Bainbridge is known for its high density of live oak trees, earning it the nickname "The Oak City." Each historic Landmark Tree is named by the City of Bainbridge Tree Committee, and this tree was dubbed John the Baptist because it once stood on property of the First Baptist Church of Bainbridge. Measuring 9 feet in diameter in 2015, it is the largest oak in Bainbridge, and based on its size it is estimated to have begun as an acorn around the turn of the twentieth century. The City of Bainbridge Tree Committee protects Landmark Trees to promote and protect public health, safety, and the general welfare of the city's citizens, recognizing trees as an economic and environmental asset whose preservation enhances the value, beauty, and viability of Bainbridge and its neighborhoods. Trees on public property are owned in trust by the city for the benefit of all citizens as a city treasure, and they offer shade, reduce air pollution, prevent run-off and erosion, and provide a natural sound barrier.