The city of Vienna (/vaɪˈɛnə/)[5] is the county seat[6] of Dooly County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,928 in 2020. Vienna is situated on the Flint River. It was established as Berrien in 1826. In 1833, its name was changed to Drayton. In 1841, it was renamed Vienna. Vienna was disincorporated at the time they changed the city's name to Vienna. The present name is after Vienna, in Austria.[7]
History
Vienna was founded in 1826 as the seat of Dooly County as Berrien. Its name was later changed to Drayton. The county seat moved to Drayton (it retained the same name), Georgia along the Flint River (Georgia) in 1836. It was later re-designated county seat in 1841. It was incorporated as a town in 1854 and as a city in 1901.[8]
Geography
Vienna is located in southern Dooly County. U.S. Route 41 passes through the center of town as Third Street, leading north 13 miles (21 km) to Unadilla and south 9 miles (14 km) to Cordele. Interstate 75 passes 2 miles (3 km) east of the center of town (and forms the eastern border of the city), with access from Exits 109 and 112. I-75 leads north 55 miles (89 km) to Macon and south 49 miles (79 km) to Tifton.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Vienna has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km2), of which 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2), or 0.46%, is water.[9]
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Vienna has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[10]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,928 people, 1,492 households, and 1,015 families residing in the city.
Arts and culture
The Big Pig Jig takes place in Vienna. It is the Southeast's largest and Georgia's oldest official barbecue cooking contest. The Big Pig Jig was named to the Discovery Travel Channel's top ten list of "World's Best Barbecue Contests" for four consecutive years (2002–2005).[citation needed]
The Georgia State Cotton Museum is located in Vienna.
Education
The Dooly County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school.[13] The district has 92 full-time teachers and over 1,545 students.[14] The schools are:
Vienna is the birthplace of Georgia governor George Busbee and the late Hollywood film director Vincent Sherman. Another notable person from Vienna is Roger Kingdom, winner of two Olympic gold medals. Florida legislator Perry Earl Murray was born in Vienna.[15]