Dudley, Georgia

Dudley had its start in 1891 when the railroad was extended to that point.[6] The city was named for Senator Dudley Mays Hughes.[7]

Dudley is located in western Laurens County at 32°32′18″N 83°4′34″W (32.538345, -83.076179).[8] U.S. Route 80 passes just north of the center of town, leading east 10 miles (16 km) to Dublin, the county seat, and west 5 miles (8 km) to Montrose. Interstate 16 passes through the south end of the city, with access from Exit 42. I-16 leads northwest 40 miles (64 km) to Macon and east 125 miles (201 km) to Savannah.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Dudley has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.9 km²), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²), or 0.38%, are water.[9] The north side of the town drains to Turkey Creek, an east-flowing tributary of the Oconee River, and the south side drains via Little Rocky Creek to Rocky Creek, a tributary of Turkey Creek.

Northwest Laurens Elementary School, a part of Laurens County Schools, is located in Dudley.

Dudley offers a membership community center complete with in-ground pool and tennis courts.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 447 people, 189 households, and 130 families residing in the city. The population density was 143.5 people per square mile (55.3/km²). There were 207 housing units at an average density of 66.4 per square mile (25.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.79% White, 13.65% African American, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.22% of the population.

There were 189 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,442, and the median income for a family was $48,750. Males had a median income of $40,893 versus $26,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,803. About 11.5% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.