Newton, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Newton · Baker County, Georgia
Population 489 (est. 2026: ~500)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -2.04% annual growth projection

Newton, Georgia

Baker County, Georgia · Population 602

Newton sits at the quiet center of Baker County in southwest Georgia's coastal plain, about 35 miles southeast of Albany and roughly 50 miles north of the Florida state line. It is the county seat of one of Georgia's smallest and least populous counties — Baker County's total population of 2,876 makes it one of the most rural jurisdictions in the state. The town itself is compact and unhurried, built around the functions of a county seat: courthouse, school, library. There is no metro fringe here. Newton is genuinely small-town Georgia, with the economics and infrastructure that come with that reality.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 estimates place Newton's population at 504 within town boundaries, with 206 occupied households. The racial composition is roughly 59% white (295 residents) and 39% Black (196 residents), with small Asian and Hispanic populations of 7 and 4 respectively. The median age is 41.0, slightly above the Georgia statewide median, reflecting the demographic pattern common to rural counties losing younger residents to larger cities. Average household size sits at 2.45. There are 137 children under 18 — about 27% of the population — and 132 of the 206 households are family households.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in Newton is $31,406, and per capita income is $23,152. Both figures run significantly below Georgia's statewide median household income, which exceeds $61,000, placing Newton among the lower-income communities in the state. Of the 504 residents counted, 190 — roughly 38% — fall below the federal poverty line. That rate is severe by any measure.

The labor force totals 187 people, with only 5 counted as unemployed — a low unemployment number that reflects both the small base and the likelihood of significant underemployment and labor force nonparticipation in a county with limited economic infrastructure. There are no large employers evident from the data. County government, the school system, and agriculture are the structural pillars of employment in rural Baker County.

Housing

Newton offers some of the most affordable housing in Georgia by raw numbers. The median home value is $90,900 and median gross rent is $427 per month. Of 258 total housing units, 206 are occupied and 52 are vacant — a vacancy rate of about 20%, which signals the ongoing population contraction common to Georgia's most rural counties. Owner-occupied units number 138; renters occupy 68. The 67%/33% owner-to-renter split is typical for small rural towns where rentals are limited and homeownership rates tend to be higher despite lower incomes.

Schools

Baker County operates a consolidated K–12 system. Baker County K12 School serves grades PK–12 with 292 students — the entire public school enrollment for the county in one building. Baker County Learning Academy, serving grades 7–12, enrolls 8 students and functions as an alternative program. There are no separate middle or high school campuses. Students looking for post-secondary options face a significant distance; the college data from enrichment sources is incomplete, but Albany Technical College and Albany State University in Albany, roughly 35 miles northwest, are the nearest realistic options.

Getting Around

Of 174 workers, 164 drive alone — 94%. Carpooling accounts for 5 workers; 5 work from home. There is no public transit and no measurable walking commute. The aggregate travel time of 2,925 minutes across 174 workers works out to roughly 17 minutes per worker per trip, which is modest but still means daily driving is non-negotiable. Newton is a car-required town. Albany is the nearest city with a meaningful range of services, employment, and medical facilities.

Healthcare

No hospitals operate within Newton or Baker County. Albany, roughly 35 miles to the northwest, is where residents access hospital-level care — Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital is the regional hub. For a current list of individual licensed providers with a Newton, GA address on file, the CMS NPI Registry can be searched directly: NPI Registry — Newton, GA.

Library

The Baker County Library serves Newton and the surrounding county. Contact: (229) 734-3025. As the only public library in Baker County, it functions as an anchor institution for internet access, literacy programs, and community resources in a county with limited alternatives.

Natural Hazards

Baker County's FEMA disaster declaration history is extensive and spans multiple hazard types. Hurricane Michael in 2018 generated both an emergency declaration and a major disaster declaration within days of each other — southwest Georgia took a direct blow from that storm. Hurricane Irma in 2017 produced the same double-declaration pattern. Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024. Beyond hurricanes, the county has been declared for severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in 2017, 2016, 2009, 2007, and 1998. Tropical Storm Frances hit in 2004. The county was also activated for Hurricane Katrina evacuation support in 2005.

In total, Baker County has 15 FEMA declarations on record. The pattern is clear: this region is directly in the path of late-season Gulf and Atlantic storms that move inland across southwest Georgia, and tornado risk from embedded convection is a recurring threat in spring.

Current weather alerts: NWS Alerts for Newton, GA

Government & Municipal Code

Newton's municipal code is published through Municode: Newton Municipal Code. The data on file indicates no adopted building code for the municipality — a notable gap for anyone planning construction or renovation, as it affects permitting expectations and contractor requirements.

Weather

Current National Weather Service forecast for Newton: NWS Forecast — Newton, GA

The nearest weather observation station is NEWTON 5 W, located 4.5 miles from town. Southwest Georgia's climate is humid subtropical — hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, mild winters, and a defined hurricane and tropical storm season running June through November.

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)