Summerville, Georgia

Climate

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Summerville had a population of 4,435, and there were 997 families residing in the city. The median age was 42.9 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 83.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 78.4 males age 18 and over.^[14][15]

99.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.2% lived in rural areas.^[16]

There were 1,851 households in Summerville, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 28.8% were married-couple households, 21.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 42.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[14]

There were 2,111 housing units, of which 12.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%.^[14]

2000 census

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 4,556 people, 1,823 households, and 1,141 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,144.3 inhabitants per square mile (441.8/km²). There were 2,092 housing units at an average density of 525.4 per square mile (202.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.06% White, 25.31% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.90% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.58% of the population.

There were 1,823 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,911, and the median income for a family was $35,579. Males had a median income of $26,707 versus $20,222 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,090. About 18.1% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.

History and influence on Summerville

The organization's founder, John Charles Turner, is a retired teacher who taught art at Chattooga High School. He was the advisor of the school's Rotary Interact Club where the World Friendship Flag was created. The flag was designed by Howard Finster, an artist who also resided in Summerville.^[21][22]

The flag was shown at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Brody Malone, a gymnast from Summerville, competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and was given a signed World Friendship Flag.^[23]

In 2021, Summerville began the annual Friendship Festival, which occurs in Dowdy Park on the last Saturday in July. Preceding the event is Friendship Week, a week-long event with activities intended to promote community engagement.^[24][25] Summerville has branded itself as the "friendship capital of the world."^[26][27]

In 2023, a pocket park known as the World Friendship Pocket Park was completed in Summerville. The park was funded by a "Buy a Brick" fundraiser which allowed people to purchase engraved bricks to be displayed in the park.^[28] In the center of the park is the "Solid Rock of World Friendship," a commemorative rock for the World Friendship Flag Project.^[29]