DNL)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Harlem:

• AUGUSTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 21 miles; AUGUSTA, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,300)
• AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 22 miles; AUGUSTA, GA; Full-time enrollment: 3,778)
• UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT AIKEN (about 43 miles; AIKEN, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,636)
• PIEDMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 53 miles; GREENWOOD, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,406)
• LANDER UNIVERSITY (about 57 miles; Greenwood, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,429)
• GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY (about 68 miles; MILLEDGEVILLE, GA; Full-time enrollment: 4,028)
• GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY (about 78 miles; STATESBORO, GA; Full-time enrollment: 12,724)

Schools

Public high school in Harlem:

• HARLEM HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,040; Location: 1070 APPLING-HARLEM ROAD; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Harlem:

• NORTH HARLEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 572; Location: 525 FAIRVIEW DRIVE; Grades: PK – 05)
• HARLEM MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 416; Location: 375 WEST FORREST STREET; Grades: 06 – 08)