Who, What, When & Where
City of Thomasville
The City of Thomasville was first incorporated under a charter issued by the General Assembly of the State of Georgia on October 3, 1889.
Under the terms of the City Charter, the legislative authority of the government of the city of Thomasville is vested in a Council composed of five Council members who serve four-year terms, and each may be re-elected to as many terms as the citizens of Thomasville see fit. Two Council members are elected from each of the City’s two districts, and all Thomasville voters elect one Council member at large. Council members are citizen-legislators who do not hold the office of Council member as a full-time position but devote as much time to the performance of their legislative duties as is necessary.
Every two years, the Council elects a Council member to serve as Mayor and a Council member to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for two-year terms – and for a maximum of two terms in succession.
The Mayor presides at all meetings of the City Council, and is considered the head of the City for ceremonial purposes. The Mayor is also considered the official spokesman for the City, and is the chief advocate of policy.
During the absence or disability of the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tem performs the duties of the office of the Mayor.
The Charter of the City of Thomasville Council requires the Council to delegate the responsibility of day-to-day administration of City Government to a City Manager appointed by Council. The City Manager serves at the pleasure of Council as the chief executive officer of the City.
The City Council meets in formal council meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of the month (at 7 p.m.) in Council Chambers at City Hall. The Council also meets in informal workshops. All workshops and meetings are open to the general public in accordance with the Georgia Open Meetings act.
Thomasville Fire Rescue
The City of Thomasville’s first fire department (known as the “Neptunes”) was established as a volunteer organization in December 1866. The Thomasville Fire Department became a career entity by ordinance in 1897. On February 17, 1913, the Thomasville Fire Department’s first motor driven fire apparatus (a Type 10 American La France pumper) was placed in service.
Suppression Division
Today, the department is known as Thomasville Fire Rescue, and employs 43 full-time personnel. Thomasville Fire Rescue has an ISO classification rating of three, and operates from three fire stations located within the City of Thomasville. Thomasville Fire Rescue covers a primary response zone of approximately 100-square miles, and serves all of Thomas County under an automatic mutual aid agreement. The department operates three engine companies, one ladder company and a special response vehicle on a 24-hour basis.
Training Division
All candidates of the Thomasville Fire Rescue must meet state and local regulations prior to employment. New personnel receive 120 hours of initial training prior to emergency response. Personnel must continue training (approximately 150 hours annually) to retain Georgia Firefighter Certification status. Training is provided locally by the Thomasville Fire Rescue Training Division and through the Georgia Fire Academy (located at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center). Instruction is also provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other safety and special response education facilities in the southeast.
Fire Prevention/Inspection Division
The Thomasville Fire Rescue actively pursues fire safety education through various programs. These education programs serve students in public and private school systems, public and private industries and businesses of Thomasville and Thomas County. These education activities strive to increase awareness of fire prevention, fire safety and plan of action for fire involvement.
Thomasville and Thomas County. These education activities strive to increase awareness of fire prevention, fire safety and plan of action for fire involvement. Fire Inspection is also an integral component of fire prevention through the enforcement of fire safety and life safety codes. The communities fire safe future depends upon the proper administration of these programs.
Water Supply
The water supply provided by the City of Thomasville system has a total capacity of about 15 million gallons per day. Average daily consumption is 4.5 million gallons per day. Storage in elevated towers is 1.3 million gallons. The sources, seven deep wells, have a total pumping capacity of more than 12,000 gallons per minute. Thomasville Fire Rescue takes advantage of this supply through a system of more than 1,000 fire hydrants.
Exploding Into the New Millennium
Fiber Optics
In 1995, Thomasville Utilities began construction on the first phase of Community Network Services (CNS), a citywide fiber network. Today, this community owned network provides services to local schools, businesses and thousands of residential customers.
Specifically, CNS provides businesses and educational institutions with high-speed data connections, both to the Internet and to one another. CNS also provides capabilities for Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) at every school within the Thomasville City and the Thomas County School Districts. In addition, the local schools are capable of performing IDL sessions with schools in four surrounding counties. IDL is “teaching and learning through the use of video technology.” Each school is equipped with the highest quality video transport devices and the ability to connect to other schools in local districts as well as other locations across the nation and the world. With this technology, schools in the
Thomasville area can share scarce resources, allowing for the broadest and most comprehensive educational experiences.
