McRae-Helena, Georgia

McRae-Helena
City
City of McRae-Helena
Downtown McRae-Helena, Georgia
Seal
Nickname(s): The Purple Heart City
Motto: The Crossroads City
McRae-Helena Location in Georgia
Coordinates: 32°04′10″N 82°54′10″W / 32.06944°N 82.90278°WCoordinates: 32°04′10″N 82°54′10″W / 32.06944°N 82.90278°W
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Telfair, Wheeler
Government
• Mayor	Mike Young
Population (2015)
• Total	8,745
ZIP code	31055
Area code(s)	229
Website	mcrae-helena.org

The city of McRae-Helena, in the U.S. state of Georgia, was formed on January 1, 2015, when the two cities of McRae and Helena were merged. McRae-Helena is the County seat of Telfair County, Georgia.

It is largest city in Telfair County, Georgia with an estimated population of 8,745 in 2015. This includes the population held as inmates at McRae Correctional Institution. In downtown McRae-Helena is a small replica of the Statue of Liberty, a small replica of the Liberty Bell, and a marble memorial to Telfair County residents who died in military service.

History

On January 1, 2015, McRae and the adjacent town of Helena merged to form McRae-Helena.

Geography

McRae-Helena City Limits Sign

McRae-Helena is located in northern Telfair County at 32°3′52″N 82°53′54″W / 32.06444°N 82.89833°W (32.064508, -82.898251).

Several U.S. highways pass through McRae-Helena Area. U.S. Routes 23 and 341 pass through the city as Oak Street, leading northwest 20 miles (32 km) to Eastman and southeast 24 miles (39 km) to Hazlehurst, while U.S. Routes 280, 319, and 441 pass through as Third Avenue, crossing US 23/341 in the center of town. US 280 leads northeast 33 miles (53 km) to Vidalia and west 55 miles (89 km) to Cordele, while US 319/441 leads south 19 miles (31 km) to the small town of Jacksonville and north 35 miles (56 km) to Dublin.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), of which 4.3 square miles (11.2 km²) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km²), or 1.77%, is water.^[1] The Little Ocmulgee River flows just northeast of the city limits.

Sites of interest

Located in downtown McRae-Helena is Liberty Square, home of a Statue of Liberty replica that is one-twelfth the size of the original. It has a replica of the Liberty Bell and a marble memorial to Telfair County residents who died in military service.

On the outskirts of McRae-Helena is the Talmadge Home. This historic home was occupied by two former Georgia governors, Eugene Talmadge and Herman Eugene Talmadge. McRae-Helena was also the birthplace of Marion B. Folsom (1893–1976), a longtime executive of the Eastman Kodak Company who served as the United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare during the Eisenhower administration.

Famous railfan photographer William B. Folsom is buried in McRae-Helena.

Education

Telfair County School District

The Telfair County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school.^[2] The district has 112 full-time teachers and over 1,648 students.^[3]

• Telfair County Elementary School
• Telfair County Middle School
• Telfair County High School

Higher education

• Heart of Georgia Technical College - McRae-Helena Campus^[4]

Demographics

In 2015 it was estimated there were 8754 people included the population held as inmates at McRae Correctional Institution residing in the city.

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
Est. 2015	8,745

References

2. Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved June 27, 2010.
3. School Stats, Retrieved June 27, 2010.
4. Heart of Georgia Technical College, retrieved June 4, 2010.