Jeff Davis County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,779. The county seat is Hazlehurst. The county was created on August 18, 1905, and named for Jefferson Davis, the only Confederate president.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 335 square miles (870 km), of which 331 square miles (860 km) is land and 4.7 square miles (12 km) (1.4%) is water.

Most of the northern border area, as well as part of the western border of Jeff Davis County, from northeast of Hazlehurst to west of Denton, is located in the Lower Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. Most of the eastern corner of the county, east of Hazlehurst and north of Graham, is located in the Altamaha River sub-basin of the larger basin by the same name. The central and southeastern portion of Jeff Davis County, south of Hazlehurst, is located in the Little Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys-Satilla River basin. The remaining central and southern portion of the county is located in the Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys-Satilla River basin.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

• Wheeler County (north)
• Montgomery County (northeast)
• Toombs County (northeast)
• Appling County (southeast)
• Bacon County (southeast)
• Coffee County (southwest)
• Telfair County (northwest)

Communities

Cities

• Denton
• Hazlehurst

Census-designated place

• Satilla

Economy

Jeff Davis County had an estimated $164,341,000 in retail sales in 2017. Agriculture is a major factor of the economy. Cotton and peanuts, along with the formerly more significant tobacco, are the primary commercial crops. Timber, too, is an important product.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	6,050		—
1920	7,322		21.0%
1930	8,118		10.9%
1940	8,841		8.9%
1950	9,299		5.2%
1960	8,914		−4.1%
1970	9,425		5.7%
1980	11,473		21.7%
1990	12,032		4.9%
2000	12,684		5.4%
2010	15,068		18.8%
2020	14,779		−1.9%
2023 (est.)	14,906		0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010

Jeff Davis County racial composition as of 2020

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	9,950	67.33%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,293	15.52%
Native American	26	0.18%
Asian	50	0.34%
Pacific Islander	7	0.05%
Other/Mixed	406	2.75%
Hispanic or Latino	2,047	13.85%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,779 people, 5,279 households, and 3,790 families residing in the county.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Jeff Davis County, Georgia

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	4,695	81.31%	1,028	17.80%	51	0.88%
2016	4,104	80.17%	901	17.60%	114	2.23%
2012	3,996	74.85%	1,275	23.88%	68	1.27%
2008	3,867	73.16%	1,356	25.65%	63	1.19%
2004	3,549	73.25%	1,277	26.36%	19	0.39%
2000	2,797	66.26%	1,379	32.67%	45	1.07%
1996	1,796	47.08%	1,576	41.31%	443	11.61%
1992	1,947	39.32%	2,031	41.01%	974	19.67%
1988	2,050	62.03%	1,242	37.58%	13	0.39%
1984	2,233	61.80%	1,380	38.20%	0	0.00%
1980	1,191	35.97%	2,059	62.19%	61	1.84%
1976	622	20.55%	2,405	79.45%	0	0.00%
1972	1,857	86.01%	302	13.99%	0	0.00%
1968	577	19.82%	376	12.92%	1,958	67.26%
1964	1,875	71.56%	745	28.44%	0	0.00%
1960	402	32.76%	825	67.24%	0	0.00%
1956	247	12.98%	1,656	87.02%	0	0.00%
1952	367	21.72%	1,323	78.28%	0	0.00%
1948	70	7.73%	611	67.51%	224	24.75%
1944	120	14.00%	737	86.00%	0	0.00%
1940	101	12.64%	696	87.11%	2	0.25%
1936	93	12.85%	631	87.15%	0	0.00%
1932	50	4.06%	1,179	95.70%	3	0.24%
1928	180	36.36%	315	63.64%	0	0.00%
1924	39	23.35%	122	73.05%	6	3.59%
1920	303	53.82%	260	46.18%	0	0.00%
1916	14	3.79%	299	81.03%	56	15.18%
1912	19	5.60%	268	79.06%	52	15.34%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Jeff Davis County, Georgia
• List of counties in Georgia