Physical Address: 261 West Plum St., Jesup GA 31545
Mail Address: P. O. Box 513, Jesup GA 31598
Phone: 912-415-8080
Email: ida@connectinwayne.com
Wayne County’s quality of life includes award-winning healthcare and educational systems, abundant Southeast Georgia outdoor sporting opportunities, proximity to Georgia's Golden Isles, a thriving business community, and an authentic small-town atmosphere where residents know and care about each other.
Cities & TownsWayne County has three incorporated municipalities: Jesup (the county seat), Odum, and Screven.
Jesup (population 10,380) exudes a sense of community and nostalgia, where a person can catch a movie at one of Georgia’s few remaining drive-in theaters, enjoy train watching from a track-side platform, or do some shopping at more than 75 businesses that operate in the downtown area. Residents are friendly and enjoy a mix of city and country life.
Odum (population 462) is a quiet town with friendly people. Residents enjoy little to no traffic noise, and beautiful starry nights with the sounds of owls and crickets in the background. Odum is home to Poppell Farms, a popular fall destination for its 10-acre corn maze, petting farm and pumpkins. Odum is also located along U.S. Highway 341 which is part of the annual Peaches to the Beaches Antiques and Yard Sale.
Screven (population 782), like Jesup, is considered a railroad town and has a railfan observation area in Martha Frazier Fisher Park on Martha Street. Screven is also home to the Screven Ghost Light, a light that has been reported floating along the railroad tracks on Bennett Road for more than 125 years. Residents are neighborly and caring.
Cost of LivingThe cost of living in Wayne County is nearly 25% less than the national average and nearly 20% less than the state average, meaning your dollar stretches much further and enables you to live a good quality of life for less money.
HousingThe low cost of living in Wayne County, particularly in the Housing sector, means you can buy a lovely home, even large amounts of acreage, for not a lot of money. The median home value in Wayne County is $188,023, compared to the median in Georgia at $321,503 and in the U.S. at $420,800.
| Wayne Co. | GA | US | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food/Grocery | 95.0 | 94.5 | 100 |
| Health | 93.0 | 99.8 | 100 |
| Housing | 44.4 | 82.4 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103.3 | 103.2 | 100 |
| Transportation | 76.1 | 105.1 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 75.8 | 83.8 | 100 |
| Overall | 75.3 | 94.5 | 100 |
Source: Sperling's BestPlaces.com
Outdoors & RecreationMany residents choose Wayne County because of its breathtaking natural scenery. Thousands of acres in Wayne County are dedicated to activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and picnicking.
The Altamaha River forms the county’s northwest boundary and the Little Satilla River forms the southwest boundary. The Nature Conservancy has named the Altamaha as one of the 75 “Last Great Places on Earth.” Wayne County has miles of protected river corridors used by paddlers and anglers year-round.
Four Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) provide thousands of acres of hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and picnicking opportunities.
Wayne County residents stay active through a variety of parks, fishing lakes, recreation centers, and ball fields managed by the Wayne County Recreation Department, and meet friends through civic clubs, churches and other organizations. The City of Jesup also has “pocket” parks throughout the city, as well as the mile-long McMillan Creek Greenway.
Lake Lindsay Grace in Screven is a 250-acre county water reservoir that is ideal for fishing, boating, skiing, picnicking or just sunbathing along the shoreline.
HealthcareHealthcare needs are met through Wayne Memorial Hospital, one of Georgia’s Top 20 Small Hospitals of the Year in 2023. In 2019, Wayne Memorial opened the Nancy and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion, bringing chemotherapy services closer to home for patients in the community. They also opened two additional operating rooms.
Additionally, a network of local physicians and other practitioners who are also neighbors promote good health in our community.
Arts & CultureWayne County residents enjoy a full calendar of arts events and cultural opportunities, from arts festivals to galleries to live performances.
The Wayne County Arts Council hosts and supports a diverse selection of events such as the Dogwood Festival, the Art and Soul Art Show, the Mistletoe Market, concerts, plays, open mic nights, mystery theatre, and sip & paint sessions.
Partners of the Arts Council include the Altamaha Community Theatre and the Writers’ Guild. The Council is also in the process of launching a community chorus.
EducationWayne County’s 5,100+ school children who attend Cognia-accredited Wayne County School System are empowered to reach their highest levels of achievement. Wayne Christian Academy, a private, faith-based facility, educates about 70 students in grades PK through 7, challenging those students to think critically and to use problem-solving skills as they become life-long learners.
Our schools annually meet or exceed the accreditation standards that support student achievement. The Wayne County School District has a four-year graduation rate of 91.1% (2023), more than 6 points higher than the Georgia graduation rate.
Many students who graduate continue their education at area institutions such as Coastal Pines Technical College, the College of Coastal Georgia, Georgia Southern University, and Troy University.
