Sylvester, Georgia

9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1953 and the latest in 1988. It stands in the Sylvester census division. It lies in ZIP code area 31791. It stands on Hog Heaven Branch. The Survey maps it on the Sylvester quadrangle. 5,644 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 387 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Sylvester within Worth County

On record in Sylvester

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 5 records

Sylvester Commercial Historic Districtlisted 1987
US Post Office- Sylvesterlisted 1996
Worth County Courthouselisted 1980
Worth County Local Buildinglisted 1980
Sylvester Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase)listed 2002

Population over time

2 figures

Sylvester fell from 6,188 to 5,644 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	6,188
2020	5,644	-544 (-9%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

6 surveys from 9 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.

1953 USGS Waycross quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
1956 USGS Sylvester quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
1958 USGS Waycross quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
1973 USGS Sylvester quadrangle1:24000
1981 USGS Cordele quadrangle1:100000
1988 USGS Waycross quadrangle1:250000

Photographs

8 of 18 photographs shown, 1977

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.

Houses, Sylvester, Georgia; Shape note singing convention at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Damascus, Georgia
Fleischhauer, Carl (Collector), 1977. Library of Congress

Etta Anderson, Ocilla, Georgia, house interior; Houses in Sylvester, Georgia; Shape note singing convention, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Damascus, Georgia
Robinson, Beverly J. (Collector), 1977. Library of Congress

Friendship Baptist Church, Worth County, Georgia; African American commercial block, Sylvester, Georgia; Emmanuel Baptist Church and other scenes, Worth County, Georgia; Sacred Harp Memorial Singing, Mt. Zion Methodist Church, Mt. Zion, Georgia; Unidentif
Marshall, Howard W. (Collector), 1977. Library of Congress

Aerial photos, includes Sylvester, Georgia
Fleischhauer, Carl, 1977. Library of Congress

Ernest C. Fuller and Annie Gaskin, portraits made while traveling, near Tifton, Georgia; Houses with residents on porch, Sylvester, Georgia
Robinson, Beverly J. (Collector), 1977. Library of Congress

Akins family, Berrien County, Georgia, social visit and supper; Janie "Ma" Nelson , ABAC, Tifton, Georgia; Shape note singing at Macedonia Baptist Church, Sylvester, Georgia
Fleischhauer, Carl (Collector), 1977. Library of Congress

Georgian style house, Sylvester, Georgia; Harvesting tobacco with the Akins family, Berrien County, Georgia
Fleischhauer, Carl (Collector), 1977. Library of Congress

Shape note singing at Macedonia Baptist Church, Sylvester, Georgia; Etta Anderson, Ocilla, Georgia, with grandchildren
Robinson, Beverly J. (Collector), 1977. Library of Congress

Every photograph of Worth County

Fires near this place

335 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 335 fires within 5 miles of Sylvester between 1992 and 2020, burning about 1,442 acres in total. 12 started naturally. 44 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	235
Arson/incendiarism	44
Equipment and vehicle use	18
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	12
Natural	12
Recreation and ceremony	6
Misuse of fire by a minor	5
Railroad operations and maintenance	2
Smoking	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
8 September 2016	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2017-WORTH-003
7 September 1996	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
30 September 2011	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2012-WORTH-010
3 September 1999	Debris and open burning	1.1 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
26 September 2019	Debris and open burning	3.8 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2020WORTH008
23 September 2010	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2011-WORTH-004
21 September 1996	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
20 September 2015	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2016-WORTH-004

