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
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
Jackson County Courthouselisted 1980- Holder Plantationlisted 1990
- Jefferson Historic Districtlisted 2003
- Oak Avenue Historic Districtlisted 2002
- Paradise Cemeterylisted 2002
- Shields-Etheridge Farmlisted 1992
- Williamson-Maley-Turner Farmlisted 1995
Surveyed buildings and structures 7 records
- Bell-Maddox House, Jeffersonfederal building survey, 1 photograph
- Curry Creek Bridge, Spanning Curry Creek at State Route 15, Jeffersonfederal building survey, 9 photographs
- Etheridge-Stanton House, 186 Lee Street, Jeffersonfederal building survey, 2 photographs
- Harrison Hotel, Jeffersonfederal building survey, 1 photograph
- Pendergrass Store, Jeffersonfederal building survey, 2 photographs
- Presbyterian Church, Jeffersonfederal building survey, 1 photograph
- Shields-Ethridge Farm, Cotton Gin, 2355 Ethridge Road, Jeffersonfederal building survey, 1 photograph
Population over time
2 figuresJefferson 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.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 9,432 | |
| 2020 | 13,233 | +3,801 (+40%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
5 surveys from 12 printed sheetsMatched 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.
- 1891 USGS Gainesville quadrangle1:125000, 5 printings
- 1954 USGS Greenville quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1958 USGS Greenville quadrangle1:250000
- 1964 USGS Jefferson quadrangle1:24000
- 1979 USGS Commerce quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Photographs
8 of 14 photographs shown, 2017Taken 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.
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
Highsmith, Carol M, 2017. Library of Congress
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Every photograph of Jackson County
Fires near this place
95 since 1992Regional 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 burning | 53 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 16 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 12 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 4 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 4 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 3 |
| Smoking | 2 |
| Natural | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 September 1993 | Debris and open burning | 8.9 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 29 September 2016 | Debris and open burning | 7.5 acres | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2017-JACKSON-005 |
| 22 September 1997 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 13 September 1998 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 12 September 2005 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 5 August 1993 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
| 3 August 2011 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | FY2012-JACKSON-001 |
| 18 August 1995 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Georgia Forestry Commission | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Storms near this place
33 since 1993Regional 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.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2007 | Lightning | Jefferson | 1 hurt, $100,000 | The 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 2008 | Hail | Jefferson | $1,000,000 | The 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 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $600,000 | The 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 2009 | Lightning | Jefferson | $110,000 | The 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 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $100,000 | Numerous trees down across multiple blocks along Mahaffey Street in Jefferson. Approximately 10 trees down on vehicles or houses. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $25,000 | The 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 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $23,000 | At least 23 reports of trees down across Jackson County. |
| September 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $20,000 | The Jackson County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and a few power lines blown down across the city of Jefferson. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $5,000 | The 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 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $5,000 | The Jackson County 911 Center reported that several trees were blown down throughout the county. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $5,000 | The 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 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $4,500 | no account filed |
| August 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $4,000 | The Jackson County 911 Center reported several trees blown down across the county. |
| April 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $3,000 | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $2,000 | The 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 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $1,000 | Emergency manager reports tree on powerlines near Carriage Way and Village Drive. |
| April 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $1,000 | The Jackson County Emergency Manager reported that a few trees were blown down in Jefferson. |
| June 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $1,000 | Jackson power company reported power lines were blown down. |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $500 | The Jackson County Sheriff's office estimated thunderstorm wind gusts at 60 mph. The wind gusts caused damage to a deputy's vehicle. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $500 | The Jackson County 911 center reported that three trees were down. |
| July 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $500 | Jackson county 911 reported trees blown down. |
| February 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jefferson | $500 | no account filed |
| May 2025 | Hail | Jefferson | - | The Fire Department reported quarter-sized hail in the city of Jefferson near the intersection of Brockton Rd and Red Tail Rd. |
| March 2017 | Hail | Jefferson | - | The public reported quarter size hail. |
| June 2001 | Hail | Jefferson | - | The public reported dime size hail. |
| March 2000 | Hail | Jefferson | - | Jackson county 911 reported nickel to quarter size hail. |
| August 1999 | Hail | Jefferson | - | Jackson county 911 reported dime size hail in Jefferson. |
| July 1999 | Hail | Jefferson | - | Jackson county 911 relayed a report of quarter size hail. |
| April 1997 | Hail | Jefferson | - | no account filed |
| May 1996 | Hail | Jefferson | - | no account filed |
| May 1994 | Hail | Jefferson | - | no account filed |
| May 1993 | Hail | Jefferson | - | no account filed |
| May 1993 | Hail | Jefferson | - | no account filed |
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 | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thyatira | 2.7 miles | 13 | |
| Arcade | 2.8 miles | 12 | |
| Holders | 3.5 miles | 12 | |
| Brockton | 4.1 miles | 14 | |
| Apple Valley | 4.4 miles | 13 | |
| Dry Pond | 5.1 miles | 13 | |
| Red Stone | 5.2 miles | 12 | |
| Marcus (historical) | 6.3 miles | 15 |
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 Jefferson | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1966822 | The 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.




