Jeff Davis County is a county in Georgia, United States, in the southeastern part of the state, roughly midway between Macon and the Golden Isles coast. It had a population of 14,779 at the 2020 census and covers 335 square miles (870 km2), of which 331 square miles is land, centred near 31°48′N 82°38′W.
Hazlehurst is the county seat, and its postal code is 31539. The county has 2 cities, 1 census-designated place, 3 unincorporated communities and 1 ghost town, and sits entirely in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Jeff Davis County
Only Hazlehurst and Denton are incorporated cities; Satilla is a census-designated place with no city government, and Roper, Snipesville and Tallahassee are unincorporated communities without their own municipal boundaries. Bingham is a former settlement now considered a ghost town.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazlehurst | City · seat | 4,088 | 31539 |
| Denton | City | 189 | 31532 |
| Satilla | CDP | — | 31539 |
| Snipesville | Unincorp. | — | 31539 |
| Roper | Unincorp. | — | 31539 |
| Tallahassee | Unincorp. | — | 31539 |
| Bingham | Ghost town | — | — |
The old scrape of this page misspelled the county as “Jeff Davies” — the correct name is Jeff Davis County, after Confederate president Jefferson Davis. Its unincorporated Tallahassee is a small farming community with no connection to Florida’s capital of the same name.
ZIP Codes
- 31539 — Hazlehurst (also serves Satilla, Snipesville and Roper)
- 31532 — Denton
The county has only two ZIP codes; nearly all of its population is served by the 31539 Hazlehurst code.
Geography
Jeff Davis County sits in the coastal plain of southeastern Georgia, a flat, sandy landscape of pine forest and farmland drained by tributaries of the Altamaha and Satilla rivers. Water covers about 4.7 square miles (12 km2) of the county’s total area.
It borders Wheeler County to the north, Montgomery County and Toombs County to the northeast, Appling County and Bacon County to the southeast, Coffee County to the southwest, and Telfair County to the northwest.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 14,779 residents and 5,560 households, with a median age of 37.0 years. Hazlehurst and Denton are the county’s two largest communities. Median household income in Jeff Davis County runs well below the Georgia median of $74,632, consistent with its rural, agricultural economy. Population density is roughly 44 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the local economy, led by cotton, peanuts and timber production, alongside retail and services concentrated in Hazlehurst. The county reported about $164 million in retail sales in 2017. The Jeff Davis County School District, with roughly 3,075 students across four schools including Jeff Davis High School, is one of the area’s largest employers.
History
Jeff Davis County was created on August 18, 1905, and named for Jefferson Davis, the only president of the Confederate States. Hazlehurst grew up around 1880 as a depot on the Macon and Brunswick Railroad and became the county seat when the county was organized.
Getting There
U.S. Route 341 and U.S. Route 23 run through Hazlehurst, connecting the county to Macon and to the coast near Brunswick.
- Baxley, Georgia — 20 miles southeast
- Vidalia, Georgia — 25 miles northeast
- McRae-Helena, Georgia — 20 miles northwest
- Douglas, Georgia — 30 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Golden Isles Airport in Brunswick; Hazlehurst also has its own general-aviation airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Jeff Davis County, Georgia?
It sits in the southeastern part of the state, between Macon and the Golden Isles coast.
What is the population of Jeff Davis County?
14,779 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Jeff Davis County?
335 square miles (870 km2), including about 4.7 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Jeff Davis County?
Hazlehurst is the county seat and largest city.
How many towns are in Jeff Davis County?
Two incorporated cities (Hazlehurst and Denton), one census-designated place, and three unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Jeff Davis County?
31539 (Hazlehurst) and 31532 (Denton).
Why is the county called Jeff Davis?
It is named for Jefferson Davis, the only president of the Confederate States of America.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.