Wheeler County is a county in Georgia, United States, in the Coastal Plain of the state’s south-central interior, about 60 miles southeast of Macon. It had a population of 7,471 at the 2020 census and covers 300 square miles (780 km2), of which 295 square miles (760 km2) is land, centred near 32°07′N 82°43′W.
Alamo is the county seat, and its postal code is 30411. The county has three incorporated cities — Alamo, Glenwood and the shared city of McRae–Helena — plus several unincorporated communities. Wheeler County sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Wheeler County
Wheeler County’s settlements sit along U.S. Route 280 and Georgia Route 19, the two roads that cross near Alamo. McRae–Helena, the largest place associated with the county, is a single consolidated city split between Wheeler and neighboring Telfair County.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alamo | City · seat | 771 | 30411 |
| Glenwood | City | 850 | 30428 |
| McRae–Helena | City | 6,253* | 31055 |
| Scotland | Town | — | — |
| Stuckey | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spring Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jordan | Unincorp. | — | — |
*McRae–Helena’s total population spans both Wheeler and Telfair counties; the city’s own seat function belongs to Telfair, not Wheeler.
ZIP Codes
- 30411 — Alamo (also serves Stuckey and Jordan)
- 30428 — Glenwood (also serves Spring Hill)
- 31055 — McRae–Helena (the Wheeler County side of the consolidated city)
Scotland has no ZIP code of its own; mail there is handled through the Alamo or Glenwood post offices depending on the address.
Geography
Wheeler County lies in the longleaf pine and wiregrass belt of the Georgia Coastal Plain, drained by the Little Ocmulgee River and several of its tributaries along the county’s eastern edge. The terrain is flat to gently rolling, with pine plantation, farmland and wetland bottoms along the streams. Of the county’s 300 square miles, 4.8 square miles is water.
Wheeler County borders six counties: Laurens and Treutlen to the north, Montgomery to the east, Jeff Davis to the southeast, Telfair to the southwest, and Dodge to the west. More on neighboring counties: Laurens County, Montgomery County, Telfair County and Dodge County.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 7,471 residents. Alamo and McRae–Helena’s Wheeler-side neighborhoods are the two largest population centers in the county. Wheeler County’s median household income runs well below the Georgia state figure of $74,632, reflecting the county’s rural, agriculture-dependent economy. Population density is roughly 25 people per square mile, one of the lower densities among Georgia counties.
Economy & Local Life
Row-crop and timber farming anchor Wheeler County’s economy — cotton, peanuts, and pine pulpwood are the leading products, alongside cattle operations on the county’s pastureland. Alamo and Glenwood both function as small trade centers for surrounding farms. The Wheeler County Fair, held each fall in Alamo, is the county’s biggest community event.
History
Wheeler County was created by a constitutional amendment proposed on August 14, 1912, and ratified that November, carved from Montgomery County. It is named for Confederate cavalry general Joseph Wheeler, a Georgia native who later served as a U.S. congressman and general in the Spanish–American War. Alamo was founded in 1890 as a stop on the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and took its name from the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas. Helena and McRae, on the Wheeler–Telfair line, consolidated into the single city of McRae–Helena on January 1, 2015.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 280, 319 and 441 and Georgia Routes 19, 30, 31, 46, 126 and 149 cross the county, with US 280 and GA 19 meeting at Alamo.
- Eastman — 15 miles west
- Vidalia — 25 miles east
- Dublin — 30 miles north
- Macon — 60 miles northwest
The nearest commercial airport is Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon. Amtrak does not serve Wheeler County; the closest stations are in Savannah and Jesup, both well over an hour away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Alamo postcode?
30411.
What county is Alamo, Georgia in?
Alamo is the county seat of Wheeler County.
How many people live in Wheeler County?
7,471 people, at the 2020 census.
How big is Wheeler County?
300 square miles (780 km2), of which 295 square miles is land.
Is McRae–Helena in Wheeler County?
Only part of it. McRae–Helena is a single consolidated city split between Wheeler County and Telfair County, whose seat it is.
What counties border Wheeler County?
Laurens, Treutlen, Montgomery, Jeff Davis, Telfair and Dodge.
What is Wheeler County’s biggest industry?
Row-crop farming and timber, with cotton, peanuts and pine pulpwood as the leading products.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.