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Worth County

Storms near this place

60 of 66 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Sylvester in 66 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 38 thunderstorm wind, 15 hail, 4 flash flood, 4 flood. The reports record 4 injuries. 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
December 2005	Tornado (F1)	Sylvester	2 hurt, $750,000	A tornado touched down just southwest of downtown Sylvester, and moved east along Kelly Street where most of the damage occurred. Nineteen businesses, two houses, three county buildings, and two non-profit organizations were damaged. Two people were slightly injured by flying glass. A half dozen power poles were snapped at the intersection of Livingston and West Streets. Numerous trees were toppled. Several vehicles were damaged. Damage survey was provided by the NWS Tallahassee WCM, with additional reports by the Worth County EMA.
March 2007	Tornado (EF2)	Sylvester	2 hurt, $275,000	This tornado, rated EF-2, was spawned from the same supercell thunderstorm that produced the earlier tornado in Worth County. It touched down near McCarty Road. A brick frame house sustained severe roof damage with a couple of exterior walls collapsing. Two vehicles parked outside were carried into a nearby field. Large oak trees were uprooted, with one falling on a house. One mobile home was flipped over and rolled into a nearby tree. The tornado then moved northeast into a forest and uprooted hundreds of pines. It flattened a house, causing two minor injuries, before lifting just west of State Highway 33.
December 2007	Tornado (EF0)	Sylvester	$750,000	A weak tornado touched down just north of U.S. Highway 82, then raced northeast through the Isabella community. Along its path, the tornado damaged 29 homes and overturned several irrigation pivots. One peanut warehouse was damaged.
February 2013	Flood	Sylvester	$500,000	Persistent moderate to heavy rain over a greater than 6 hour period led to significant flooding across portions of Worth county. There were up to 30 road closures in Sylvester with an additional 15 county roads closed and 4 roads closed in Poulan. 18 houses flooded in Sylvester with an additional 2 houses flooded in the county. Monetary damage was estimated.
February 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$175,000	The Worth County EMA reported numerous downed trees and power lines. Several houses were damaged, and a barn was destroyed.
December 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$150,000	Several homes suffered major damage. Numerous road signs, trees and utility poles were blown down. Reported by Worth County 911.
January 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$100,000	Trees were blown down onto some houses in Sylvester. Damage cost was estimated.
May 1999	Flash Flood	Sylvester	$100,000	Stationary cluster of thunderstorms produced nearly four inches of rain within a two-hour period. Worth County S.O. reported flash flooding on Red Rock Rd. and two residences damaged by flood waters.
October 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$100,000	Severe thunderstorm winds damaged one business and residence just south of Sylvester.
April 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$50,000	Tree and power lines were blown down with reports of some trees falling on homes. Damage cost was estimated.
July 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$50,000	Numerous trees down across the county including some trees on homes. Damage was estimated.
June 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$50,000	Sylvester P.D. reported power transformers blown down. Several motorists trapped in their vehicles by fallen trees.
April 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$25,000	Several large trees were blown down in Sylvester. One tree fell on a house causing damage.
February 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$20,000	The roof was partially blown off of Lighthouse Church near Sylvester. Damage was estimated.
March 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$10,000	A tree was down on a home on Livingston St.
June 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$10,000	Many trees and power lines were blown down across the area.
February 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$10,000	The Worth County EMA reported several trees and power lines down. One house sustained roof damage.
December 2005	Tornado (F0)	Sylvester	$10,000	A tornado touched down briefly and caused minor damage to a few unoccupied dwellings near Sylvester. Reported by Worth County 911.
March 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$5,000	A tree was down with damage to a window and siding of a home on Dewberry Dr.
March 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$5,000	A report of roof damage was received from Sylvester as severe storms moved through the area with gusty winds.
August 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$5,000	Multiple trees and power lines were blown down in multiple locations.
February 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$5,000	Multiple trees were blown down. Monetary damage was estimated.
April 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$5,000	Straight line winds blew down several trees and power lines. An awning was torn off a gas station near the county fire station.
January 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$4,000	Power lines were blown down in Sylvester at West Crockett Street and South Livingston Street.
June 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$3,000	Power lines were blown down on Front Street in Sylvester.
August 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$3,000	The Worth county 911 call center reported some trees and power lines down in Sylvester as well as along Highway 33 north of town. Monetary damage was estimated.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$2,000	Multiple trees and a power line were blown down within Sylvester. Damage was estimated.
May 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$2,000	Several power lines were down in Sylvester.
July 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$2,000	The Worth County Sheriff reported several trees and power lines down.
May 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$1,000	A tree was blown down onto a power line near E Welch St and Martin Luther King Jr Dr.
February 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$1,000	The Worth County EMA reported several downed trees.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$1,000	Several trees were down throughout the city.
May 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$1,000	The Worth County Sheriff reported a few trees and power lines down.
July 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$1,000	Downed trees on State Highway 256 reported by the Worth County Sheriff.
July 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$1,000	Several downed trees reported by the Worth County Sheriff.
May 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$1,000	Some downed trees and power lines reported by the Worth County Sheriff.
May 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	$500	Several large tree limbs were blown down from thunderstorm winds along Georgia Highway 82.
March 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	-	Trees were blocking the Hwy 112N to the south of Ephesus Church Rd.
February 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	-	A tree was blown down on Highway 112 North just south of the Sylvester city limits.
September 2024	Flash Flood	Sylvester	-	Wallace Street was flooded.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	-	Numerous trees were blown down across Worth county.
July 2022	Flood	Sylvester	-	Minor flooding was reported on Isabella Street.
March 2020	Flood	Sylvester	-	The corner of Wallace and Maddox Street was flooded.
June 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	-	A tree was blown down on Highway 82 outside of Sylvester.
January 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	-	Trees were blown down on North Henderson Street.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	-	Trees were blown down near Sylvester.
August 2013	Flash Flood	Sylvester	-	A large part of the 400 block of East Kelly Street was closed due to high water in Sylvester with numerous other roads reported flooded across the county.
August 2010	Heavy Rain	Sylvester	-	Heavy rainfall from a slow moving thunderstorm caused some minor urban flooding in Sylvester. Water covered some roads and poor drainage area, but no damage or injuries occurred. Rainfall estimates were between 3 and 5 inches.
April 2009	Hail	Sylvester	-	Quarter size hail was observed on State Highway 33 south of Sylvester.
April 2009	Hail	Sylvester	-	Quarter size hail was reported near the county fire station.
April 2009	Hail	Sylvester	-	Nickel size hail was reported in southern Sylvester.
March 2009	Flash Flood	Sylvester	-	Many streets in the central and southern portion of Sylvester were flooded. Residents of several homes surrounded by high water were evacuated. County emergency management officials were evacuated when flood waters surrounded their building on East Willingham Street.
March 2009	Hail	Sylvester	-	Nickel sized hail was reported just east of Sylvester.
March 2009	Hail	Sylvester	-	Quarter sized hail was reported in Sylvester.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Sylvester	-	Several trees were blown down south of Sylvester.
March 2005	Hail	Sylvester	-	Nickel size hail reported by a SKYWARN storm spotter.
April 2002	Hail	Sylvester	-	Quarter size hail reported by a SKYWARN storm spotter.
June 2002	Hail	Sylvester	-	Dime size hail reported by the Worth County Sheriff.
July 2000	Hail	Sylvester	-	Nickel size hail. Reported by Worth County 911.
June 1999	Flood	Sylvester	-	Sylvester P.D. reported flooding in Sylvester along U.S. 82.

Every storm recorded in Worth 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.

Place	Distance	Sheets
Gammage	2.3 miles	10
Isabella	2.8 miles	9
Poulan	2.8 miles	9
San Barnard (historical)	3.0 miles	9
Willingham (historical)	3.8 miles	10
Gordy	4.2 miles	10
Shingler	4.2 miles	9
Camp Sherwood	4.9 miles	9

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 Sylvester	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q2795652	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 356576. 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.