Elbert County is a county in Georgia, United States, along the South Carolina border in the northeastern part of the state. It had a population of 19,637 at the 2020 census and covers 374 square miles (970 km2), of which 351 square miles is land and 23 square miles is water, centred near 34°07′N 82°52′W.
Elberton is the county seat, and its postal code is 30635. The county has 2 incorporated cities (Elberton and Bowman) and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities. Elbert County observes Eastern time.
Towns & Villages in Elbert County
Elbert County has two incorporated cities — Elberton, the seat, and Bowman — along with about two dozen small unincorporated communities scattered across the county’s farmland and pine woods. Most of the unincorporated places listed below are crossroads settlements or old rail stops rather than platted towns; population and ZIP figures are given only where a reliable count exists.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elberton | City · seat | 4,640 | 30635 |
| Bowman | City | — | 30624 |
| Bell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beverly | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cauthen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Centerville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clarks Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coldwater | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dewy Rose | Unincorp. | — | 30634 |
| Dove Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ethridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fains Store | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fortsonia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Goss | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hard Cash | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harmony | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harper | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Heardmont | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Match | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Middleton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Montevideo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nickville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| North Elberton | Unincorp. | — | 30635 |
| Oglesby | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pearl | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rock Branch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ruckersville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Seymours Store | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Silk Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thirteen Forks | Unincorp. | — | — |
North Elberton sits just outside the Elberton city line and shares its ZIP code; it is not a separate incorporated place.
ZIP Codes
- 30635 — Elberton (also serves North Elberton and most of the county’s east side)
- 30624 — Bowman
- 30634 — Dewy Rose
Communities without their own ZIP code use one of these three post offices depending on which side of the county they sit on.
Geography
Elbert County lies in Georgia’s Piedmont region, where rolling farmland and pine woods slope east toward the Savannah River. The Savannah, impounded here as part of Richard B. Russell Lake, forms most of the county’s eastern boundary with South Carolina; the Broad River runs along part of the southern line before joining the Savannah.
Hart County borders Elbert County to the north (Hart County). Across the Savannah River and Richard B. Russell Lake, Anderson County, South Carolina, lies to the northeast (Anderson County, South Carolina); Abbeville County, South Carolina, lies east; and McCormick County, South Carolina, lies southeast. Lincoln County lies to the south (Lincoln County), Wilkes County to the southwest (Wilkes County), Oglethorpe County to the west (Oglethorpe County), and Madison County to the northwest (Madison County).
Demographics
Elbert County had a population of 19,637 at the 2020 census, a density of about 56 people per square mile. Elberton, with 4,640 residents, is the county’s largest community, followed by Bowman. Median household income in the county runs below the Georgia median of $74,632, consistent with the county’s rural, agriculture- and manufacturing-based economy.
Economy & Local Life
Elberton has been known as the “Granite Capital of the World” since its first commercial quarry opened in 1889, and granite quarrying and monument manufacturing remain central to the county’s economy. The Southeastern Power Administration, a U.S. Department of Energy agency that markets hydroelectric power from federal dams including Richard B. Russell Dam, has kept its headquarters in Elberton since 1950. Poultry farming and cattle grazing are the county’s leading agricultural activities. The Elberton Granite Museum documents the industry’s history.
History
Elbert County was created on December 10, 1790, from parts of Wilkes County, and named for Samuel Elbert, a Revolutionary War general and Georgia governor. Its granite industry, which began in the 1880s, shaped the county’s economy for more than a century. A cluster of large granite slabs known as the Georgia Guidestones, erected outside Elberton in 1980 and inscribed with guidance in multiple languages, became a widely known regional landmark before being destroyed in a 2022 bombing and later removed.
Getting There
U.S. Route 29 and U.S. Route 378 cross Elbert County, along with Georgia state routes 17, 72, and 77.
- Athens, Georgia — about 35 miles southwest
- Anderson, South Carolina — about 30 miles northeast
- Augusta, Georgia — about 65 miles southeast
- Athens Ben Epps Airport, Athens, Georgia — nearest commercial airport
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Elbert County, Georgia?
It is in the northeastern part of the state, on the South Carolina border along the Savannah River.
What is the population of Elbert County?
Elbert County had a population of 19,637 at the 2020 census.
How big is Elbert County?
The county covers 374 square miles (970 km2), of which 351 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Elbert County?
Elberton is the county seat.
How many towns are in Elbert County?
The county has two incorporated cities, Elberton and Bowman, plus about two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Elbert County?
The three ZIP codes are 30635 (Elberton), 30624 (Bowman), and 30634 (Dewy Rose).
Why is Elberton called the Granite Capital of the World?
Elberton has quarried and processed granite commercially since 1889, and monument manufacturing remains one of the county’s largest industries.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.