Thomasville Utilities recently began a large-scale expansion of the network. The expansion allows Thomasville Utilities to provide state-of-the-art communications – such as high-speed Internet access (Rose.Net Express) and cable television (CNS Television) – to homes and small businesses.
CNS Television offers a wide range of analog and digital services, including DVR (Digital Video Recorder) and HDTV (High Definition Television). Rose.Net Express is high-speed Internet access that uses broadband cable modem technology to deliver speeds in excess of 100 times that of standard dial-up service.
Thomas County
Thomas County has a rich history that spans three centuries and prospered under good, local leadership. Located in southwest Georgia and bordering Florida, the county was formed in 1825 from parts of Irwin and Decatur counties by legislation introduced by Thomas J. Johnson, owner-builder of Pebble Hill Plantation. In 1826, a location was established for the new county seat – Thomasville. The city and county are generally believed to have been named for Major General Jett Thomas, a member of the state militia who fought against the Creek Indians during the War of 1812.
Thomasville, as the county seat, became the center of political, social, economical and religious activities. The 1800s ushered in the railroad, the grand hotel era and Reconstruction.
Today, Thomas County Commissioners meet in the courthouse that was built in 1858 and extensively remodeled in 1889. It is one of the oldest courthouses in Georgia continuously used for court activities.
Eight commissioners are elected by district, and serve staggered four-year terms. The Board chooses a chairman and a vice-chairman during the first meeting of each year.
Thomas County provides the following services: ambulance service, E-911 multi-jurisdictional center, emergency management, solid waste sites, county road maintenance, planning and zoning. Other services and facilities include libraries, recreation, economic development, animal control and senior center. Fire service is provided to the unincorporated residents and funded by fire tax districts.
Thomas County Fire Rescue operates 13 stations. Several are combination volunteer and career departments. Career firefighters and over 100 volunteers provide service for six municipalities and the unincorporated areas of Thomas County.
Emergency Medical Services is the 911 provider for the county. The EMS units are housed at several locations. Fire and rescue both have excellent response records, and participate in advanced training and pilot programs. Their mission is the well-being of every citizen that they serve.
Thomas County includes the municipalities of Barwick, Boston, Meigs, Ochlocknee, Pavo, Metcalf and Thomasville. Many of those who came to this area during the “grand hotel era” bought property and developed the land for multiple uses. The same initiative that lured northern industrialists here in the 19th century is still prevalent today, and the rich heritage continues today as people work to guard and preserve Thomas County.
Thomas County
Government & Services
Thomas County provides the following services countywide:
Ambulance Service, 911 Emergency Communications
Emergency Management, Solid Waste Collection Sites
Maintenance of the County Road System
The following services are provided by contract or interagency agreement:
Libraries, Recreation, Animal Control, Economic Development, Senior Center
Fire service is provided to the unincorporated residents and funded by fire tax districts. Planning, zoning, mobile home regulation and building inspection services are provided to the unincorporated residents and funded by permit fees and user fees.
Eight County Commissioners serve staggered terms of four years, and are elected by district. The Board chooses a chairman and a vice-chairman the first meeting of each year.
Regular Thomas County meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m., and again 13 days later (a Monday) at 6:00 p.m.
Thomas County Communities
Ochlocknee
The word “Ocklockony” has been a part of the language of this area since 1540 when Hernando de Soto recorded that he had crossed a river of this name. Ochlocknee is a river with two branches running into Thomas County. The branches then merge into one stream to flow eventually to the Gulf of Mexico.
Ochlocknee is an incorporated town of approximately 650 people. It is a strong farming and agri-business area.
Ochlocknee is a bedroom community for those working in Thomasville but who wish to live on the riverbanks. If one desires to be a city farmer, this too is an option. One can work in town and farm or raise horses within easy driving distance of your job.
Ochlocknee enjoys a slower rhythm except once a year when thousands attend the annual Old South Day festival to experience the taste of Southern cooking or buy from local craftsmen.
Some citizens of Ochlocknee are retirees who have come home after spending their career years in other places. They say its good to get back home where some things remain the same.
Boston
The original settlement of Boston was the site of a stagecoach stop in 1837. However, to take advantage of the new railroad in 1861, the town was moved to its current location, 10 miles east of Thomasville.
Boston has many historic structures that date to the 1800s, and is possibly the smallest town in the country to have a Carnegie Library, which was built in 1913 and renovated in 1992.
