Screven County is a county in Georgia, United States, on the South Carolina border along the Savannah River. It had a population of 14,067 at the 2020 census and covers 656 square miles (1,700 km2) centred near 32°45′N 81°37′W.
Sylvania is the county seat, and its postal code is 30467. The county has three cities, two towns, and several unincorporated communities, no civil townships, and sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Screven County
Screven County has five incorporated places — three cities and two towns — plus a wider set of unincorporated communities and rural crossroads. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvania | City · seat | 2,585 | 30467 |
| Newington | Town | — | 30446 |
| Rocky Ford | Town | — | 30455 |
| Oliver | City | — | 30449 |
| Hiltonia | City | — | — |
| Cooperville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dover | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Halcyondale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Millhaven | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Farmdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Green Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Middleground | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ogeechee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Resource | Unincorp. | — | — |
| White Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodcliff | Unincorp. | — | — |
A handful of names from older lists — Blue Springs, Blue Hole MH Park, Brier Creek Landing, Burtons Ferry Landing, Red Bluff Landing — are landings, mobile-home parks, or map labels along the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers rather than settled communities, and are not repeated here. Sparse crossroads such as Altman, Bascom, Cameron, Captolo, Double Heads, Goloid, Hunters, Lewis, Parkers, Sheppards, Stalco, Thomasboro, Waters, and Zeigler have no verifiable population or ZIP data and are omitted; several are simply rural place-name labels on old county maps rather than active communities.
ZIP Codes
- 30467 — Sylvania (also serves the surrounding county seat area)
- 30446 — Newington
- 30455 — Rocky Ford
- 30449 — Oliver
Hiltonia and the county’s unincorporated communities generally use the Sylvania ZIP for mail.
Geography
Screven County lies in Georgia’s coastal plain, bordered on the east by the Savannah River, which forms the state line with South Carolina, and drained in the southwest by the Ogeechee River. Elevation ranges from about 40 feet along the Savannah River to 320 feet in the county’s northern uplands. Farmland, pine forest, and river swamp make up most of the land area.
Screven County borders Bulloch County to the south, Effingham County to the southeast, Jenkins County to the west, and Burke County to the northwest. Across the Savannah River to the north and east lie Allendale and Hampton counties in South Carolina.
Demographics
Screven County had a population of 14,067 at the 2020 census, giving a density of roughly 22 people per square mile. Sylvania, the county seat, is by far the largest community; Newington and Rocky Ford are its next-largest incorporated towns. Georgia’s 2023 ACS median household income is $74,632; Screven County, a largely rural farming county, runs well below that state figure.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the local economy — cotton, peanuts, corn, and timber are the county’s major crops and products, alongside poultry and cattle operations. Sylvania serves as the trade and government center for the county, home to the Screven County Courthouse and the county’s schools. Screven County High School athletics and the county’s agricultural fairs are the main annual community draws.
History
Screven County was created on December 14, 1793, from parts of Burke and Effingham counties, and was named for Brigadier General James Screven, who was killed near Midway, Georgia, during the American Revolutionary War. Jacksonborough was the original county seat until 1847, when Sylvania took over the role. The county’s fortunes have long been tied to the Savannah River trade and to cotton and timber farming.
Getting There
US Route 301 and Georgia State Routes 17, 21, 24, and 73 cross the county, with Sylvania at their hub.
- Statesboro — 25 miles south
- Waynesboro — 20 miles west
- Savannah — 50 miles southeast
- Augusta — 45 miles northwest
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Screven County, Georgia?
It sits in southeastern Georgia along the South Carolina border, on the Savannah River.
What is the population of Screven County?
14,067 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Screven County?
656 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 645 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Screven County?
Sylvania is the county seat.
How many towns are in Screven County?
Five incorporated places — the cities of Sylvania, Oliver, and Hiltonia, and the towns of Newington and Rocky Ford — plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Screven County?
30467 (Sylvania), 30446 (Newington), 30455 (Rocky Ford), and 30449 (Oliver).
What river forms Screven County’s eastern border?
The Savannah River, which also forms the state line with South Carolina.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.