Chattahoochee County is a county in Georgia, United States, on the Alabama border along the Chattahoochee River. It had a population of 9,565 at the 2020 census and covers 251 square miles (650 km2) centred near 32°21′N 84°47′W.
Cusseta is the county seat, and its postal code is 31805. Chattahoochee is a consolidated city-county — Cusseta and the county share one government, but Cusseta remains a geographically distinct municipality inside the county, alongside several unincorporated communities. Most of the county’s land lies inside Fort Benning, the U.S. Army post that straddles the Georgia–Alabama line. The county sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Chattahoochee County
Chattahoochee County has one incorporated city, Cusseta, and a handful of small unincorporated communities scattered across the Fort Benning reservation and the county’s rural south. Population figures are only available for Cusseta; the unincorporated communities have no separate census count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cusseta | City · seat | 9,565 | 31805 |
| Fort Benning | Unincorp. | — | 31905 |
| Christopher | Unincorp. | — | 31805 |
| Ochillee | Unincorp. | — | 31805 |
| Renfroe | Unincorp. | — | 31805 |
| Jamestown | Unincorp. | — | 31805 |
Because Cusseta’s population figure covers the whole consolidated city-county, the 9,565 total in the table above is the county’s entire 2020 census count, not just the historic town center. Several names on the old settlement list — Central Springs, Eelbeck, Gobblers Hill, Ida Vesper, Manta, and McDaniel Manor — are small crossroads or rural place names with no independent population data or verifiable ZIP assignment; they are omitted from the table here rather than guessed, though they may still appear on local maps.
ZIP Codes
- 31805 — Cusseta (serves most of the county, including the rural communities south and east of town)
- 31905 — Fort Benning (shared with the Columbus, Muscogee County side of the post)
Places without their own post office use the Cusseta ZIP by default.
Geography
Chattahoochee County sits in the Fall Line hills of west-central Georgia, where the Piedmont gives way to the Coastal Plain. The Chattahoochee River forms the county’s entire western boundary with Alabama, and most of the county’s terrain is wooded upland dissected by small creeks draining toward the river. Roughly 1% of the county is water. Fort Benning occupies a large share of the northern and central county, limiting civilian development to Cusseta and the rural south.
The county borders Muscogee County to the north, Marion County to the east, Stewart County to the south, and Russell County, Alabama, across the river to the west. See Muscogee County and Marion County; Stewart County and Russell County, Alabama, currently have no matching page on this site.
Demographics
Chattahoochee County’s population was 9,565 at the 2020 census, almost entirely concentrated in Cusseta, the consolidated city-county’s only incorporated place. The county is young by state standards — a median age of 23.8, driven by the active-duty and student population tied to Fort Benning. Median household income runs below the Georgia median of $74,632, typical for a small military-adjacent county with a large share of enlisted households. Population density is about 38 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Fort Benning dominates the county’s economy: the post is one of the U.S. Army’s largest training installations and the area’s biggest employer by far, both directly through military and civilian defense jobs and indirectly through the businesses that serve soldiers and their families. Outside the post, the local economy is small-scale — agriculture, timber, and retail and services centered on Cusseta.
History
Chattahoochee County was created on February 13, 1854, from parts of Muscogee and Marion counties, and takes its name from the Chattahoochee River that forms its western border. The land had been Muscogee (Creek) territory before the forced removals of the 1830s. The county’s modern history is inseparable from Fort Benning, established in 1918, which now occupies most of the county’s land area and has shaped its population, economy, and government ever since.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 27 and 280 and Georgia Routes 1, 26, 355, and 520 cross the county.
- Columbus, Georgia — 12 miles north
- Fort Benning main post — adjacent, north of Cusseta
- Americus, Georgia — 35 miles east
- Eufaula, Alabama — 40 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Columbus Airport (CSG) in neighboring Muscogee County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chattahoochee County?
It is in west-central Georgia, on the Alabama border along the Chattahoochee River, about 12 miles south of Columbus.
What is the population of Chattahoochee County?
9,565 people, at the 2020 census.
How big is Chattahoochee County?
251 square miles (650 km2), of which about 1% is water.
What is the county seat of Chattahoochee County?
Cusseta is the county seat and shares a consolidated city-county government with the county.
How many towns are in Chattahoochee County?
Cusseta is the only incorporated city; the rest of the county is unincorporated, including the Fort Benning military reservation.
What ZIP codes are in Chattahoochee County?
Mainly 31805 (Cusseta), plus 31905 for the Fort Benning side of the county.
Why is so much of Chattahoochee County occupied by Fort Benning?
The Army post was established in 1918 and has expanded over the decades to cover most of the county’s land, making the military the county’s dominant landowner and employer.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.