Seminole County is a county in Georgia, United States, in the southwestern corner of the state — it is the only Georgia county that touches both Alabama and Florida. It had a population of 9,147 at the 2020 census and covers 257 square miles (670 km2) centred near 30°56′N 84°52′W.
Donalsonville is the county seat, and its postal code is 39845. The county has one incorporated city, one incorporated town, and about a dozen unincorporated communities. Seminole County sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Seminole County
Seminole County has just two incorporated places — Donalsonville, the seat, and the small town of Iron City — plus a scatter of unincorporated communities and lakeside subdivisions along Lake Seminole. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donalsonville | City · seat | 2,833 | 39845 |
| Iron City | Town | 312 | 39859 |
| Desser | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairchild | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lela | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Little Hope | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Neals Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Paradise Acres | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Lake Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Reynoldsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Riverturn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sharphagen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Steam Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Town and Country Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
Several of these are small lakeside communities that grew up after the Jim Woodruff Dam impounded Lake Seminole in the 1950s — Neals Landing, Riverturn, Pine Lake Estates and Town and Country Estates are all fishing and camp communities near the lake shoreline rather than historic settlements.
ZIP Codes
- 39845 — Donalsonville (also serves most of the county, including the lake communities)
- 39859 — Iron City
The smaller unincorporated communities do not have their own post office and are served by the Donalsonville or Iron City ZIP codes depending on location.
Geography
Seminole County lies at the far southwestern tip of Georgia, where the state narrows to a point between Alabama and Florida. Lake Seminole, formed by the Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam at the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers, covers much of the county’s southern and eastern edge and gives the county its water area — 21 of the county’s 257 square miles are water. The terrain is flat to gently rolling coastal-plain land, farmed mainly in peanuts, cotton and pecans.
Seminole County borders Early County to the north and Decatur County to the east, both in Georgia. Across the state line it borders Houston County, Alabama, to the west and Jackson County, Florida, to the south — the only Georgia county that touches both neighboring states.
Demographics
The county’s population was 9,147 at the 2020 census, concentrated in Donalsonville (2,509) and, to a much smaller degree, Iron City (326); most residents live outside either incorporated place (2,833 + 312 = 3,145). Median household income in the county runs well below the Georgia median of $74,632, reflecting its rural, agriculture-based economy. Population density is roughly 39 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the county economy — peanuts, cotton, corn and pecans are the leading row crops, supported by grain elevators and peanut-buying stations around Donalsonville. Lake Seminole’s bass fishing draws anglers and supports marinas, bait shops and campgrounds along the shoreline, a meaningful part of the local tourism economy. Seminole County Schools and Donalsonville Hospital are among the county’s larger employers.
History
Seminole County was created by the Georgia General Assembly on November 2, 1920, carved from parts of Decatur and Early counties. It takes its name from the Seminole people, whose historic range extended into this corner of the state before Indian removal in the 19th century. The county’s modern geography changed sharply in the 1950s when the Jim Woodruff Dam, completed in 1957, flooded the Flint-Chattahoochee confluence to create Lake Seminole, reshaping the county’s eastern and southern boundary and its economy around lake recreation.
Getting There
- Bainbridge, Georgia — 20 miles east
- Dothan, Alabama — 30 miles west
- Marianna, Florida — 25 miles south
- Albany, Georgia — 55 miles northeast
U.S. Route 84 runs through Donalsonville, linking the county to Bainbridge and Blakely; state routes 39, 45, 91, 253, 285 and 374 connect the smaller communities. The nearest commercial airport is Dothan Regional Airport in Alabama.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Seminole County, Georgia?
It is in the southwestern corner of Georgia, the only Georgia county bordering both Alabama and Florida.
What is the population of Seminole County?
9,147 people, as of the 2020 census.
How big is Seminole County?
257 square miles (670 km2) total, of which 235 square miles are land and 21 square miles are Lake Seminole and other water.
What is the county seat of Seminole County?
Donalsonville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Seminole County?
Two incorporated places — the city of Donalsonville and the town of Iron City — plus about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Seminole County?
39845 (Donalsonville) and 39859 (Iron City).
What is Seminole County known for?
Lake Seminole, a reservoir formed by the Jim Woodruff Dam on the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers, and the surrounding peanut and cotton farmland.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.