Happy TravellerWelcome to Statesboro, Georgia, the largest city and county seat of Bulloch County. Located in the southeastern part of the state, Statesboro is a charming city with a rich history, vibrant culture, and friendly locals. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or an outdoor enthusiast, Statesboro has something for everyone. Join us as we explore this hidden gem and discover why it should be on every traveler’s bucket list.
History:
Statesboro was chartered in 1803 as a small trading community providing basic essentials for surrounding cotton plantations. This drove the economy throughout the 19th century, both before and after the American Civil War. In 1906, Statesboro was selected as the home of the First District A&M School, a land grant college that eventually developed into Georgia Southern University. Statesboro inspired the blues song Statesboro Blues, written by Blind Willie McTell in the 1920s, and covered in a well-known version by the Allman Brothers Band. In 2017, Statesboro was selected in the top three of the national Americas Best Communities competition and was named one of nine Georgia live, work, play cities by the Georgia Municipal Association.
Geography:
Statesboro is located in southeastern Georgia along U.S. Routes 80, 25, and 301. The city is mainly flat with a few small hills and is in the coastal plain region, or Low Country, of Georgia. Pine, oak, magnolia, dogwood, palm, sweetgum, and a variety of other trees can be found in the area.
Climate:
Statesboro has a humid subtropical climate, according to the Köppen classification. The city experiences very hot and humid summers with average July highs of about 91 degrees and lows around 70. Winters are mild with average January highs of 58 degrees and lows of 36 degrees.
Demographics:
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 33,438 people, 10,214 households, and 4,569 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 53% White, 39.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.8% Asian,1.6% from other races, and 3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.
Economy:
The economy of Statesboro is based on education, manufacturing, and agribusiness sectors. Georgia Southern University is the largest employer in the city, with 6,700 regional jobs tied directly and indirectly to the campus. Agriculture is responsible for $100 million in annual farm gate revenues. Statesboro is home to multiple manufacturing facilities, including the Statesboro Briggs & Stratton Plant, which is the third-largest employer in the region with 950 employees. GAF, the largest privately owned roofing manufacturer in North America, relocated to Statesboro in the early 21st century.
Arts and Culture:
The culture of Statesboro reflects a blend of both its southern heritage and college town identity. The city has developed a unique culture, common in many college towns, that coexists with the university students in creating an art scene, music scene, and intellectual environment. Statesboro is home to numerous restaurants, bars, live music venues, bookstores, and coffee shops that cater to its creative college town climate. Statesboro’s downtown was named one of eight Renaissance Cities by Georgia Trend magazine. The downtown area is currently undergoing a revitalization. The Old Bank of Statesboro and Georgia Theater have been adapted with renovation for the David H. Averitt Center for the Arts. It houses the Emma Kelly Theater, named after the local singer, known as the Lady of 6,000 Songs. The center also contains art studios, conference rooms, and an exhibition area. Downtown Statesboro has been featured in several motion pictures including Now and Then (1995) as well as 1969. Georgia Southern offers a variety of cultural options available both for the university and the wider community: the Georgia Southern Symphony, the Georgia Southern Planetarium, Georgia Southern Museum, and the Botanical Gardens at Bland Cottage.
Sports:
Georgia Southern University Eagles field 17 varsity teams in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and are members of the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference. Prior to joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2014, the Eagles were members of the Trans America Athletic Conference (presently known as the ASUN Conference) and the Southern Conference. During their time at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS/I-AA) level, the Eagles football team won an unprecedented six national championships. South Georgia Tormenta FC fields a professional
