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Jefferson, Georgia

12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1891 and the latest in 1979. It stands in the Jefferson census division. It lies in ZIP code area 30549. The Survey maps it on the Jefferson quadrangle. 13,233 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 751 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Jefferson within Jackson County

On record in Jefferson

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 7 records

Surveyed buildings and structures 7 records

Population over time

2 figures

Jefferson grew from 9,432 to 13,233 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20109,432
202013,233+3,801 (+40%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

5 surveys from 12 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

8 of 14 photographs shown, 2017

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Confederate monument in Jefferson, Georgia
Confederate monument in Jefferson, Georgia
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
Mural remembering the Martin Institute in Jefferson, Georgia
Mural remembering the Martin Institute in Jefferson, Georgia
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
Old buildings, some empty and abandoned, in Jefferson, Georgia
Old buildings, some empty and abandoned, in Jefferson, Georgia
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
At first glance, the rusted-out staircase leading from the front porch of this old, abandoned building in Jefferson, Georgia, would seem to lead nowhere, to a five-foot dropoff or so, but upon closer examination, it connected the fire escape to the ground
At first glance, the rusted-out staircase leading from the front porch of this old, abandoned building in Jefferson, Georgia, would seem to lead nowhere, to a five-foot dropoff or so, but upon closer examination, it connected the fire escape to the ground
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
Boutique-like shops in Jefferson, Georgia
Boutique-like shops in Jefferson, Georgia
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
Ornate "gingerbread" trim on a Victorian house in Jefferson, Georgia
Ornate "gingerbread" trim on a Victorian house in Jefferson, Georgia
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
Harrison Hotel, Jefferson, Jackson County, GA
Harrison Hotel, Jefferson, Jackson County, GA
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Curry Creek Bridge, Spanning Curry Creek at State Route 15, Jefferson, Jackson County, GA
Curry Creek Bridge, Spanning Curry Creek at State Route 15, Jefferson, Jackson County, GA
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Every photograph of Jackson County

Fires near this place

95 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 95 fires within 5 miles of Jefferson between 1992 and 2019, burning about 303 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 16 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning53
Arson/incendiarism16
Equipment and vehicle use12
Missing data/not specified/undetermined4
Misuse of fire by a minor4
Recreation and ceremony3
Smoking2
Natural1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
3 September 1993Debris and open burning8.9 acresGeorgia Forestry Commissionnot named
29 September 2016Debris and open burning7.5 acresGeorgia Forestry CommissionFY2017-JACKSON-005
22 September 1997Debris and open burningunder an acreGeorgia Forestry Commissionnot named
13 September 1998Debris and open burningunder an acreGeorgia Forestry Commissionnot named
12 September 2005Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreGeorgia Forestry Commissionnot named
5 August 1993Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreGeorgia Forestry Commissionnot named
3 August 2011Debris and open burningunder an acreGeorgia Forestry CommissionFY2012-JACKSON-001
18 August 1995Debris and open burningunder an acreGeorgia Forestry Commissionnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Jackson County

Storms near this place

33 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Jefferson in 33 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 19 thunderstorm wind, 12 hail, 2 lightning. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2007LightningJefferson1 hurt, $100,000The Jackson County 911 Center reported that a home was set on fire as a result of a lightning strike. In addition, an individual was injured as a result of a lightning strike.
March 2008HailJefferson$1,000,000The public reported tennis ball-sized hail in Nicholson, and quarter-sized hail in the Jefferson area. The Jackson Herald reported that extensive damage to vehicles at two car dealerships was observed. More than 3000 vehicles were damaged at Southeast Toyota and approximately 1600 vehicles were damaged at Wayne Neal Chevrolet, both in Jackson. Damages to these vehicles was estimated at $400,000. The public reported that several vehicles in the Nicholson area were also damaged.
August 2013Thunderstorm WindJefferson$600,000The Jackson County Emergency Manager estimated 75-80 trees were blown down, mainly in the Jefferson and Arcade area. Ten houses were damaged, most due to falling trees, but a couple had windows blown out due to the strong winds. Multiple power lines were down as well. Most of the damage was along Jett Roberts Road into downtown Jefferson and along Johnson Mill Road in Arcade.
September 2009LightningJefferson$110,000The Jackson Herald of Jefferson reported that a vacant home on Margie Court was struck by lightning. The lightning strike resulted in a fire to the attic of the home. In addition, a 10 by 10 outbuilding in the 2000 block of Jackson Trail Road was also struck by lightning and set on fire. The structure was completely destroyed.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindJefferson$100,000Numerous trees down across multiple blocks along Mahaffey Street in Jefferson. Approximately 10 trees down on vehicles or houses.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindJefferson$25,000The Jackson County Emergency Manager reported wind damage to a warehouse on Cobb Street in Jefferson. A sheet metal awning was torn from the side of the building and roof damage occurred.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindJefferson$23,000At least 23 reports of trees down across Jackson County.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindJefferson$20,000The Jackson County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and a few power lines blown down across the city of Jefferson.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindJefferson$5,000The Jackson County Emergency Manager reported trees blown down along County Farm Road from Highway 82 to Samples Road. A set of aluminum bleachers were blown over at Lamar Murphy Park.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindJefferson$5,000The Jackson County 911 Center reported that several trees were blown down throughout the county.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindJefferson$5,000The Jackson County Sheriff's Department reported that several trees were blown down northeast of Jefferson. One mobile home was damaged when a tree fell on the home.
April 1997Thunderstorm WindJefferson$4,500no account filed
August 2015Thunderstorm WindJefferson$4,000The Jackson County 911 Center reported several trees blown down across the county.
April 1997Thunderstorm WindJefferson$3,000no account filed
June 2008Thunderstorm WindJefferson$2,000The public reported that thunderstorm winds blew down several trees between Jefferson and Arcade near the intersection of U.S. Highway 129 and Georgia Highway 355.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindJefferson$1,000Emergency manager reports tree on powerlines near Carriage Way and Village Drive.
April 2013Thunderstorm WindJefferson$1,000The Jackson County Emergency Manager reported that a few trees were blown down in Jefferson.
June 1999Thunderstorm WindJefferson$1,000Jackson power company reported power lines were blown down.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindJefferson$500The Jackson County Sheriff's office estimated thunderstorm wind gusts at 60 mph. The wind gusts caused damage to a deputy's vehicle.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindJefferson$500The Jackson County 911 center reported that three trees were down.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindJefferson$500Jackson county 911 reported trees blown down.
February 1997Thunderstorm WindJefferson$500no account filed
May 2025HailJefferson-The Fire Department reported quarter-sized hail in the city of Jefferson near the intersection of Brockton Rd and Red Tail Rd.
March 2017HailJefferson-The public reported quarter size hail.
June 2001HailJefferson-The public reported dime size hail.
March 2000HailJefferson-Jackson county 911 reported nickel to quarter size hail.
August 1999HailJefferson-Jackson county 911 reported dime size hail in Jefferson.
July 1999HailJefferson-Jackson county 911 relayed a report of quarter size hail.
April 1997HailJefferson-no account filed
May 1996HailJefferson-no account filed
May 1994HailJefferson-no account filed
May 1993HailJefferson-no account filed
May 1993HailJefferson-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Jackson County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Thyatira2.7 miles13
Arcade2.8 miles12
Holders3.5 miles12
Brockton4.1 miles14
Apple Valley4.4 miles13
Dry Pond5.1 miles13
Red Stone5.2 miles12
Marcus (historical)6.3 miles15

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on JeffersonAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q1966822The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 356332. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.