Charlton County is a county in Georgia, United States, on the Florida state line at the southern edge of the Okefenokee Swamp. It had a population of 12,518 at the 2020 census and covers 774 square miles (2,000 km2) of land, centred near 30°47′N 82°08′W.
Folkston is the county seat, and its postal code is 31537. The county has 2 incorporated cities and roughly 21 unincorporated communities, no civil townships, and sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Charlton County
Charlton County has 23 named places on record: 2 incorporated cities and about 21 unincorporated communities and rail sidings scattered through the pine flatwoods and swamp margins. “Unincorp.” below means the place has no city government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkston | City · seat | 4,464 | 31537 |
| Homeland | City | 886 | 31537 |
| Saint George | Unincorp. | — | 31562 |
| Boggy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clarking | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cypress Siding | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ferry Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Layton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mattox | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McLeods Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moniac | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Newell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oakdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Paxton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pinehurst | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Racepond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Silver Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stanley Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stokesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Toledo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Traders Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Uptonville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Winokur | Unincorp. | — | — |
Traders Hill (also spelled Trader’s Hill) is a historic river landing on the Saint Marys, not a current settlement of size — it served as the original county seat until 1901, when the courthouse moved to Folkston.
ZIP Codes
- 31537 — Folkston (also serves Homeland and most of the county)
- 31562 — Saint George
Charlton County is covered by just these two ZIP codes; smaller communities such as Moniac, Racepond and Toledo use whichever of the two is nearest rather than a ZIP of their own.
Geography
Charlton is Georgia’s fifth-largest county by land area and its southernmost county, with a large share of its territory inside the Okefenokee Swamp and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The Saint Marys River forms much of its eastern and southern boundary with Florida, and the Suwannee River rises within the swamp on the county’s western side. Terrain is flat pine flatwoods and wetland, with almost no elevation change across the county.
Charlton County borders Ware County to the north and west, Brantley County to the north, Camden County to the east, and the Florida counties of Nassau (south and east) and Baker (south).
Demographics
The county’s population was 12,518 at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 16 people per square mile — among the more sparsely populated counties in south Georgia. Folkston (4,464) and Homeland (886) are the two largest communities; most other residents live outside any incorporated place. Median household income in the county runs below the Georgia median of $74,632, consistent with the rural, timber- and agriculture-based economy of the surrounding Okefenokee region.
Economy & Local Life
Forestry and pine plantation timber are the backbone of the local economy, alongside agriculture and the tourism the Okefenokee Swamp draws to Folkston, the refuge’s main east-side gateway. Folkston is also known among railfans as the site of the “Folkston Funnel,” where two CSX main lines merge into one two-track corridor carrying dozens of trains a day past a dedicated public viewing platform downtown. Charlton County Schools and county government are among the largest local employers.
History
Charlton County was created February 18, 1854, by the Georgia General Assembly out of Camden County, and is named for Robert Milledge Charlton, a Savannah lawyer and U.S. Senator. Trader’s Hill, a river landing on the Saint Marys, served as the first county seat; the courthouse relocated to Folkston in 1901 after the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad bypassed Trader’s Hill. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1937, later placed much of the county’s western reach under federal protection.
Getting There
U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 23 run together through Folkston, with Georgia Highway 121 and Georgia Highway 40 crossing the county.
- Waycross — 30 miles northwest
- Kingsland — 30 miles southeast
- Jacksonville, Florida — 40 miles southeast
- Brunswick — 45 miles east
Jacksonville International Airport, about 40 miles southeast, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Charlton County, Georgia?
It sits at the southeastern tip of Georgia on the Florida line, southeast of the Okefenokee Swamp.
What is the population of Charlton County?
12,518 at the 2020 census.
How big is Charlton County?
774 square miles (2,000 km2) of land, making it Georgia’s fifth-largest county by area.
What is the county seat of Charlton County?
Folkston is the county seat; Trader’s Hill held that role until 1901.
How many towns are in Charlton County?
Two incorporated cities, Folkston and Homeland, plus about 21 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Charlton County?
31537 (Folkston/Homeland) and 31562 (Saint George).
Why is Folkston known to railfans?
Two CSX main lines converge there at the “Folkston Funnel,” watched from a public platform in town.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.