Macon

by The Linguist

Macon, Georgia is a city located in central Georgia along the Ocmulgee River. It is the county seat of Bibb County and had an estimated population of 153,691 as of 2019 according to the Wikipedia page making it the sixth-largest city in Georgia.

History

Macon was founded in 1823 and was named after statesman Nathaniel Macon. It served as a gathering point for cotton shipment down the Ocmulgee River and quickly became a thriving trading town. During the American Civil War, Macon served as the official arsenal of the Confederacy. It was spared from destruction during the war. The city continued to prosper into the early 20th century but began to decline after World War II. Revitalization efforts began in the late 1990s helped restore many of Macon’s historic buildings and neighborhoods.

Demographics

According to 2019 US Census estimates, Macon had a population of 153,691 residents. The racial makeup of the city was 61.3% African American, 34.6% White, 1.6% Asian, 0.5% Native American, and 2.0% from other races. 4.7% identified as two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 3.2% of the population.

The median age in Macon is 34 years old. 24.9% of residents are under the age of 18 while 12.8% are over the age of 65. For every 100 females in Macon, there are approximately 85.2 males.

Economy and Major Employers

Some of the major employers in Macon include:

  • Navicent Health – Healthcare (5,000 employees)
  • GEICO – Insurance (2,400 employees)
  • Macon-Bibb County Government (1,450 employees)
  • Macon-Bibb County Public School System (3,100 employees)
  • Mercer University (1,175 employees)
  • Graphic Packaging International – Packaging (1,000 employees)

Other major industries in Macon include education, healthcare, manufacturing, insurance, and retail. Some of the major companies headquartered in Macon include The Medical Center, Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and the Coleman Company.

In recent years, Macon has put effort into revitalizing its downtown area by bringing in new retail, restaurants, and housing. This has helped attract young professionals and college students to live in the urban core.

Attractions and Landmarks

Some of the most popular attractions and landmarks in Macon include:

  • Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park – Site of ancient American Indian Macon Plateau culture with temple mounds, artifacts and more.
  • Tubman African American Museum – Museum dedicated to preserving artifacts and stories of African American history and culture.
  • Hay House – Historic antebellum mansion built in the Italian Renaissance style.
  • Georgia State Capitol – Georgia’s state capitol building which housed the state’s government from 1804 to 1868.
  • Sidney Lanier Bridge – Named for poet Sidney Lanier who was born in Macon.

Colleges and Universities

Macon is home to several colleges and universities, the largest being:

These colleges and universities have a major impact on the local economy, employing thousands of people.

Sports

Macon has a minor league baseball team, the Macon Bacon, that plays in the Coastal Plain League. Their home stadium is Luther Williams Field. Previously, Macon was home to a minor league team called the Macon Peaches that played in the South Atlantic League.

One of the most popular major college sports teams in Macon is the Mercer Bears. Mercer University competes at the NCAA Division I level in basketball, baseball, soccer, and other sports.

Government

Macon consolidated with Bibb County in 2013 to form a unified Macon-Bibb County government. The current mayor of Macon-Bibb County is Lester Miller, who was elected in 2020. The city has a mayor-council form of government. Macon City Hall is located downtown.

Some of the major city departments and services include:

Facebook

You can find news and information about events in Macon by following the City of Macon Government Facebook page.