Barwick, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Barwick · Brooks County, Georgia
Population 335 (est. 2026: ~500)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 10.15% annual growth projection

Barwick, Georgia

Brooks County, Georgia · Population 363

Barwick sits in the flat, piney lowlands of Brooks County in south Georgia, roughly 15 miles west of Valdosta and close to the Florida state line. It is a small, quiet place — the kind of town where most people know their neighbors and most daily errands require a drive. The county seat is Quitman, about 8 miles to the northeast, and that's where most of the services, schools, and commerce are concentrated. Barwick itself is residential at its core, with a median age that tells the story of a community that has grown older even as its overall numbers have stayed small.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 data puts Barwick's population at 316 within the survey sample, against the broader estimate of 363. The town's 143 households average 2.21 people each — smaller than typical family configurations because the population skews older. The median age is 54.2 years, well above Georgia's statewide median, which signals an aging community with relatively few young adults in the mix. There are 68 children under 18 in town.

Racially, the town is split between 100 white residents and 216 Black residents. No Asian or Hispanic/Latino residents were counted in the 2022 data. Brooks County as a whole has a population of 16,301, making Barwick a small piece of a small county.

Economy & Employment

At a median household income of $29,306, Barwick sits well below the Georgia statewide median. Per capita income is $23,433. The poverty picture is stark: 116 residents — a significant share of the town — fall below the federal poverty line.

The labor force totals 102 people, with just 2 reported as unemployed. That low unemployment number reflects how small the available workforce is, not necessarily a booming job market. Most working residents commute out of town for employment — likely to Quitman, Valdosta, or along the U.S. 84 and I-75 corridors. There is no notable commercial or industrial employment base within Barwick itself.

Housing

Barwick's 165 total housing units include 143 occupied and 22 vacant — a vacancy rate of about 13%, which is elevated but not unusual for small rural communities in south Georgia. Owner-occupancy dominates heavily: 120 units are owner-occupied versus just 23 rentals.

The median home value is $49,400. That number is exceptionally low by Georgia standards and reflects both the age of the housing stock and the economic pressures in the community. Median rent sits at $721 per month, which is more in line with regional rental norms and may reflect limited rental inventory rather than premium housing.

For buyers, Barwick offers some of the most affordable entry points in the state. For sellers, appreciation prospects depend heavily on broader regional growth, which in Brooks County has been limited.

Schools

Barwick students attend Brooks County Schools. The district runs several campuses:

All schools are in or near Quitman, requiring bus or car transportation for Barwick students.

Getting Around

Barwick is car-dependent without exception. Of the 100 workers counted, 80 drive alone and 17 carpool. Zero use public transit. Zero walk to work. Three work from home. The aggregate commute time across all workers is 2,760 minutes, putting the average one-way commute at roughly 27–28 minutes — consistent with a Quitman or Valdosta destination for most workers.

There is no public transit serving the town.

Healthcare

The local hospital is Archbold Brooks in Quitman, which serves as the primary acute care facility for the county. Valdosta — home to South Georgia Medical Center — is roughly 15 miles east and provides the nearest full-service regional hospital with specialty care.

For a full directory of licensed providers with a Barwick address, the CMS NPI Registry can be queried directly: NPI Provider Search — Barwick, GA

Library

The Brooks County Public Library is the nearest public library, located 1.9 miles from town. It can be reached at (229) 263-4412. The library serves as a shared resource for all of Brooks County and is part of the Alapaha Regional Library System.

Natural Hazards

Brooks County has a heavy FEMA declaration history, concentrated in the period since 2017 and reflecting the region's repeated exposure to Gulf-tracking storms. Declared disasters include:

This is not a county that gets hurricanes occasionally. It gets them regularly. The combination of inland flooding, high winds, and storm surge effects from Gulf systems makes preparedness a genuine local concern. Residents should carry flood awareness year-round, not just during peak season.

Government & Municipal Code

Barwick's municipal code is published through Municode and is publicly available at library.municode.com/ga/barwick-city-georgia. The city does not have a local building code on file in the Municode system.

Weather

The National Weather Service forecast for Barwick is available at forecast.weather.gov. Active weather alerts for the area can be monitored at alerts.weather.gov. The nearest weather observation station is Quitman 2 NW, approximately 2.3 miles away.

References

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