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
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
James Coleman Houselisted 1992
Emanuel County Courthouse and Sheriff Departmentlisted 1995
Swainsboro Light and Water Plantlisted 2004
Population over time
2 figuresSwainsboro 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.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 7,277 | |
| 2020 | 7,425 | +148 (+2%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
6 surveys from 7 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.
- 1957 USGS Macon quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Macon quadrangle1:250000
- 1964 USGS Macon quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1971 USGS Swainsboro quadrangle1:24000
- 1981 USGS Dublin quadrangle1:100000
- 1988 USGS Macon quadrangle1:250000
Fires near this place
427 since 1992Regional 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 burning | 275 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 58 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 34 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 22 |
| Natural | 14 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 11 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 6 |
| Smoking | 4 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 3 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 2017 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2018-EMANUEL-003 |
| 8 September 1997 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 7 September 2019 | Debris and open burning | 3.0 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2020EMANUEL008 |
| 5 September 1998 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 25 September 2008 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 25 September 1993 | Debris and open burning | 2.2 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 24 September 2020 | Arson/incendiarism | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2021EMANUEL010 |
| 21 September 2008 | Misuse of fire by a minor | 1.1 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Storms near this place
53 since 1993Regional 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.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2002 | Lightning | Swainsboro | $300,000 | The 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 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $150,000 | The 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 2007 | Hail | Swainsboro | $35,000 | The 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 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $30,000 | Local 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 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $22,000 | no account filed |
| January 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $15,000 | The 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 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $6,000 | Emanuel County EMA reported multiple trees down between US 1 (and Business 1) and Colegrove Drive in Swainsboro. |
| June 2014 | Flash Flood | Swainsboro | $5,000 | The 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 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $5,000 | The 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 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $5,000 | The 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 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $4,500 | Thunderstorm winds damaged an out building and knocked down several trees. Power lines were snapped by fallen trees in the Cowford Bridge Road area. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $4,000 | The 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 2008 | Flash Flood | Swainsboro | $3,000 | The 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 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $2,000 | Emanuel county 911 reported 4 trees downed by thunderstorm winds. One fell on a house. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $2,000 | Several trees and power lines were knocked down in the areas southeast and east of Swainsboro. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $1,000 | Tree down over roadway near intersection of Advantage Lane and Canoochee Road. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $1,000 | Trees down along Old Nunez Road, south of Swainsboro. |
| August 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $1,000 | Tree down on elaine drive and mary ann street. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $1,000 | Tree blown down near the intersection of Empire Hwy and us Hwy 1 byp s. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $1,000 | Tree down at intersection of Old Wadley Road and J Holder Road. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $1,000 | A tree was downed on E Pine St at the entrance to Jordan Estates. |
| January 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $1,000 | The public reported a tree blown down onto the roadway near the intersection of Fair Ground Road and Longview Road. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $1,000 | The Emanuel County Emergency Manager reported a tree blown down along Modoc Road near the Swainsboro Raceway. |
| April 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $1,000 | The 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 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $1,000 | The Emanuel County 911 Center reported that three trees were blown down west of Swainsboro. Several tree limbs were also down in the road. |
| March 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $1,000 | no account filed |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $500 | The Emanuel county 911 center reported that two trees were blown down. |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $500 | The Emanuel county 911 center reported that some trees were down. |
| August 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $500 | Emanuel county 911 reported several trees down. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $300 | The public reported that one pine tree was uprooted at the Swainsboro Golf Course. Winds were estimated at 58 mph. |
| August 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | $200 | Emanuel county 911 reported a few trees blown down. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | - | Tree reported down on a home on the 200 block of N Central St in Swainsboro. |
| April 2018 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | The Emanuel County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail in Swainsboro. |
| July 2003 | Flash Flood | Swainsboro | - | The Emanuel county 911 center reported that several streets were flooded, impassable, and had to be closed. |
| July 2003 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | The Emanuel county 911 center reported penny-sized hail. |
| May 2003 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | The Emanuel county 911 center reported nickel-sized hail in Canoochee and the public reported penny to nickel-sized hail in Swainsboro. |
| July 2002 | Flood | Swainsboro | - | A local media output indicated there was some street flooding. |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | - | The Emanuel county 911 center reported that a lone tree was blown down. |
| July 2002 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | The Emanuel county 911 center reported dime size hail. |
| May 2000 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | A radio station relayed a report of quarter size hail in Swainsboro. |
| June 2000 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | The public reported dime size hail. |
| August 2000 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | 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 1999 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | Emanuel county 911 reported nickel size hail. |
| July 1999 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | The public reported dime size hail. |
| May 1999 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | A radio group reported golfball size hail. |
| January 1995 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | Hail was reported along U.S. Highway 1. |
| May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | - | Thunderstorm winds knocked down numerous trees and large limbs down. Power and several traffic lights were out. |
| July 1999 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | no account filed |
| April 1998 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | no account filed |
| June 1994 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | no account filed |
| May 1993 | Hail | Swainsboro | - | no account filed |
| April 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Swainsboro | - | no account filed |
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.
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 Swainsboro | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q2114103 | 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 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.





