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Swainsboro, Georgia

7 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1957 and the latest in 1988. It stands in the Swainsboro census division. It lies in ZIP code area 30401. The Survey maps it on the Swainsboro quadrangle. 7,425 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 325 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Swainsboro within Emanuel County

On record in Swainsboro

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 3 records

Population over time

2 figures

Swainsboro grew from 7,277 to 7,425 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.

YearPeople Change
20107,277
20207,425+148 (+2%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

6 surveys from 7 printed sheets

Matched 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.

Fires near this place

427 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 427 fires within 5 miles of Swainsboro between 1992 and 2020, burning about 1,057 acres in total. 14 started naturally. 58 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 burning275
Arson/incendiarism58
Equipment and vehicle use34
Misuse of fire by a minor22
Natural14
Recreation and ceremony11
Missing data/not specified/undetermined6
Smoking4
Railroad operations and maintenance3

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
8 September 2017Debris and open burningunder an acreGeorgia Forestry CommissionFY2018-EMANUEL-003
8 September 1997Debris and open burningunder an acreGeorgia Forestry Commissionnot named
7 September 2019Debris and open burning3.0 acresGeorgia Forestry CommissionFY2020EMANUEL008
5 September 1998Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreGeorgia Forestry Commissionnot named
25 September 2008Debris and open burningunder an acreGeorgia Forestry Commissionnot named
25 September 1993Debris and open burning2.2 acresGeorgia Forestry Commissionnot named
24 September 2020Arson/incendiarismunder an acreGeorgia Forestry CommissionFY2021EMANUEL010
21 September 2008Misuse of fire by a minor1.1 acresGeorgia Forestry Commissionnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Emanuel County

