Jones County is a county in Georgia, United States, in the central Piedmont region between Macon and Milledgeville. It had a population of 28,347 at the 2020 census and covers 394 square miles (1,020 km2) of land centred near 33°02′N 83°34′W.
Gray is the county seat, and its postal code is 31032. The county has one incorporated city and several unincorporated communities, no civil townships, sits in the Eastern time zone, and adjoins the Macon metropolitan area.
Towns & Villages in Jones County
Jones County has a single incorporated city, Gray, plus a set of unincorporated communities and CDPs scattered across the county. The table below marks each place’s type; CDP means Census Designated Place (unincorporated but tracked separately by the Census Bureau) and Unincorp. means an unincorporated community with no defined census boundary.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gray | City · seat | 3,323 | 31032 |
| Clinton | Unincorp. | — | 31032 |
| Bradley | Unincorp. | — | 31032 |
| Fortville | Unincorp. | — | 31032 |
| Haddock | Unincorp. | — | 31033 |
| Round Oak | Unincorp. | — | 31032 |
| Wayside | Unincorp. | — | 31032 |
Several names from older lists for this county — Belvedere Manor, Bowden Hills, Bragg, Cumslo, East Juliette, Ethridge, Five Points, Greenberry Crossroads, Griswoldville, James, Jones Acres, Joycliff Estates, Kings View, Morton, Mountain Springs, Pine Ridge, Pitts, Postell, Three Points — could not be independently corroborated against the current Wikipedia community list or postal records for Jones County and are omitted here rather than republished unverified. Griswoldville, however, is a well-documented historic site (Civil War battlefield near Macon) and is noted under History below even though it is not listed as a standalone place.
ZIP Codes
- 31032 — Gray (also serves Clinton, Bradley, Fortville, Round Oak and Wayside)
- 31033 — Haddock
Most of the county’s rural communities share Gray’s 31032 ZIP because they have no separate post office.
Geography
Jones County lies in the Piedmont, with the terrain sloping from rolling hills in the north toward the flatter Coastal Plain edge near its southern border with Bibb County. The Ocmulgee River forms part of the eastern boundary, and Lake Sinclair’s headwaters touch the northeastern corner near Putnam County. The county covers 394 square miles of land and about 1.5 square miles of water.
Jones County borders Jasper County to the north, Putnam County to the northeast, Baldwin County to the east, Twiggs and Wilkinson counties to the southeast, Bibb County to the south, and Monroe County to the west. Its northeastern neighbor is Putnam County.
Demographics
Jones County had a population of 28,347 at the 2020 census, making it a mid-sized Georgia county anchored by its two largest communities, Gray and the Clinton/Haddock area near the Baldwin County line. Median household income in the county runs close to the Georgia median of $74,632, reflecting its mix of Macon-area commuters and rural landowners. With 394 square miles of land, the county’s population density is roughly 72 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Jones County’s economy blends commuting to Macon and Milledgeville with local agriculture, forestry, and small manufacturing. Cotton was the historic cash crop; today the county’s farmland is used mostly for cattle, timber, and row crops. Jones County High School and the county government are among the largest local employers, and Gray’s downtown square hosts community events through the year.
History
Jones County was created on December 10, 1807, from parts of Baldwin County, and named for U.S. Representative James Jones of Georgia. Its earliest county seat, Clinton, was a significant inland trading town in the early 1800s before Gray became the seat later in the 19th century as rail lines shifted commerce southward. The Battle of Griswoldville, fought in November 1864 during Sherman’s March to the Sea, took place at the Griswoldville pistol factory site in the county’s southeastern corner and remains its best-documented historic event.
Getting There
U.S. Route 129 and Georgia State Routes 11, 18, 22, 44, 49 and 57 cross the county, along with the Fall Line Freeway (State Route 540).
- Macon — 15 miles south
- Milledgeville — 20 miles east
- Atlanta — 85 miles northwest
- Forsyth — 20 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Jones County?
Jones County is in central Georgia, between Macon and Milledgeville.
What is the population of Jones County?
Jones County had a population of 28,347 at the 2020 census.
How big is Jones County?
Jones County covers 394 square miles (1,020 km2) of land.
What is the county seat of Jones County?
Gray is the county seat of Jones County.
How many towns are in Jones County?
Jones County has one incorporated city, Gray, and several unincorporated communities including Clinton, Haddock, Round Oak and Wayside.
What ZIP codes are in Jones County?
Jones County’s ZIP codes are 31032 (Gray) and 31033 (Haddock).
What happened at Griswoldville?
Griswoldville, in southeastern Jones County, was the site of a Civil War battle in November 1864 during Sherman’s March to the Sea.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.