Decatur County is a county in Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state on the Florida border. It had a population of 29,367 at the 2020 census and covers 623 square miles (1,617 km2) centred near 30°53′N 84°35′W.
Bainbridge is the county seat, and its postal code is 39817. The county has three cities, one town, one census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities. Decatur County sits in the Eastern time zone and carries FIPS code 13087.
Towns & Villages in Decatur County
Decatur County has 13 named places on record: three cities, one town, one CDP, and eight unincorporated communities, two of them now ghost towns. Type key: City · seat = the county seat; CDP = census-designated place, not incorporated; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bainbridge | City · seat | — | 39817 / 39818 / 39819 |
| Attapulgus | City | — | 39815 |
| Climax | City | — | 39834 |
| Brinson | Town | — | 39825 |
| Faceville | CDP | — | — |
| Amsterdam | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ausmac | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cyrene | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eldorendo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fowlstown | Unincorp. | — | 39852 |
| Vada | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Laingkat | Unincorp. (ghost town) | — | — |
| Recovery | Unincorp. (ghost town) | — | — |
Fowlstown is the modern spelling of the historic Fowltown settlement site, and Fowltown itself survives only as an archaeological/historical reference, not a present-day place — it is listed here under its living successor name. Laingkat and Recovery are recorded as ghost towns rather than active communities.
ZIP Codes
- 39817 — Bainbridge (standard delivery)
- 39818 — Bainbridge (PO Box only)
- 39819 — Bainbridge (standard delivery)
- 39815 — Attapulgus
- 39825 — Brinson
- 39834 — Climax
- 39852 — Fowlstown (PO Box only)
Faceville and the county’s other unincorporated communities are served by the nearest post office town rather than a ZIP code of their own.
Geography
Decatur County lies in Georgia’s coastal plain along the Florida state line, drained by the Flint and Chattahoochee river system where the two meet at Lake Seminole. The county has 597 square miles of land and 26 square miles of water — a notably high water share for inland Georgia, owed largely to Lake Seminole along its southwestern edge.
Decatur County borders Miller County to the north, Mitchell County and Baker County to the northeast, Grady County to the east, Gadsden County, Florida to the south, and Seminole County to the west.
Demographics
Decatur County’s population was 29,367 at the 2020 census, roughly 47 people per square mile of land. Bainbridge is by far the largest community, followed by Attapulgus. Household income in Decatur County runs well below the Georgia median of $74,632, consistent with the county’s rural, agriculture-based economy.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture and forestry anchor the local economy, with row crops, timber, and pecans grown across the county’s coastal-plain soils. Bainbridge is the commercial hub, home to satellite campuses of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Southern Regional Technical College. Lake Seminole draws recreational fishing and boating traffic from across the region, with visitors coming from neighboring counties and the Florida Panhandle through the warmer months. Bainbridge’s historic downtown sits along the Flint River, which flows into Lake Seminole at the Jim Woodruff Dam a few miles south of the city.
History
Decatur County was established December 8, 1823, carved from Early County. It is named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, the U.S. Navy officer remembered as a hero of the War of 1812 and the Barbary Wars. The Fowltown area, near present-day Fowlstown, was the site of an 1817 clash between U.S. troops and the Mikasuki town of Fowltown that helped trigger the First Seminole War.
Getting There
US Highway 27 and US Highway 84 cross the county, along with State Routes 1, 38, 97, 241, 253, 262, 285, 302, 309, 310, and 311.
- Bainbridge — the county seat itself
- Cairo, Georgia (Grady County) — about 20 miles east
- Thomasville, Georgia (Thomas County) — about 35 miles east
- Tallahassee, Florida — about 40 miles south
Tallahassee International Airport is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Decatur County, Georgia?
It is in the southwestern corner of Georgia, on the Florida state line, centred near 30°53′N 84°35′W.
What is the population of Decatur County?
29,367 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Decatur County?
623 square miles (1,617 km2), including 26 square miles of water, mostly Lake Seminole.
What is the county seat of Decatur County?
Bainbridge is the county seat.
How many towns are in Decatur County?
Three cities (Bainbridge, Attapulgus, Climax), one town (Brinson), one CDP (Faceville), and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Decatur County?
39815, 39817, 39818, 39819, 39825, 39834, and 39852.
What is Decatur County named after?
U.S. Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur, a War of 1812 hero.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.