BlockBlakely, Georgia
8 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1953 and the latest in 1981. It stands in the Blakely census division. It lies in ZIP code area 39823. The Survey maps it on the Blakely North quadrangle. 5,371 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 262 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Blakely
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 4 records
Kolomoki MoundsNational Historic Landmark · listed 1966
Blakely Court Square Historic Districtlisted 2002
Early County Courthouselisted 1980- James And Clara Butler Houselisted 2002
Population over time
2 figuresBlakely grew from 5,068 to 5,371 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 5,068 | |
| 2020 | 5,371 | +303 (+6%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
5 surveys from 8 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1953 USGS Dothan quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1954 USGS Dothan quadrangle1:250000
- 1955 USGS Dothan quadrangle1:250000
- 1973 USGS Blakely North quadrangle1:24000
- 1981 USGS Camilla quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
227 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 227 fires within 5 miles of Blakely between 1992 and 2020, burning about 725 acres in total. 8 started naturally. 16 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 147 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 36 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 16 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 |
| Natural | 8 |
| Smoking | 5 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 3 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 1 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 September 2016 | Debris and open burning | 1.7 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2017-EARLY-006 |
| 30 September 1999 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 30 September 1995 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 29 September 2003 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 26 September 1995 | Arson/incendiarism | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 26 September 1994 | Equipment and vehicle use | 2.6 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 26 September 1994 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 26 September 1994 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Storms near this place
60 of 68 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Blakely in 68 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 49 thunderstorm wind, 10 hail, 6 tornado, 3 flash flood. The reports record 2 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2002 | Tornado (F1) | Blakely | 2 hurt, $750,000 | The tornado crossed the state line from Henry County Alabama into Early County Georgia. Its damage path extended from the Chattahoochee River northeast through Colomokee on U.S. Highway 27. The tornado destroyed one mobile home and damaged thirty others. Two persons were injured when their mobile home collapsed on them. Numerous trees and power lines were down. A state of emergency was declared. Reported by GEMA. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $500,000 | Thunderstorm winds uprooted several trees, downed power lines and utility poles throughout Blakely. About 1200 residents of Blakely were without power form more than five hours. Nearly four inches of rain fell in less than one hour. Thunderstorm winds also downed one large tree that fell and crushed a power boat and automobile. |
| June 2023 | Tornado (EF2) | Blakely | $250,000 | A tornado touched down just east of the intersection of Odom Lane and Cedar Springs Lane south of Blakely. Several snapped pine trees were found, consistent with EF-1 damage. The tornado then crossed Georgia Highway 39 where several large branches were broken off. The top bar of a chain-link fence was pulled out and a wooden fence was also blown down in this area south of Blakely. The tornado then moved eastward, roughly paralleling south of Damascus Street, snapping and uprooting both hardwood and softwood trees. The tornado crossed Waller Road south of Damascus Street, causing significant roof damage to a single-family home as well as uprooting and snapping several trees nearby. A large area of snapped pine trees was spotted south of Damascus Street between Waller Road and Sandy Bottom Road. The tornado then turned slightly to the northeast, crossing the intersection of Damascus Street and Sandy Bottom Road. Here, the damage was consistent with EF-2 intensity. Significant roof damage was done to a single-family home and numerous hardwood and softwood trees were snapped in the area. The tornado continued northeastward toward Giles-Hightower Road near the intersection of Mays Ford Road. A barn's walls collapsed here along with many other snapped and uprooted trees. Tree damage continued to the northeast south of Mays Ford Road, generally consistent with EF-1 damage. More tree damage was observed along Old Damascus Road and Georgia Highway 45. The tornado turned a bit more northeastward and crossed Georgia Highway 216 where more snapped and uprooted trees were found. Another area of EF-2 damage was then observed along Quail Country Road in far northeast Early County. Large sheds were completely destroyed here with large swaths of pine trees snapped. A double-wide manufactured home lost its roof and a couple exterior walls. Damage cost was estimated. |
| June 2003 | Tornado (F1) | Blakely | $125,000 | A tornado touched down near Highway 62, just west of Blakely. The tornado lifted a mobile home off its foundation, destroyed a barn, damaged several homes and uprooted numerous trees. Reported by the Early County Deputy Sheriff. |
| March 2026 | Tornado (EF1) | Blakely | $100,000 | Tornado touched down just east of Old Lucile Road south of Blakely, initially causing damage to oak and pine trees. The tornado flipped a storage shed and damaged a well-constructed farm equipment shelter along Lucile Road. The roof of a business housing several large trucks was severely damaged along Lucile Road as well. The overhead doors in the structure failed, allowing the roof and wall structure to be lifted and flipped over the rest of the building. The highest winds, approximately 95 mph were estimated to have occurred at this location. The tornado continued east-southeast, with a scattered path of damage to trees. The porch of a manufactured home was damaged on Crystal Springs Loop. An adjacent manufactured home was damaged by debris. After another stretch of isolated damage, additional more significant tree damage was observed along Sandy Bottom Road. The tornado appears to have dissipated shortly after crossing Sandy Bottom Road in a heavily wooded area. The overall damage was consistent with an EF-1 tornado with maximum winds of approximately 95 mph. Thanks to Early County Emergency Management for assistance with this assessment. |
| April 1998 | Hail | Blakely | $50,000 | Baseball sized hail damaged 8 to 10 homes in Blakely. |
