Washington County is a county in Georgia, United States, in the east-central part of the state along the fall line between the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain. It had a population of 19,988 at the 2020 census and covers 684 square miles (1,770 km2) — 678 square miles (1,760 km2) of land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) of water — centred near 32°58′N 82°47′W.
Sandersville is the county seat, and its postal code is 31082. The county has four incorporated cities, three incorporated towns, and about twenty unincorporated communities. It sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Washington County
Washington County has 27 named places on record: four cities (including the county seat), three towns, and roughly twenty small unincorporated communities and crossroads. Population figures below are 2020 census counts where the place is incorporated and separately enumerated; unincorporated communities without their own census designation are marked with —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandersville | City · seat | 5,813 | 31082 |
| Tennille | City | 1,469 | 31089 |
| Davisboro | City | — | 31018 |
| Oconee | City | — | 31071 |
| Deepstep | Town | — | — |
| Harrison | Town | — | — |
| Riddleville | Town | — | — |
| Brook Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Downs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ennis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gardner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Goat Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Halls Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hazard | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hebron | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Heidrich | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Irwins Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kaolin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Peacocks Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pringle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rose | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sparks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sun Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tabernacle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tanner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Veal | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Warthen | Unincorp. | — | — |
Kaolin, the small community along Highway 24, shares its name with the white clay mined across this part of the county — not a coincidence, since kaolin extraction has shaped Washington County’s economy for more than a century.
ZIP Codes
- 31082 — Sandersville (also serves the surrounding unincorporated communities)
- 31089 — Tennille
- 31018 — Davisboro
- 31071 — Oconee
Most of the county’s small unincorporated communities and the towns of Deepstep, Harrison, and Riddleville use a Sandersville or nearby-town mailing address rather than a ZIP code of their own.
Geography
Washington County sits on the fall line, where the hilly Piedmont gives way to the flatter Coastal Plain, and much of its terrain reflects that transition — rolling uplands in the north, sandier soils toward the south. Kaolin and other clay deposits underlie large stretches of the county, and open-pit mines are a visible feature of the landscape along several county roads. The Oconee River and the Ogeechee River both touch the county’s edges, and numerous smaller creeks drain the interior.
Washington County borders Glascock County to the northeast, Jefferson County to the east, Johnson County to the south, Wilkinson County to the southwest, Baldwin County to the west, and Hancock County to the northwest.
Demographics
Washington County had 19,988 residents at the 2020 census. Sandersville, the county seat, is the largest community at 5,813, followed by Tennille at 1,469. Median household income in the county runs below the Georgia median of $74,632, reflecting the county’s rural, agriculture- and mining-based economy. Population density is roughly 29 people per square mile of land area.
Economy & Local Life
Kaolin mining is the county’s signature industry — Sandersville calls itself the “Kaolin Capital of the World,” and the county sits at the heart of Georgia’s kaolin belt, which supplies clay used in paper coating, ceramics, and paint worldwide. Agriculture, including timber, cattle, and row crops, remains a major part of the local economy alongside the mining companies and their processing plants. Sandersville hosts an annual Kaolin Festival each October, celebrating the mineral and the industry built around it.
History
Washington County was created on February 25, 1784, one of the original counties formed after the Revolutionary War, and was named for General George Washington, who went on to become the first President of the United States. It was the first American county named for Washington. The county’s early economy centered on cotton plantations; the discovery of kaolin deposits in the late 19th century later reshaped the local economy around mining rather than row-crop agriculture.
Getting There
U.S. Route 221 and State Routes 15, 24, and 68 cross the county, meeting at Sandersville.
- Milledgeville — 20 miles west
- Dublin — 25 miles south
- Augusta — 60 miles northeast
- Macon — 45 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Washington County, Georgia?
It is in east-central Georgia, along the fall line between the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain, about 45 miles east of Macon.
What is the population of Washington County?
19,988 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Washington County?
684 square miles (1,770 km2) total, including 5.9 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Washington County?
Sandersville is the county seat.
How many towns and cities are in Washington County?
Four cities and three towns, plus roughly twenty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Washington County?
31082 (Sandersville), 31089 (Tennille), 31018 (Davisboro), and 31071 (Oconee) are the county’s main ZIP codes.
Why is Sandersville called the Kaolin Capital of the World?
Washington County sits at the center of Georgia’s kaolin belt, and mining companies here produce a large share of the world’s kaolin clay, used in paper, ceramics, and paint.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.