Grady County is a county in Georgia, United States, on the Florida state line in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 26,236 at the 2020 census and covers 460 square miles (1,191 km2) centred near 30°51′N 84°14′W.
Cairo is the county seat, and its postal code is 39828. The county has one city, several unincorporated crossroads communities, and no incorporated towns. Grady County sits in the Eastern time zone; its FIPS code is 13131.
Towns & Villages in Grady County
Grady County has one incorporated city, Cairo, plus about two dozen smaller unincorporated communities scattered across its farmland. Cairo is by far the largest population center; the rest are Unincorp. crossroads and rural neighborhoods, several dating to the county’s early-20th-century settlement.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo | City · seat | 9,675 | 39828 |
| Beachton | Unincorp. | — | 31734 |
| Whigham | Unincorp. | — | 39897 |
| Calvary | Unincorp. | — | 39828 |
| Pine Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Reno | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spence | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Providence | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rocky Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Magnolia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Long Branch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bethel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Orange Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pawnee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Capel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Akridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
The old list also carried Boydville, Brownlee, Elpino, Harrells Still, Moncrief, Nickleville, Pine Hill, and Roddenberry — small historic crossroads names with no confirmed 2020 population or ZIP data, so they are omitted here rather than guessed (see notes).
ZIP Codes
- 39828 — Cairo (also serves Calvary and the county’s central townships)
- 31734 — Beachton
- 39897 — Whigham
Most of the county’s smaller unincorporated communities are served by one of these three post offices rather than having a ZIP of their own.
Geography
Grady County lies on the Gulf Coastal Plain, mostly flat to gently rolling farmland and pine woods drained by the Ochlockonee River, which forms much of its eastern boundary, and by Tired Creek and the Little Ochlockonee River. Lake Tired Creek, a reservoir built on Tired Creek near Cairo, is a local recreation spot. The Florida state line runs along the county’s southern edge.
Grady County borders Thomas County to the east, Colquitt County to the northeast, Mitchell County to the north, Baker County to the northwest, Miller County to the west, Seminole County to the southwest, and Decatur County to the south, with the Florida state line beyond Decatur’s southern tip.
Demographics
Grady County had 26,236 residents at the 2020 census. Cairo is the largest community by a wide margin, followed by the unincorporated area around Whigham. Median household income runs below the Georgia median of $74,632, reflecting the county’s agricultural economic base. Population density is roughly 57 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the local economy: peanuts, pecans, cotton, and timber are the county’s leading crops, alongside cattle and poultry operations. Cairo is also known as the boyhood home of baseball’s Jackie Robinson, commemorated with a museum and mural downtown. The county hosts an annual Roddenberry Memorial Butterfly Center in Cairo, a year-round conservatory that draws regional visitors.
History
Grady County was created on August 17, 1905, from portions of Decatur and Thomas counties, one of the last Georgia counties formed under the state’s old land-lottery-era county-creation process. It is named for Henry W. Grady, the influential 19th-century editor of the Atlanta Constitution and a leading voice of the post-Reconstruction “New South.” Cairo was chosen as county seat for its position on the rail line running through the new county.
Getting There
U.S. Route 84 and U.S. Route 27 cross the county through Cairo, linking it to Bainbridge to the west and Thomasville to the east.
- Thomasville — 18 miles east
- Bainbridge — 22 miles west
- Tallahassee, FL — 35 miles south
- Albany — 45 miles north
Tallahassee International Airport, in Florida, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Grady County, Georgia?
It is in south-central Georgia on the Florida state line, between Bainbridge and Thomasville.
What is the population of Grady County?
26,236 as of the 2020 census.
How big is Grady County?
460 square miles (1,191 km2), of which about 455 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Grady County?
Cairo is the county seat.
How many towns are in Grady County?
One incorporated city, Cairo, plus about two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Grady County?
The main ZIP codes are 39828 (Cairo), 31734 (Beachton), and 39897 (Whigham).
What is Grady County known for?
Peanut, pecan, and cotton farming, and as the boyhood home of baseball great Jackie Robinson.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.