Manchester is a town in Meriwether and Talbot counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, although primarily in Meriwether. The population was 3,584 at the 2020 census, down from 4,230 in 2010. It is the most populous community in Meriwether County. CSX Transportation runs a railroad yard in Manchester.

History

Manchester was founded in 1907, when the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railway was extended northward to that point; it was merged into the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1946. From Manchester the railroad diverged, with one line going to Atlanta and another to Birmingham. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Manchester as a city in 1909. The city was named after Manchester, England. In 2019, CSX Transportation demolished the historic Manchester Yard Office in order to make way for a new, larger, yard facilities building.

Geography

Manchester is in west central Georgia, in southern Meriwether County, with a small portion extending south into Talbot County. The ridge of Pine Mountain runs along the southern edge of the city, rising 300 ft above the city to an elevation of 1180 ft above sea level. Georgia State Route 85 is the main highway through the city, leading southwest 39 mi to Columbus and north 10 mi to Woodbury. Georgia 85 meets Georgia 190 in the southern part of the city, which leads west 16 mi along the crest of Pine Mountain to U.S. Route 27 south of the town of Pine Mountain. Georgia 85 meets Georgia 41 in the center of Manchester, which leads southeast 6 mi to Woodland and northwest 5 mi to Warm Springs. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Manchester has a total area of 8.0 sqmi, of which 0.04 sqmi, or 0.45%, are water. Pigeon Creek runs along the northern border of the city and flows east to the Flint River.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,584 people, 1,494 households, and 1,056 families residing in the city. Circa 2022 Manchester had 4,230 people. 4,118 of them were in Meriwether County and 112 of them were in Talbot County.

Education

Residents in Meriwether County are in the Meriwether County School District. Residents in Talbot County are in the Talbot County School District.

Notable people