Lee County is a county in Georgia, United States, part of the Albany metropolitan area in the southwestern part of the state. It had a population of 33,163 at the 2020 census and covers 362 square miles (940 km2) centred near 31°47′N 84°08′W.
Leesburg is the county seat, and its postal code is 31763. The county has two incorporated cities, several unincorporated communities, and one recognized ghost town. Lee County is in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Lee County
Lee County has two incorporated cities — Leesburg, the seat, and Smithville — plus a handful of unincorporated communities scattered across its rural townships. Georgia has no civil townships, so places below are listed without a township column. “Unincorp.” marks a place with no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leesburg | City · seat | — | 31763 |
| Smithville | City | — | 31787 |
| Beloit | Unincorp. | — | 31763 |
| Chehaw | Unincorp. | — | 31763 |
| Chokee | Unincorp. | — | 31763 |
| Neyami | Unincorp. | — | 31763 |
| Palmyra | Unincorp. | — | 31763 |
| Philema | Unincorp. | — | 31763 |
| Starkville | Unincorp. · ghost town | — | — |
Starkville is a former settlement in the county with no current population; it survives mainly as a place name on older maps and in county histories. Several of the old scraped names for this county — Armena, Byne Crossroads, Century, Eagle Pond, Forrester, Jordan Place, Mossy Dell, Oakland, Scrutchins, and Stocks — could not be verified against Wikipedia or the county ZIP directory and are omitted here rather than published unconfirmed; see notes.md.
ZIP Codes
- 31763 — Leesburg (also serves most of unincorporated Lee County)
- 31787 — Smithville
Lee County is served by just these two ZIP codes; nearly every unincorporated community in the county uses the Leesburg 31763 ZIP.
Geography
Lee County covers 362 square miles, of which 356 square miles are land and 5.9 square miles (1.6%) are water. The western three-quarters of the county drain through the Kinchafoonee-Muckalee sub-basin of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. The terrain is gently rolling coastal-plain farmland, with much of the county given over to row crops and pecan orchards.
Lee County borders Sumter County to the north, Crisp County to the northeast, Worth County to the east, Dougherty County to the south, and Terrell County to the west.
Demographics
Lee County had a population of 33,163 at the 2020 census, spread across 356 square miles of land for a density of about 93 people per square mile. Leesburg and Smithville are its two largest incorporated communities, though most residents live in unincorporated areas around Leesburg. For context, the Georgia median household income is $74,632; Lee County’s own median has not been independently verified here.
Economy & Local Life
Lee County functions largely as a residential and agricultural county tied to the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area. Row-crop and pecan farming remain significant in the unincorporated areas, while Leesburg has grown as a bedroom community for workers commuting into Albany along U.S. 19/82. Lee County High School and the county government offices are centered in Leesburg, and the county’s proximity to Albany along U.S. 19/82 has drawn steady residential growth over recent decades as families move out from the city while keeping jobs there.
History
Lee County was created on June 9, 1825, from land taken from Marion County (later part of Muscogee and Randolph counties in subsequent reorganizations). It was named for Henry Lee III, known as “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, a Revolutionary War cavalry officer and Virginia governor, and the father of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Leesburg was established as the county seat soon after the county’s organization and has remained the administrative center of Lee County ever since.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 19 and 82 cross Lee County, along with state routes 3, 32, 91, and 118, connecting Leesburg directly to Albany.
- Albany — 10 miles south
- Americus — 20 miles north
- Cordele — 30 miles northeast
- Dawson — 25 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Southwest Georgia Regional Airport in Albany.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lee County, Georgia?
It is in southwestern Georgia, just north of Albany, and is part of the Albany metropolitan area.
What is the population of Lee County?
Lee County had a population of 33,163 at the 2020 census.
How big is Lee County?
The county covers 362 square miles (940 km2), of which 356 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Lee County?
Leesburg is the county seat.
How many towns are in Lee County?
Lee County has two incorporated cities, Leesburg and Smithville, plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Lee County?
Lee County uses ZIP codes 31763 (Leesburg) and 31787 (Smithville).
When was Lee County created?
Lee County was organized on June 9, 1825, and named for Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.