Storms near this place

53 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Swainsboro in 53 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 31 thunderstorm wind, 17 hail, 3 flash flood, 1 flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. 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.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 2002LightningSwainsboro$300,000The Forest Blade newspaper of Swainsboro, as well as the Macon Telegraph, and other local media outlets reported that lightning struck several homes and the Hillcrest Baptist Church. The church was completely destroyed by the resulting fire. Damage to the homes was minor to moderate, but the church was completely destroyed. No injuries or deaths occurred with the incidents.
December 2006Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$150,000The Emanuel County Emergency Management Director reported that strong thunderstorm wind gusts blew down 10-12 large pine trees in the Swainsboro area. In addition, the front wall of a brick warehouse was blown down and several plate glass windows were blown out. Nearby, a tree was blown down onto a home and another tree fell on and destroyed a vehicle and a utility building. Several power lines were down in the area and a number of power outages were reported. Finally, the winds were strong enough to blow windows out of several vehicles at a car dealership.
May 2007HailSwainsboro$35,000The public observed golf ball-sized hail about three miles east-northeast of Swainsboro. The Emanuel County Emergency Management Director reported penny-sized hail about 4.5 miles east of Swainsboro. The public reported that nickel-sized hail fell for up to 10 minutes in Twin City.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$30,000Local Swainsboro radio station WXRS along with the Swainsboro newspaper, The Forest Blade, reported extensive wind damage throughout the Swainsboro area. Lots of large trees and power lines were reported to be down. Much of the damage was reported in the Lake Luck area just east of the city, where several large trees were uprooted. Damage was done to the Peebles-Curry-Durden Mortuary when a large tree fell on the structure. Trees were also uprooted at the Coleman House and at the local golf course. In addition, the new Emanuel County Airport welcome sign was blown away and sheared in two by the strong winds and deer stands were scattered and damaged at the Yard Master.
April 1997Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$22,000no account filed
January 2017Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$15,000The Emanuel County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down between downtown Swainsboro and Industrial Way. A large tree fell on power lines near a substation knocking out power to a large portion of Swainsboro.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$6,000Emanuel County EMA reported multiple trees down between US 1 (and Business 1) and Colegrove Drive in Swainsboro.
June 2014Flash FloodSwainsboro$5,000The Emanuel County Emergency Manager reported about 6 inches of measured rain occurred in two hours just east of Swainsboro. Several roads in town including a shopping center parking lot on South Main Street had temporary street flooding and were closed. The heavy rain caused flooding in the basement of the county administrative building in Swainsboro.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$5,000The Emanuel County 911 Center reported that more than a dozen trees were down across the county. Radar velocity data suggests that this mainly occurred in the eastern half of the county.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$5,000The Emanuel county 911 center reported that several trees were blown down on Georgia Highway 57 and other roads on the west side of town. Some roads were temporarily blocked by the downed trees.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$4,500Thunderstorm winds damaged an out building and knocked down several trees. Power lines were snapped by fallen trees in the Cowford Bridge Road area.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$4,000The Emanuel County 911 Center reported that a dozen trees and three power lines were down in the southeast part of the county near Lexsy and Stillmore.
July 2008Flash FloodSwainsboro$3,000The Emanuel County 911 Center reported that rainfall of four to six inches across eastern Emanuel county from near Modoc to southeast of Swainsboro resulted in flooding of Hughes Creek, a tributary of Canoochee Creek, caused flooding of several roads in the area. Canoochee Road was closed when at least a foot of swift moving water was flowing over the road. Georgia Highway 56, just north of Swainsboro, was also closed when at least eight inches of water was flowing over the road. Other roads were flooded in the area from lesser amounts of standing and/or flowing water, including Lambs Bridge Road.
September 1998Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$2,000Emanuel county 911 reported 4 trees downed by thunderstorm winds. One fell on a house.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$2,000Several trees and power lines were knocked down in the areas southeast and east of Swainsboro.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$1,000Tree down over roadway near intersection of Advantage Lane and Canoochee Road.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$1,000Trees down along Old Nunez Road, south of Swainsboro.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$1,000Tree down on elaine drive and mary ann street.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$1,000Tree blown down near the intersection of Empire Hwy and us Hwy 1 byp s.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$1,000Tree down at intersection of Old Wadley Road and J Holder Road.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$1,000A tree was downed on E Pine St at the entrance to Jordan Estates.
January 2021Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$1,000The public reported a tree blown down onto the roadway near the intersection of Fair Ground Road and Longview Road.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$1,000The Emanuel County Emergency Manager reported a tree blown down along Modoc Road near the Swainsboro Raceway.
April 2012Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$1,000The Emanuel County 911 Center and amateur radio operators reported that several trees were blown down between Swainsboro and Summertown. West Morning Street, West Church Street, McGarrh Mill Pond Road, and Lawrence Sherrod Road were all blocked by fallen trees.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$1,000The Emanuel County 911 Center reported that three trees were blown down west of Swainsboro. Several tree limbs were also down in the road.
March 1997Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$1,000no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$500The Emanuel county 911 center reported that two trees were blown down.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$500The Emanuel county 911 center reported that some trees were down.
August 1998Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$500Emanuel county 911 reported several trees down.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$300The public reported that one pine tree was uprooted at the Swainsboro Golf Course. Winds were estimated at 58 mph.
August 1999Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro$200Emanuel county 911 reported a few trees blown down.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro-Tree reported down on a home on the 200 block of N Central St in Swainsboro.
April 2018HailSwainsboro-The Emanuel County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail in Swainsboro.
July 2003Flash FloodSwainsboro-The Emanuel county 911 center reported that several streets were flooded, impassable, and had to be closed.
July 2003HailSwainsboro-The Emanuel county 911 center reported penny-sized hail.
May 2003HailSwainsboro-The Emanuel county 911 center reported nickel-sized hail in Canoochee and the public reported penny to nickel-sized hail in Swainsboro.
July 2002FloodSwainsboro-A local media output indicated there was some street flooding.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro-The Emanuel county 911 center reported that a lone tree was blown down.
July 2002HailSwainsboro-The Emanuel county 911 center reported dime size hail.
May 2000HailSwainsboro-A radio station relayed a report of quarter size hail in Swainsboro.
June 2000HailSwainsboro-The public reported dime size hail.
August 2000HailSwainsboro-A local Swainsboro radio station reported golf ball size hail. The local newspaper reported that dime size hail was widespread in the Swainsboro area.
April 1999HailSwainsboro-Emanuel county 911 reported nickel size hail.
July 1999HailSwainsboro-The public reported dime size hail.
May 1999HailSwainsboro-A radio group reported golfball size hail.
January 1995HailSwainsboro-Hail was reported along U.S. Highway 1.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro-Thunderstorm winds knocked down numerous trees and large limbs down. Power and several traffic lights were out.
July 1999HailSwainsboro-no account filed
April 1998HailSwainsboro-no account filed
June 1997HailSwainsboro-no account filed
June 1994HailSwainsboro-no account filed
May 1993HailSwainsboro-no account filed
April 1993Thunderstorm WindSwainsboro-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Emanuel County

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 PlaceDistance Sheets
Gary2.9 miles7
Modoc4.2 miles8
Old Dellwood5.2 miles8
Dellwood5.8 miles7
Kirby5.9 miles7
Nunez7.4 miles10
Blun7.4 miles8
Wesley7.9 miles10

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 SwainsboroAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q2114103The 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 356574. 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.