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Fort Gaines, Georgia Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

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Fort Gaines, established in 1814, is the county seat for Clay County. The city grew up around a fort on the Chattahoochee River established to protect settlers during the Creek Indian Wars.

Fort Gaines is named for the fort’s builder, General Edmund Pendleton Gaines. The city became a shipping point for cotton planters for many miles on both sides of the Chattahoochee River, remaining a key market until about 1858 when railroads replaced river freight.

The courthouse in Clay County was constructed between 1871 and 1873. The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fort Gaines is one of the oldest cities in Georgia and home of the Lake Walter F. George Resort and Marina. The George T. Bagby Park and Lodge is also located on Lake Walter and has recreational facilities for boating, swimming, fishing or picnicking.

There are several reconstructed fort buildings on the site of the original Fort Gaines, and two Civil War gun emplacements. There are also the remains of an 1890s cottonseed oil mill and an early 20th century waterworks.

Located within the Fort Gaines limits are the city’s Historical District and Frontier Village, which includes a cemetery, the large wood carved statue of Creek Indian Chief, and a Civil War cannon.

Population: 1,110. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,059 (-4.6% change)
Males: 466 (42.0%), Females: 644 (58.0%)

Clay County

Zip code: 31751

Demographics

Median resident age: 38.9 years
Median household income: $18,304
Median house value: $50,600

Population by Race

Races in Fort Gaines:

  • Black (67.9%)
  • White Non-Hispanic (30.7%)
  • Hispanic (1.4%)
  • American Indian (0.6%)
  • Two or more races (0.5%)

Ancestries: United States (8.3%), Irish (4.9%), English (4.4%), German (3.1%), French (1.9%), Subsaharan African (1.4%).

Elevation: 240 feet

Land area: 4.8 square miles

Map of Fort Gaines, GA

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Fort Gaines

  • High school or higher: 61.6%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.4%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 4.9%
  • Unemployed: 14.8%
  • Mean travel time to work: 19.0 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Fort Gaines city

  • Never married: 33.4%
  • Now married: 34.8%
  • Separated: 8.0%
  • Widowed: 12.6%
  • Divorced: 11.2%

1.4% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -106 (-8.7%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Fort Gaines:

  • LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 20 miles; EUFAULA, AL)
  • EARLY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 21 miles; BLAKELY, GA)
  • SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR (about 23 miles; CUTHBERT, GA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Fort Gaines:

  • DOTHAN RGNL (about 34 miles; DOTHAN, AL; Abbreviation: DHN)
  • LAWSON AAF (FORT BENNING) (about 50 miles; FORT BENNING(COLUMBUS), GA; Abbreviation: LSF)
  • SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL (about 61 miles; ALBANY, GA; Abbreviation: ABY)

Other public-use airports nearest to Fort Gaines:

  • ABBEVILLE MUNI (about 13 miles; ABBEVILLE, AL; Abbreviation: 0J0)
  • CUTHBERT-RANDOLPH (about 18 miles; CUTHBERT, GA; Abbreviation: 25J)
  • EARLY COUNTY (about 20 miles; BLAKELY, GA; Abbreviation: 11J)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Fort Gaines:

  • GEORGE C WALLACE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE-DOTHAN (about 36 miles; DOTHAN, AL; Full-time enrollment: 2,703)
  • COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 61 miles; COLUMBUS, GA; Full-time enrollment: 3,886)
  • TROY STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 65 miles; TROY, AL; Full-time enrollment: 9,143)
  • ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY (about 66 miles; ALBANY, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,996)
  • TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY (about 73 miles; TUSKEGEE, AL; Full-time enrollment: 2,732)
  • AUBURN UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS (about 75 miles; AUBURN UNIVERSITY, AL; Full-time enrollment: 19,703)
  • AUBURN UNIVERSITY-MONTGOMERY (about 91 miles; MONTGOMERY, AL; Full-time enrollment: 3,677)

Public primary/middle schools in Fort Gaines:

  • CLAY COUNTY ELEMENTARY (Students: 248; Location: 100 HOBBS LANE; Grades: PK – 05)
  • CLAY COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 92; Location: 100 HOBBS LANE; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • WOODALL PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (Location: ASBURY SPEIGHT ST.; Grades: 00 – 00)

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