Jefferson, Georgia

This article is about the county seat of Jackson County, Georgia; not to be confused with Jefferson County, Georgia or Jeffersonville, Georgia. For the community in Camden County, see Jefferson, Camden County, Georgia.

Jefferson, Georgia
City
Jackson County Courthouse in Jefferson
Jackson County Courthouse in Jefferson
Official seal of Jefferson, Georgia
Seal
Location in Jackson County and the state of Georgia
Location in Jackson County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 34°7′36″N 83°35′25″W / 34.12667°N 83.59028°W / 34.12667; -83.59028
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyJackson
Named forThomas Jefferson
Government
 • TypeLocal government
 • MayorDawn Maddox
 • City managerPriscilla Murphy
 • City councilSteve Kinney (D1)
Annette Studivant (D2)
Cody Cain (D3)
Mark Mobley (D4)
Alex Crawford (D5)
Area
 • Total
22.87 sq mi (59.23 km2)
 • Land22.53 sq mi (58.36 km2)
 • Water0.34 sq mi (0.88 km2)
Elevation
751 ft (229 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
13,233
 • Density587.3/sq mi (226.77/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30549
Area code706
FIPS code13-41988
GNIS feature ID0356332
Websitehttps://www.jeffersonga.gov/

Jefferson is a city and the county seat of Jackson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 13,233 at the 2020 census, up from 9,432 at the 2010 census. As of 2024 the estimated population was 16,459.

History

Jefferson was founded in 1800. That same year, the seat of Jackson County was transferred to Jefferson from Clarkesboro. Jefferson was incorporated as a town in 1806 and as a city in 1896. The city was named after Thomas Jefferson.

Geography

View of the north side of the city's central square

Jefferson is located in central Jackson County at 34°7′36″N 83°35′25″W / 34.12667°N 83.59028°W / 34.12667; -83.59028 (34.126736, -83.590297). It is bordered to the northwest by Pendergrass and to the southeast by Arcade. U.S. Route 129 passes through the southwest side of the city, leading northwest 21 miles (34 km) to Gainesville and southeast 19 miles (31 km) to Athens. Interstate 85 runs through the northern end of Jefferson, 5 miles (8 km) northwest of the center of town, with access from Exits 137 and 140. I-85 leads southwest 55 miles (89 km) to Atlanta and northeast 90 miles (140 km) to Greenville, South Carolina.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Jefferson has a total area of 22.0 square miles (57.0 km2), of which 21.7 square miles (56.1 km2) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km2), or 1.53%, are water. Curry Creek, a tributary of the North Oconee River, flows just to the east of downtown, and the Middle Oconee River runs along the western edge of the city.

Demographics

View towards the east side of the square showing the Confederate Memorial and the highway leading to Commerce, Georgia
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880419—
189054028.9%
190072634.4%
19101,20766.3%
19201,62634.7%
19301,86914.9%
19401,839−1.6%
19502,04010.9%
19601,746−14.4%
19701,647−5.7%
19801,82010.5%
19902,76351.8%
20003,82538.4%
20109,432146.6%
202013,23340.3%
2025 (est.)17,185Increase29.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
2025

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Jefferson had a population of 13,233. The median age was 34.5 years. 32.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.1 males age 18 and over.

75.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 25.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 4,324 households in Jefferson, including 2,885 family households. Of all households, 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 61.5% were married-couple households, 11.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,477 housing units, of which 3.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%.

Jefferson racial composition as of 2020
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 10,240 77.38%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,087 8.21%
Native American 22 0.17%
Asian 269 2.03%
Pacific Islander 3 0.02%
Other/mixed 572 4.32%
Hispanic or Latino 1,040 7.86%

2023 estimate

In a 2024 report, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Jefferson, GA was the fastest growing micropolitan statistical area in the country from 2020 to 2023. The population increased by an estimated 16.24% in that period.

Education

Jackson County School District

View of the southeast side of the square with shops and parking

The Jackson County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of seven elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools, and one charter school. As of March 2024, the district had a total of 10,646 students, not including enrollees of EMPOWER College and Career Center.

Jefferson City School District

The Jefferson City School District holds preschool to grade twelve, and consists of one preschool, two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. As of March 2024, the district had 4,218 students.

Martin Institute

The Martin Institute was a school in Jefferson from 1818 (Renamed to Martin Institute around December 1859) to January 13, 1942. This site was burnt down by a student who committed arson.[citation needed]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ↑ "U.S. Census website". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Jefferson". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Jefferson city, Georgia". American Factfinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 2, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Georgia Cities by Population (2024)". worldpopulationreview.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  7. ↑ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 234. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved November 30, 2013 – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, Georgia: Winship Press. p. 119. ISBN 0-915430-00-2 – via kenkrakow.com.
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "2025 City and town population estimates: Georgia". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  12. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  14. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Annual and Cumulative Estimates of Resident Population Change for Micropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States and Puerto Rico and Micropolitan Statistical Area Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. March 14, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  17. ↑ "JCSS Schools". jacksonschoolsga.org. Jackson County School System. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  18. 1 2 "Student Enrollment by Grade Level (PK-12)". doe.k12.ga.us. Georgia Dept. of Education. March 7, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Jefferson City Schools Board of Education". Jefferson City Schools. Jefferson City Schools Board of Education. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Trentyn Flowers - Adelaide 36ers - Small Forward". on3.com. Retrieved November 30, 2025.