Lyons, Georgia Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Lyons, Georgia is a small city located in Toombs County in the southeastern part of the state. It has a population of 4,852 people as of 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The city is situated on the banks of the Altamaha River and is surrounded by flat terrain that was once heavily forested but has since been largely cleared for agricultural use.

The climate in Lyons is typically hot and humid during the summer months and mild during winter, with occasional snowfall. The average high temperature in July is around 90 degrees Fahrenheit and average low temperature in January is around 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

The history of Lyons dates back to the early 1800s when it was first settled by Native Americans who had been displaced from their homelands by European settlers. In 1810, a post office was established and soon after, businesses began to rise up around it. By 1850, there were several stores and churches as well as a school and newspaper office all operating within town limits.

Today, Lyons is governed by a mayor-council form of government with an elected mayor and five council members who serve four-year terms. The economy of Lyons is largely based on agriculture with some light industry manufacturing also present in town limits. There are two public schools within city limits: Toombs County Primary School for grades K-2 and Toombs County Middle School for grades 3-8; there are also several private schools located nearby.

As far as landmarks go, Lyons boasts two historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places: East Main Street Historic District which includes many historic homes from the late 19th century; and Water Street Historic District which includes notable buildings such as City Hall (built in 1906), First Baptist Church (built 1914), Stoddard’s Store (built 1891) among others. In addition to these districts there are also other sites such as Old City Cemetery (established 1833) which contains gravesites dating back to pre-Civil War era; Altamaha Park which features walking trails along the riverbank; Gaston Field (home field for Toombs County High School baseball team); and Olliff Park where visitors can enjoy picnicking or fishing along its lakefront setting.

Lyons, the county seat of Toombs County, was incorporated December 9, 1897. The town, referred to as “The Tobacco Center”, was named in honor of a promoter of the Seaboard Railroad that ran through the town’s limits.

The town of Lyons, only five miles from Vidalia, is approximately 15 miles south of Interstate 16. In the U.S. Post Office on North State Street is a New Deal relief, “Wild Duck and Deer” (1942), by the Italian artist Albino Manca.

The Lyons Garden Clubhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lyons participates in the Better Hometown Program run by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. This community development program is a public-private partnership intended to revitalize small communities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000. These cities have access to technical assistance and fiscal resources designed to stimulate downtown revitalization.

Population: 4,169. Estimated population in July 2024: 4,384 (+5.2% change)
Males: 2,002 (48.0%), Females: 2,167 (52.0%)

Toombs County

Zip code: 30436

Demographics

Median resident age: 33.2 years
Median household income: $21,202
Median house value: $50,000

Population by Race

Races in Lyons:

• White Non-Hispanic (52.5%)
• Black (32.4%)
• Hispanic (15.1%)
• Other race (7.2%)
• American Indian (0.6%)
• Two or more races (0.6%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: United States (24.1%), Irish (6.4%), English (2.7%), Scottish (1.5%), Scotch-Irish (1.4%).

Elevation: 224 feet

Land area: 7.5 square miles

Population by Education

Lyons, Georgia is a small town located in Toombs County. As of 2020, the population was estimated to be 2,719. The majority of the population is African American, with over 65% of the population identifying as such. The median age in Lyons is 33.5 years old, slightly lower than the national average. Most of the residents are employed in either retail or hospitality industries, with some residents working in manufacturing and healthcare as well. The median household income is $29,385 and the poverty rate is 28%, which are both higher than the national average. The cost of living in Lyons is relatively low compared to other towns and cities in Georgia, making it an attractive option for those looking for affordable housing options. Education levels in Lyons are also lower than the national average; only 77% of adults over 25 have obtained a high school diploma or higher. Despite this statistic, there are still many opportunities for education within Lyons and its surrounding areas.

For population 25 years and over in Lyons

• High school or higher: 55.3%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.3%
• Graduate or professional degree: 2.9%
• Unemployed: 6.0%
• Mean travel time to work: 19.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Lyons city

• Never married: 27.3%
• Now married: 45.3%
• Separated: 2.4%
• Widowed: 11.1%
• Divorced: 14.0%

7.7% Foreign born (6.5% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: -328 (-7.3%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Lyons:

• MEADOWS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER INC (about 7 miles; VIDALIA, GA)
• TATTNALL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 18 miles; REIDSVILLE, GA)
• CANDLER COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 24 miles; METTER, GA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Lyons:

• SAVANNAH/HILTON HEAD INTERNATIONAL (about 78 miles; SAVANNAH, GA; Abbreviation: SAV)
• HUNTER AAF (about 84 miles; SAVANNAH, GA; Abbreviation: SVN)
• AUGUSTA RGNL AT BUSH FIELD (about 84 miles; AUGUSTA, GA; Abbreviation: AGS)

Other public-use airports nearest to Lyons:

• VIDALIA REGIONAL (about 4 miles; VIDALIA, GA; Abbreviation: VDI)
• REIDSVILLE (about 16 miles; REIDSVILLE, GA; Abbreviation: RVJ)
• TREUTLEN COUNTY (about 20 miles; SOPERTON, GA; Abbreviation: 4J8)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Lyons:

• GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY (about 41 miles; STATESBORO, GA; Full-time enrollment: 12,724)
• ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY (about 79 miles; SAVANNAH, GA; Full-time enrollment: 3,945)
• AUGUSTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 85 miles; AUGUSTA, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,300)
• GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY (about 88 miles; MILLEDGEVILLE, GA; Full-time enrollment: 4,028)
• SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN (about 88 miles; SAVANNAH, GA; Full-time enrollment: 4,565)
• AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 90 miles; AUGUSTA, GA; Full-time enrollment: 3,778)
• MERCER UNIVERSITY (about 102 miles; MACON, GA; Full-time enrollment: 5,859)

Schools

Public high school in Lyons:

• TOOMBS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 727; Location: 600 LYONS CENTER ROAD; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in Lyons:

• ROBERT TOOMBS CHRISTIAN ACAD (Students: 282; Location: PO BOX 227; Grades: PK – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Lyons:

• TOOMBS COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 651; Location: 701 BULLDOG ROAD; Grades: 06 – 08)
• LYONS PRIMARY SCHOOL (Students: 531; Location: 298 NORTH LEXINGTON STREET; Grades: PK – 02)
• TOOMBS CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 458; Location: 6287 U.S. HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH; Grades: PK – 05)
• LYONS UPPER ELEMENTARY (Students: 391; Location: 199 COLLINS ROAD; Grades: 03 – 05)
• CEDARWOOD PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (Location: 191-1 N. LANIER STREET; Grades: 00 – 00)