Locust Grove, Georgia
| Locust Grove, Georgia, Metro Atlanta | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 Location in Henry County and the state of Georgia |
|
| Coordinates: 33°20′44″N 84°6′18″W / 33.34556°N 84.10500°WCoordinates: 33°20′44″N 84°6′18″W / 33.34556°N 84.10500°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Henry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km2) |
| • Land | 2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 837 ft (255 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 5,402 |
| • Density | 1,055.5/sq mi (407.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 30248 |
| Area code | 770/678/470 |
| FIPS code | 13-47140 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0332253 |
Locust Grove is a city in Henry County, Georgia, United States. The population was 5,402 at the 2010 census. It is one of Atlanta's most southeastern suburbs in the metropolitan area. Some unincorporated communities such as Luella and many rural areas surround Locust Grove, and those communities have Locust Grove postal addresses.
Locust Grove has experienced a growth in population and in businesses coming into the area. In 1900 the population of the city was 254 and is now over 4,000.
The city of Locust Grove derived its name from a grove of locust trees that could be seen throughout the town. Locust Grove was a major rail distribution center for cotton, peaches and other farm products. The city had three cotton gins and several warehouses. In 1870, the first store was built on Main Street. Since that time many new businesses have moved to Locust Grove.
In 1893, the town was incorporated and the papers were officially signed on December 20, 1893. The original city limit extended one mile north and south from the train depot in the heart of town and a half-mile east and west of the railroad. The city government consisted of a mayor and five council members. The first to fill these positions were appointed until elections could take place. The first mayor was M.P. Sowell. Those appointed to the first city council were G.P. Combs, C.M. Mahone, J.L. Garnder, R.C. Brown and W.H. Peek. The first city clerk was C. W. Williams.
The first ordinance passed by council restricted the speed of the trains to 15 miles per hour. There were questions on how to enforce this because the city did not have a police department at that time, but the railroad was notified. The town was reincorporated in 1922, and a new charter was established.
One of Henry County's most important landmark buildings is the Locust Grove Institute (LGI), founded by Locust Grove Baptist Church and Mercer University. In 1894, the first building of the institute was erected, and the school opened its doors on November 1, 1894, with 13 students and two instructors. By the end of the school year, 85 students had been enrolled. LGI grew rapidly and several houses in the community, such as the Combs-McKnight-Morfoot House, were used as boarding housing to help accommodate the growing student population. Locust Grove Institute served a very important purpose and was one of the first schools in Georgia to be accredited by the Association of Schools and Colleges of the Southern States. The curriculum stressed learning in all facets of life, The academic building was constructed in 1904 for a total cost of $14,000. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1906. In 1918, LGI began a military training program for its students. In 1919, the institute transferred all property titles to the Georgia Baptist Convention.
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