Hazlehurst is a city in and the county seat of Jeff Davis County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,088 in 2020.

History

Initially called "Walkertown" due to the Walker Family living in the area, it wasn't until the establishment of the railroad line from Macon to Brunswick that an actual community began to populate in the area. It was formally founded circa 1880 as depot on the Macon and Brunswick Railroad. The depot was first named "Milepost 8" before eventually gaining the name "Hazlehurst". The community was named for railroad surveyor Col. George Walker. In 1891, the community was incorporated as a town. A courthouse was not built until 1907, after the formation of Jeff Davis County the previous year. A city in Mississippi was also named after him.

Geography

Hazlehurst is located in southeast Georgia at 31.87°N, -82.59361°W (31.870116775545718, -82.59377044041746).

Transportation

Hazlehurst is served by the intersection of U.S. routes 23, 221 and 341. U.S. 23 heads south, south-east for 25 miles towards Alma and north-west for 8 miles to Lumber City, while U.S. 341 travels south-east for roughly 16 miles to Baxley and joins U.S. 23 heading north-west towards Lumber City. U.S. 221 heads 29 miles north-east towards Vidalia and south-west for 31 miles to Douglas. Aside from the Macon-Brunswick railroad running through the center of town, the Hazlehurst Municipal Airport, a roughly 165 acre facility located just northwest of the city.

Climate

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,088 people, 1,494 households, and 894 families residing in the city.

Education

Jeff Davis County School District

The Jeff Davis County School District consists of a primary school, a elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 210 classroom teachers and 3,075 students.