Hahira is a city in northwest Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,737 at the 2010 census, up from 1,626 at the 2000 census. Hahira has a mayor-council form of elected government. It is led by Mayor Bruce Cain and the four members of the City Council, elected from single-member districts. The city is mentioned in several songs by comedian/songwriter Ray Stevens, most notably the song "Shriner's Convention."
History
According to legend, the town of Hahira was named after a local cotton plantation. The planter was said to have named his estate after a West African village, Hairaairee, which was described to him by an English traveler. According to another version, the name may be derived from Hahiroth, a place mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Hahira in 1891.
Geography
Hahira is located at . U.S. Route 41 passes through the center of town as Church Street, leading north to Cecil and south to Valdosta, the county seat. Interstate 75 passes through the west side of Hahira, with access from Exit 29. I-75 leads north to Tifton and south past Valdosta to Lake City, Florida. State Route 122 is Hahira's Main Street and leads east to Lakeland and west to Pavo. According to the United States Census Bureau, Hahira has a total area of, of which are land and, or 4.00%, are water. Franks Creek runs through the westernmost part of the city and is part of the Little River–Withlachoochee River–Suwannee River watershed, flowing to the Gulf of Mexico.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,626 people, 643 households, and 448 families residing in the city. The population density was 739.4 people per square mile. There were 715 housing units at an average density of 325.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 73.49% White, 22.32% African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 1.97% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.43% of the population. There were 643 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.08. In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.4% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $27,946, and the median income for a family was $37,188. Males had a median income of $27,121 versus $18,981 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,899. About 13.9% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 19.6% of those age 65 or over.
The South Georgia Regional Library operates the Walter R. & Dorothy Salter Hahira Library. Prior to the March 12, 1989 opening of the current library, the city hall housed a library open once per week. After the state government offered a grant for building libraries, the citizens of Hahira were divided between those who wanted a library and those who wanted water infrastructure upgrades. Mayor Walter R. Salter advocated for the construction of a library, and his wife Dorothy donated $30,000 towards the said construction when Salter died in 1984. In 2010 the library received a renovation. done by Cauthan Construction Company, of the outside and inside worth $80,000.
Clothing ordinance
Citing public safety concerns, in March 2008, the Hahira City Council, with a vote by the mayor, passed a clothing ordinance that bans residents from wearing pants that have a top falling below the waist in fit and reveal skin or undergarments. The council was split 2–2, and their tie was broken by the mayor in favor of the ordinance.
Begun in 1981, the Honey Bee Festival is an annual event held during the first week of October. It has become one of the largest festivals in south Georgia, attracting thousands each year, and featuring arts, crafts, a beauty pageant and a parade. It is said that the Honey Bee Festival attracts close to 15,000 visitors.
Great Hahira Pick-In
From the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, Wilby and Gloria Coleman of Valdosta, together with family and friends, sponsored an annual bluegrass festival in Hahira. The Pick-In featured a weekend of bluegrass bands on the mountain stage as well as pickers and grinners in camp sites throughout the city. Citing falling revenues, organizers ended the Pick-Ins in the mid-1990s. In the Fall of 2009, Harvey's Supermarket sponsored a "Great Hahira Pick-In," before building a store on the traditional site of the festival.
