Alapaha, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Alapaha · Berrien County, Georgia
Population 552 (est. 2026: ~300)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -19.57% annual growth projection

Alapaha, Georgia

Berrien County, Georgia · Population 481

Alapaha sits in the flatwoods of south-central Georgia, about 15 miles southeast of Nashville (the county seat) and roughly 60 miles north of Valdosta. The Alapaha River — which gives the town its name — drains through this part of the Coastal Plain, threading through longleaf pine country and row-crop farmland. With fewer than 500 residents, Alapaha is a small incorporated town in a rural county of about 18,160 people. It functions less as a self-contained hub and more as a quiet residential node in a region where the nearest substantial services are a county away.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 estimates put Alapaha's population at 592 — the Census-designated figure of 481 reflects a different count window, but both numbers tell the same story: this is a very small community. The median age is 46.2, which skews noticeably older than Georgia's statewide median (roughly 37), pointing to limited in-migration of younger families. There are 272 households, with an average household size of 2.18.

The racial composition is roughly 64% white (377 residents) and 34% Black (204 residents), with a small Hispanic/Latino population of 10. There are no Asian residents recorded. Only 61 children under 18 live in town — a figure that underscores the older age profile. Of 161 family households, that works out to fewer than one child per family household on average.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in Alapaha is $40,294 — well below Georgia's statewide median, which hovers around $65,000. Per capita income is $22,336. Of 592 residents, 142 fall below the poverty line, representing roughly 24% of the population — a rate significantly higher than Georgia's statewide poverty level.

The labor force counts 342 people, with 47 unemployed — an unemployment rate of roughly 14%, steep by any comparison. The local economy reflects the broader Berrien County pattern: agriculture, small-scale retail, and public-sector employment anchor most working lives here. Residents seeking larger employers typically commute toward Nashville, Tifton, or Valdosta.

Housing

Alapaha's housing market is affordable in absolute terms. The median home value is $105,400 — far below the Georgia state median — and median gross rent sits at $453 per month, which is exceptionally low. Of 399 total housing units, only 272 are occupied, leaving 127 vacant — a vacancy rate of about 32%. That level of vacancy is a marker of population decline or economic stagnation, common across rural south Georgia.

Owner-occupied units number 181; renters occupy 91. The ownership rate among occupied units is roughly 67%, typical of small rural towns where homeownership costs are low enough to be accessible even at modest incomes.

Schools

Alapaha students attend Berrien County Schools. The system runs four main campuses plus an alternative program:

All schools serve the broader county, not Alapaha alone. Families in town share these facilities with students across Berrien County.

Getting Around

Of 278 workers, 183 drive alone to work — 66% of the total. Another 38 carpool. No one uses public transit; there is none. Seven people walk to work, and 24 work from home. Aggregate travel time totals 5,720 minutes across all workers, putting average one-way commute around 20–21 minutes. The car is not optional here. Alapaha has no transit infrastructure, and the distances between towns in this part of Georgia make personal vehicles essential for employment, healthcare, and errands.

Healthcare

The nearest hospital is SGMC Berrien Campus, serving the Berrien County area. For more specialized care, South Georgia Medical Center's main campus in Valdosta — roughly 60 miles south — is the regional referral point. To search licensed healthcare providers with active NPI registrations in Alapaha, visit the CMS NPI Registry.

Library

The Carrie Dorsey Perry Memorial Library serves Alapaha residents and is located approximately 0.9 miles from the town center. Phone: (229) 686-2782. It is part of the public library system serving Berrien County.

Natural Hazards

Berrien County's FEMA disaster declaration history is extensive, and recent years have been particularly active. Since 2004, the county has received 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations:

The pattern is clear: south Georgia sits in the path of Atlantic and Gulf storms that weaken but don't die before reaching inland counties. Tropical systems, tornadoes, and flooding are recurring risks for Alapaha and Berrien County. The 2024 season — with Debby in August and Helene in late September — was among the most active on record for the region.

Government & Municipal Code

Alapaha is an incorporated town governed by local ordinance. The municipal code is published through Municode and is publicly accessible at library.municode.com/ga/alapaha-town-georgia. No local building code is on file with Municode for this municipality.

Weather

Current forecasts for Alapaha are available through the National Weather Service: NWS Forecast for Alapaha (31.2186°N, 83.2446°W). Active weather alerts for the area can be found at weather.gov alerts. The nearest observing station is Nashville 4N, approximately 3.2 miles away.

References

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