| December 2007 | Tornado (EF0) | Blakely | $30,000 | A weak tornado touched down near the intersection of County Road 3 and Freeman Road where a house's metal addition was destroyed along with a few uprooted trees. The tornado lifted briefly, then touched down again just south of State Road 39 and destroyed an old shed store. The debris was strewn across the road as the tornado traveled northeast. Before the tornado dissipated, it damaged a mobile home. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $20,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down across the county. The monetary damage figure provided is a rough estimate. |
| September 2004 | Tornado (F0) | Blakely | $20,000 | A tornado touched down near the county jail in Blakely and caused minor damage. Scattered trees and power lines were down. Reported by a HAM radio operator. |
| February 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $5,000 | Wires were blown down with damage to a carport along Arnall Blvd in Blakely. |
| April 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $5,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. |
| January 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $5,000 | A few downed trees reported by the Early County Sheriff. One tree fell on a vehicle on Highway 39. |
| January 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $3,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down along MLK Jr Blvd in Blakely. |
| April 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $3,000 | Multiple trees and power lines were blown down across the city. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $3,000 | A few power lines were blown down along Cedar Springs Road south of Blakely. The monetary damage figure provided is a rough estimate. |
| September 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $3,000 | A few power lines were blown down along Highway 62 West. The monetary damage figure provided is a rough estimate. |
| January 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $2,000 | A power line was blown down on S Main Street. |
| January 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $2,000 | A tree was blown into a power line on Cedar Springs Road. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $2,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down along Chattahoochee Ave. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $2,000 | A tree and a power line were blown down on Liberty Street. |
| April 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $2,000 | Trees were blown down around Blakely. |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $2,000 | Several downed trees and power lines reported by the Early County EMA. |
| April 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $2,000 | no account filed |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $1,000 | A wire was blown down on Church Street. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $1,000 | A wire was blown down on South Main Street. |
| April 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $1,000 | Straight-line winds downed numerous trees near the Early-Calhoun county line. |
| May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $1,000 | A SKYWARN storm spotter reported downed trees along State Road 62. |
| May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $1,000 | Downed trees reported by Early County EMA. |
| January 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $1,000 | no account filed |
| June 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $500 | Several downed trees reported in Blakely. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $500 | The Early County Sheriff reported a few trees down throughout the county. |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | $500 | The Early County Sheriff reported a few trees down along State Highway 39 a few miles north of Lucile. |
| March 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | Numerous trees were blown down in Early county. |
| March 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A tree was blown down along Ric Hall Ln. |
| August 2025 | Flash Flood | Blakely | - | Several roads south of Blakely were flooded with water covering them. |
| January 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | Trees were blown down across Early county. |
| February 2024 | Flash Flood | Blakely | - | Water was reported over roadways in and around Blakely. |
| January 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A tree was blown onto power lines along Lakewood Road. |
| November 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | Two trees were blown down in Early county. |
| June 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A tree was blown down on the North Main Street. |
| April 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | There were multiple trees and power lines blown down around 26256 Highway 39. |
| April 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | Numerous trees were blown down along Highway 39. |
| March 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A tree was blown down and blocked Mays Mill Road. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A tree was blown down in Blakely. |
| November 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A tree was blown down along with pea sized hail reported. |
| April 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | Scattered trees were blown down. |
| March 2019 | Hail | Blakely | - | Quarter size hail was reported at the 911 center at the Early County Sheriff's Office. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | Several trees were blown down across the county. |
| July 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | Trees were blown down across the county. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | Trees were reported down in Blakely. |
| January 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | Trees were blown down throughout Early county, especially in the Blakely and Arlington areas. |
| April 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | Trees were blown down near Blakely. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A tree was blown down onto Tarver Road. |
| June 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A tree was blown down onto Highway 39. |
| June 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A tree was blown down onto Mc Dowell Street. |
| August 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A tree was blown down on N Main Street. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A tree was blown down on Woodlawn Dr. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | A few trees were blown down in Blakely. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blakely | - | Numerous trees were down in and around Blakely. |
| May 2005 | Hail | Blakely | - | The Early County EMA reported golfball size hail on State Road 62. |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Hill (historical) | 3.9 miles | 8 | |
| Luke | 4.4 miles | 9 | |
| Bancroft | 5.6 miles | 8 | |
| McLendon (historical) | 6.1 miles | 8 | |
| Rock Hill | 6.2 miles | 9 | |
| Colomokee | 6.4 miles | 8 | |
| Freeman | 6.9 miles | 9 | |
| Cuba | 7.0 miles | 8 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Blakely | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1934251 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 331185. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.