Thomaston, Georgia

City of Thomaston
City
Thomaston-Upson County Government Administration Complex
Thomaston-Upson County Government Administration Complex
Flag of City of Thomaston
Flag
Official seal of City of Thomaston
Seal
Official logo of City of Thomaston
Logo
Motto: 
"One of the Best 100 Towns"
Location in Upson County and the state of Georgia.
Location in Upson County and the state of Georgia.
Coordinates: 32°54′N 84°20′W / 32.900°N 84.333°W / 32.900; -84.333
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyUpson
Area
 • Total
9.75 sq mi (25.24 km2)
 • Land9.54 sq mi (24.71 km2)
 • Water0.20 sq mi (0.53 km2)
Elevation
784 ft (239 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
9,816
 • Density1,029.1/sq mi (397.32/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30286
Area code706
FIPS code13-76168
GNIS feature ID0324093
WebsiteOfficial City of Thomaston, Georgia Government Website

Thomaston is a city in and the county seat of Upson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 9,816 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Thomaston, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta - Sandy Springs (GA) - Gainesville (GA) - Alabama (partial) CSA.

History

Upson County Courthouse built in 1908 in Thomaston, Georgia.

Thomaston was incorporated on January 1, 1825, and designated as the seat of Upson County. The town was named for General Jett Thomas, an Indian fighter in the War of 1812.

Geography

Thomaston is located near the center of Upson County at 32.90 N, -84.333333 W (32° 54′ 0″ N, 84° 20′ 0″ W). The city is located in the west central Piedmont region of the state.

U.S. Route 19 is the main north–south route through the city, leading north 16 mi (26 km) to Zebulon and south 28 mi (45 km) to Butler. Georgia State Routes 36 and 74 are the main east–west routes through the city. GA-36 leads northeast 17 mi (27 km) to Barnesville and southwest 18 mi (29 km) to Woodland. GA-74 leads east 12 mi (19 km) to Yatesville and northwest 19 mi (31 km) to Woodbury. Atlanta is 60 mi (96 km) to the north and Macon is 46 mi (74 km) to the east.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880570—
18901,181107.2%
19001,71445.1%
19101,645−4.0%
19202,50252.1%
19304,92296.7%
19406,39629.9%
19506,5802.9%
19609,33641.9%
197010,0247.4%
19809,682−3.4%
19909,127−5.7%
20009,4113.1%
20109,170−2.6%
20209,8167.0%
2025 (est.)9,852Increase0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850-1870 1880
1890-1910 1920-1930
1930-1940 1940-1950
1960-1980 1990
2025

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Thomaston had a population of 9,816. The median age was 38.8 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 78.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 73.6 males age 18 and over.

96.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 4,082 households in Thomaston, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 26.9% were married-couple households, 19.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 46.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. As of the 2020 census, there were 1,779 families residing in the city.

There were 4,493 housing units, of which 9.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%.

Thomaston racial composition as of 2020
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 4,899 49.91%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 4,202 42.81%
Native American 21 0.21%
Asian 34 0.35%
Pacific Islander 1 0.01%
Other/Mixed 357 3.64%
Hispanic or Latino 302 3.08%

Arts and culture

National Register of Historic Places

The Upson County courthouse was built in 1908, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Annual events

Thomaston hosts an annual Emancipation Proclamation Celebration each May. It is the nation's oldest and longest running emancipation celebration of its kind.

Parks

Education

Thomaston-Upson County School District

The Thomaston-Upson County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 279 full-time teachers and over 5,009 students.

Colleges and universities

Southern Crescent Technical College is located in Thomaston, and is a two-year technical school.

Notable people

John Brown Gordon by Mathew Brady.

References

  1. ↑ "Official City of Thomaston, Georgia Government Website". Official City of Thomaston, Georgia Government Website. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  2. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  3. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Thomaston". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Profile for Thomaston, Georgia, GA". ePodunk. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Thomaston, GA Census Data". United States Census. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Thomaston". Georgia Gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  9. ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 225. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  10. ↑ "GeoHack - Thomaston, Georgia".
  11. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  12. ↑ "1870 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1870.
  13. ↑ "1880 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1880.
  14. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930.
  15. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930. p. 253.
  16. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1940.
  17. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  18. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  19. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1990.
  20. ↑ Origin= "2025 City and town population estimates: Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau. May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2025. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  21. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  22. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  23. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Thomaston". Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  26. ↑ Georgia Board of Education[permanent dead link], Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  27. ↑ School Stats, Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Thomaston". Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Flint River Campus". Southern Crescent Technical College. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  30. ↑ "FRANKLIN, Scott". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved June 30, 2025.