Lanier County is a county in Georgia, United States, on the Alapaha River in the state’s south-central Coastal Plain. It had a population of 9,877 at the 2020 census and covers 200 square miles (520 km2), of which 185 square miles (480 km2) is land, centred near 31°02′16″N 83°03′46″W.
Lakeland is the county seat, and its postal code is 31635. The county has 2 incorporated cities and 1 unincorporated community, sits in the Eastern time zone, and organized in 1920.
Towns & Villages in Lanier County
Lanier County has 2 incorporated cities — Lakeland, the seat, and Ray City — plus the unincorporated community of Stockton, a census-designated place. The table below lists each place with its type and 2020 population where verified.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | City · seat | — | 31635 |
| Ray City | City | — | 31635 |
| Stockton | CDP | — | 31649 |
ZIP Codes
- 31635 — Lakeland (also serves Ray City and most of the county)
- 31649 — Stockton
Lakeland’s ZIP covers the large majority of county residents; the remainder are served from Stockton’s post office.
Geography
Lanier County lies in the Coastal Plain, drained by the Alapaha River, which forms part of its eastern edge, and by Banks Lake, home to the Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, a cypress-lined blackwater lake established in 1985 that draws anglers and paddlers. Terrain is flat to gently rolling, with pine flatwoods, cropland, and pasture covering most of the county. Soils are sandy and well drained, typical of south Georgia’s wiregrass region, and much of the county remains under cultivation or managed timber. Water covers 15 of the county’s 200 total square miles, a share well above the Georgia average, reflecting Banks Lake and the network of small ponds and streams feeding the Alapaha and Withlacoochee watersheds. The county borders Berrien County to the northwest, Atkinson County to the north, Clinch County to the east, Echols County to the south, and Lowndes County to the southwest.
Demographics
Lanier County’s population was 9,877 at the 2020 census, concentrated in and around Lakeland and, to a lesser extent, Ray City. The county’s median household income runs below the Georgia median of $74,632, consistent with its largely rural, agricultural economic base. Population density is roughly 53 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture and forestry anchor the local economy, with row crops, timber, and cattle ranching common across the county. Peanuts, cotton, and pine timber are the traditional cash crops, and poultry operations have grown in recent decades. Moody Air Force Base, which Lanier shares with neighboring Lowndes County, is a major regional employer, drawing commuters from Lakeland and Ray City toward Valdosta. Other named employers include Farmers & Merchants Bank, Louis Smith Memorial Hospital, and a state probation detention center. Banks Lake draws recreational visitors for bass fishing, boating, and birdwatching, and is one of the few sizable natural lakes in this part of Georgia. Lakeland’s small downtown holds the county courthouse, local government offices, and a handful of longstanding family businesses that serve the surrounding farm communities.
History
Lanier County was created on August 7, 1920, from parts of Berrien, Clinch, and Lowndes counties, making it one of Georgia’s later-formed counties and one of the last carved out under the state’s old land-lottery-era county-splitting era. It is named for Sidney Lanier, the Georgia-born poet, musician, and Confederate veteran best known for “The Marshes of Glynn” and “Song of the Chattahoochee.” Lakeland, already an established town before the new county was organized, was chosen as the seat, and the surrounding farmland was settled through the late 19th and early 20th centuries as rail lines reached the area and opened it to cotton and naval-stores production.
Getting There
U.S. Route 221 and State Route 37 cross through Lakeland, connecting the county to nearby Valdosta and Nashville, Georgia.
- Valdosta, Georgia — 22 miles south
- Nashville, Georgia — 20 miles northwest
- Tifton, Georgia — 30 miles north
- Waycross, Georgia — 40 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Valdosta Regional Airport, about 25 miles south of Lakeland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lanier County, Georgia?
It is in the state’s south-central Coastal Plain, along the Alapaha River, between Valdosta and Tifton.
What is the population of Lanier County?
9,877 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Lanier County?
200 square miles (520 km2) total, including 15 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Lanier County?
Lakeland is the county seat and larger of the county’s two cities.
How many towns are in Lanier County?
Two incorporated cities, Lakeland and Ray City, plus the community of Stockton.
What ZIP codes are in Lanier County?
31635 (Lakeland) and 31649 (Stockton).
Who is the county named after?
Sidney Lanier, the 19th-century Georgia poet, when the county was formed in 1920.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.