Fairburn, Georgia

Name

The community is named after Fairburn, in England.

History

Fairburn is located along a railroad line and was the county seat of Campbell County starting in 1871. It was chosen as county seat in a referendum in 1871 that was spurred by the original seat of Campbellton refusing to allow the Atlanta and West Point Railroad line through on account of the anticipated noise in the 1850s. The railroad instead passed through Fairburn. Campbellton then faded away as Fairburn grew. The government of Campbell County went bankrupt in 1931 during the Great Depression and, along with Milton County to the north, was absorbed into Fulton County when 1932 began. Fairburn's population was 305 in 1870, with 208 white and 97 black residents.

Geography

Fairburn is located along Interstate 85, which leads northeast 20 mi to downtown Atlanta and southwest 142 mi to Montgomery, Alabama. Georgia State Route 74 also runs through the city, leading south 13 mi to Peachtree City. Some areas in nearby Fayette County have a Fairburn mailing address.

According to the 2010 census, the city has a total area of 17.1 sqmi, of which 16.9 sqmi is land and 0.2 sqmi, or 1.24%, is water.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,483 people, 5,051 households, and 3,442 families residing in the city.

Education

;K-12 education

• Fulton County Schools serves Fairburn.
• Arlington Christian School is a private school in Fairburn.
• Landmark Christian School is a private school in Fairburn.

;Colleges and universities

• Georgia Military College has a campus located in Fairburn, offering associate degrees.

;Public libraries

• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System operates the Fairburn Branch.

Culture

Fairburn is home to the Georgia Renaissance Festival, in operation during the springtime. The city of Fairburn hosts the popular "Third Friday" concert series annually from April through September. The city also hosts the "Fairburn Fall Festival" each fall, featuring a parade, local food and crafts vendors and musical performances. Both events draw thousands of participants from across the region.

In Popular Culture

Fairburn was referenced in the 1970 song "Good Friends and Neighbors" by country singer Jerry Reed, a Georgia native. The song follows the story of a circuit judge from Monroe, Georgia who has been robbed of his billfold and car by a hitchhiker he picked up near Fairburn. The judge walked from where he was robbed, into Fairburn to see the sheriff, who becomes upset and believes the judge to be intoxicated and has a deputy throw the judge out into the rain. He then sits outside city hall for a time, attempting to hitchhike, before becoming upset that nobody has stopped to help him. The judge then storms into a local restaurant and tells the staff of his story, ending the song thanking the staff for hearing him out and saying "Glad I found one friend, neighbor. Thanks for the coffee."

References

References

1. [https://www.fairburn.com/directory.aspx?eid=47/ Fairburn official web site]. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
2. [https://www.fairburn.com/ Fairburn official web site]. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
3. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
4. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
5. {{GNIS. 2403586
6. "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Fairburn city, Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
7. Krakow, Kenneth K.. (1975). "Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins". Winship Press.
8. "Fairburn".
9. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001), Fairburn city, Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
10. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". [[United States Census Bureau]].
11. (1870). "1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties". [[United States Census Bureau]].
12. (1880). "1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties". [[United States Census Bureau]].
13. (1910). "1910 Census of Population - Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
14. (1930). "1930 Census of Population - Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. (1940). "1940 Census of Population - Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. (1950). "1950 Census of Population - Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. (1960). "1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. (1970). "1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. (1980). "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. (1990). "1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. (2000). "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. (2010). "2010 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
23. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fairburn city, Georgia".
24. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fairburn city, Georgia".
25. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fairburn city, Georgia".
26. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Fulton County, GA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
27. link. (November 12, 2009 ." [[Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System]]. Retrieved on February 24, 2010.)