In the early 1990s, interest in revitalizing the town was renewed. Boston now boasts a new post office and fire station. The original railroad depot now houses the regional office for a national agri-business. Several new retail businesses have opened and the entire community is feeling the benefit of the newly completed, award-winning streetscape on Main Street.
Many homes built before the turn of the 20th century have been continually occupied and maintained. Boston has also seen an increase in new home construction to meet this growing demand and a renewed spirit of excitement and anticipation as Bostonians and visitors enjoy the ever-changing landscape of the community.
Two active community clubs organize annual events – including a mini-marathon and festival the last Saturday in October.
Welcome to Boston, Georgia – the second largest Boston in the United States!
Barwick
This small hamlet of almost 500 is mainly an agricultural community that ships produce and leafy vegetables to U.S. markets.
However, this rural area is attracting many new residents who enjoy the diversity of the area. Barwick is a community of unique personalities who work together and look for opportunities to serve.
Olin Pope has been making syrup the old-fashioned way for over 50 years. After Thanksgiving, he welcomes visitors who don’t want to miss a single stir in the old syrup kettle. Mayor Thad Selman was with the original Army Parachute Test Platoon at Fort Benning, Georgia and made the first official jump in 1940. Jack and Fran Miller own a business that’s all about horsin’ around. He is a farrier for the plantations, and is known for his expert shoeing services.
You are invited to take the short drive from Thomasville, look around and meet the people.
Pavo
Pavo has a diverse population of just under 750 people, and is served by a Mayor and five council members. You can get anything from soup to nuts at the local stores, or shop in nearby larger towns. Yes, we have the best of the small-town atmosphere centrally located.
The old Pavo school served as a high school and then as elementary school until 1993 – at which time it was closed and eventually turned over to the City to be used as a community center. The Pavo Civic Club took on the responsibility of managing the center. The cafeteria and auditorium can be rented for family reunions and other events.
The Civic Club sponsors Peacock Day the second Saturday in May. It is like a big homecoming celebration when you see friends and neighbors. Take the 20 minute drive from Thomasville, and enjoy the countryside.
City of Coolidge
In 1897, railroad fever was at its peak in Thomas County. Land was acquired to build a railroad town. Bill Miller established a sawmill and with the promise of land to anyone who would help clear timber, a small village was created. A story circulated that if the town was named after the president of the railway, Mr. Coolidge, that he would build a sugar refining mill. In 1901, the city was chartered, but never got the mill.
With shipping to market readily available by rail, residents were encouraged to produce vegetables and other commodities – including cotton, tobacco, peanuts, watermelons,livestock and sugar cane.
Today, Coolidge (with a population of just over 500) can boast of several large industries. In 1971, Gene Hurst moved his small boiler service company from Thomasville into the county. Years of hard work have transformed a small service center into the fourth largest boiler company in the world. Hurst Boiler & Welding Co., Inc. has almost 300 employees.
In 1987, Atlanta-based entrepreneur Mr. Charles Loudermilk built the first MacTavish Industries furniture manufacturing plant. Since that time, three more plants and a furniture showroom have been added. Coolidge also has a variety of other businesses, public library and recreational facilities.
Meigs
Meigs was incorporated in 1889, and was a thriving community of several hundred people. Agriculture, turpentine farms, a saw mill, cotton gin and the railroad gave a boost to the local economy. Like many smaller communities, life changed over the next 100 years for the thriving downtown as people and products were able to be more mobile. However, the citizens continue to support their community, and give back by volunteering and participating in local organizations.
In 1979, a Mennonite family moved to the area, and was later joined by other families. As a group, they are recognized in South Georgia and North Florida for their excellent craftsmanship. Annually, they hold a sale and auction of handmade quilts, baked goods and other items.
Mettcalfe
Metcalfe was created by the railroad. The community was named for Dr. John T. Metcalf, a New Yorker who spent his vacation in Thomas County and was a tireless promoter of the area’s advantages. It was incorporated in October 1889, the same month the train rolled into town.
Another example of historic preservation in Thomas County occurred in this tiny hamlet. Local citizens feared that their railroad depot would be moved or torn down. Ultimately, a local lumber company purchased the neglected gem, and restored it to its original appearance during the late 19th century. Architectural historians say that the building is one of the few remaining examples of Victorian railroad depots left in Georgia. By salvaging the historic structure, the town was proclaimed an official historic district, and the depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
