Long County is a county in Georgia, United States, in the coastal-plain region between Savannah and the Okefenokee, part of the Hinesville-Fort Stewart metropolitan area. It had a population of 16,168 at the 2020 census and covers 404 square miles (1,050 km2) centred near 31°46′N 81°45′W.
Ludowici is the county seat and its postal code is 31316. The county has one incorporated city, a handful of unincorporated communities, and no civil townships. It sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Long County
Long County has a single incorporated municipality, Ludowici, plus several unincorporated communities and crossroads scattered across its rural interior. The table below lists the places most commonly recorded on maps and postal records; every place uses the county’s single 31316 ZIP code unless noted.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ludowici | City · seat | — | 31316 |
| Aimar | Unincorp. | — | 31316 |
| Beards Creek | Unincorp. | — | 31316 |
| Donald | Unincorp. | — | 31316 |
| Tibet | Unincorp. | — | 31316 |
The old page’s list also carried Elim, Noble, Smiley Crossroads, and Wefanie as separate communities. These are historical rural crossroads and church/settlement names local to Long County’s interior; they have no independent Wikipedia or Census Bureau entry to verify a population or exact ZIP against, so they are omitted here pending a source (see notes).
ZIP Codes
- 31316 — Ludowici (the single ZIP code covering all of Long County, including Aimar, Beards Creek, Donald and Tibet)
Long County is one of the few Georgia counties served by a single ZIP code for its entire area.
Geography
Long County lies in Georgia’s lower coastal plain. Most of the county drains south into the Altamaha River basin; the northeastern corner drains into the Canoochee River sub-basin. The terrain is flat to gently rolling, with extensive pine flatwoods, managed timberland, and pockets of wetland along its creeks. Of the county’s 404 square miles, 400 square miles are land and 3.5 square miles (0.9%) are water.
Long County borders Tattnall County to the north, Liberty County to the east and southeast, McIntosh County to the south, and Wayne County to the southwest.
Demographics
Long County’s 2020 population of 16,168 is concentrated around Ludowici, the county’s only incorporated city and largest community, with the rural unincorporated areas — Aimar, Beards Creek, Donald and Tibet — accounting for most of the remainder. About four in five residents live outside any incorporated place. Long County’s median household income runs well below the Georgia median of $74,632, and the county has repeatedly ranked among the state’s lowest-income counties by per-capita measures. Population density works out to roughly 40 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Long County’s economy is anchored by its proximity to Fort Stewart, the U.S. Army installation just to the north in neighboring Liberty and Tattnall counties, which employs many county residents. Timber and forestry remain major private-sector activities on the county’s extensive pine acreage, alongside agriculture and small-scale local trade centered on Ludowici. The county’s rural character and low land costs have also drawn commuters working in the wider Hinesville-Fort Stewart area.
History
Long County was created by a constitutional amendment proposed on August 14, 1920, and ratified by Georgia voters on November 2, 1920, carved out of Liberty County. It is named for Crawford Long (1815–1878), the Georgia-born physician credited with the first use of diethyl ether as a surgical anesthetic. Ludowici, the county seat, predates the county itself and was named for a family of local landowners.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 25 and 84 and State Routes 23, 38, 57, 144 and 196 cross the county, with U.S. 301 running nearby to the east.
- Hinesville — 20 miles east
- Savannah — 50 miles northeast
- Jesup — 20 miles south
- Baxley — 30 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, about an hour’s drive northeast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Long County, Georgia?
It lies in southeastern Georgia’s coastal plain, part of the Hinesville-Fort Stewart metropolitan area, between Savannah and the Okefenokee region.
What is the population of Long County?
16,168 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Long County?
404 square miles (1,050 km2), of which 400 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Long County?
Ludowici is the county seat and the county’s only incorporated city.
How many towns are in Long County?
One incorporated city, Ludowici, plus several unincorporated communities including Aimar, Beards Creek, Donald and Tibet.
What ZIP codes are in Long County?
The whole county uses 31316, centered on Ludowici.
Why is it called Long County?
It is named for Crawford Long, the Georgia physician who pioneered the surgical use of ether anesthesia.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.