Population 2,394 (est. 2026: ~1,800)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -7.69% annual growth projection
Kings Bay Base, Georgia
Camden County, Georgia · Population 2,329
Kings Bay Base is a census-designated place built entirely around Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, the Atlantic home of the U.S. Navy's Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. It sits in the southeastern corner of Georgia, just north of the Florida state line, tucked between the marshes and tidal rivers of Camden County. Everything about this place — its population, its housing, its demographics, its economy — flows directly from the base. There are no homeowners here. There is no downtown. What exists is a self-contained military community where nearly everyone either serves, is related to someone who does, or works in direct support of the mission.
People & Demographics
Kings Bay Base has a population of 2,329, a small fraction of Camden County's 54,768 residents. The community skews dramatically young: the median age is 22.3, compared to a Georgia statewide median closer to 37. That number reflects what military bases produce — young enlisted personnel and their families. Children under 18 number 571, nearly a quarter of the total population, in 675 households averaging 2.45 people each.
The racial composition is 1,707 white residents, 487 Black, and 345 Hispanic or Latino. The base reflects the broader diversity of the enlisted force more than it reflects Camden County's demographics.
Economy & Employment
With 1,654 people in the labor force and only 41 unemployed, the unemployment rate sits around 2.5% — effectively structural, not economic. The base is the employer. Civilian livelihoods in the broader county orbit the installation through contracting, retail, and services, but within the CDP itself, the Navy defines the economy.
Median household income is $70,625, which compares favorably to Georgia's statewide median. Per capita income of $27,575 reflects the youth of the workforce and the prevalence of junior enlisted pay grades. Despite the relatively stable employment picture, 259 residents fall below the poverty line — a number that points to the financial pressure on young military families at the lower end of the pay scale.
Housing
Housing here operates outside normal market conditions. Every one of the 675 occupied units is renter-occupied — there are zero owner-occupied homes. That is not a data anomaly; it is the defining feature of military base housing, where the government owns the land and the structures. With 747 total units and 72 vacant, the occupancy rate is about 90%.
Median rent is $1,297 per month. No median home value is reported, consistent with the absence of a private real estate market within the CDP. Anyone looking to buy a home will need to look to nearby Kingsland, St. Marys, or elsewhere in Camden County.
Schools
Children on Kings Bay Base attend Camden County public schools. The relevant campuses include:
- Matilda Harris Elementary School — Grades PreK–5, 662 students
- Kingston Elementary School — Grades PreK–5, 526 students
- David L. Rainer Elementary School — Grades PreK–5, 517 students
- Kingsland Elementary School — Grades PreK–5, 371 students
- Camden Middle School — Grades 6–8, 1,125 students
- Camden County High School — Grades 9–12, 2,673 students
Camden County High School serves the entire county's secondary population and is one of the larger high schools in this corner of coastal Georgia.
Getting Around
The commute picture here is unusual. Of 1,613 total workers, 539 walked to work — the single largest mode after driving alone (626). That reflects the on-base geography: a significant portion of residents work within walking distance of where they live. Another 372 worked from home, and 44 carpooled. Public transit was used by 32 workers.
Average travel time calculations based on aggregate minutes suggest short commutes overall, which makes sense when a large share of the workforce never leaves the installation.
Camden County has no urban transit system. For anyone living off-base or commuting beyond the gate, a personal vehicle is required. The nearest commercial air service is Jacksonville International Airport, roughly 35 miles south in Florida.
Healthcare
The nearest hospital is Southeast Georgia Health System – Camden Campus, located in Kingsland. Active-duty personnel and their dependents access care primarily through the base's own medical and dental facilities. For civilian or off-base healthcare options, the NPI Registry lists providers in the area at the CMS NPI search for Kings Bay Base, GA.
Library
The nearest public library is the Woodbine Public Library, approximately 0.9 miles from the CDP, reachable at 912-559-2391. It serves the broader Camden County community, including residents of Kings Bay Base.
Parks & Recreation
The coastal location puts Kings Bay Base within striking distance of some of Georgia's most significant natural and historic sites:
- Cumberland Island National Seashore — A barrier island accessible only by ferry, Cumberland Island offers 18 miles of undeveloped Atlantic beach, wild horses, and a landscape largely unchanged for centuries. Sea Camp Campground (13.2 miles) and Stafford Beach Campground (13.2 miles) provide primitive overnight options on the island.
- Fort Frederica National Monument — Colonial-era British fort on St. Simons Island, significant in the history of Georgia's founding.
- Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve — Spanning the Georgia-Florida border, this NPS unit protects estuarine marshlands and sites of indigenous and colonial history.
- Mainland Museum and Mainland Visitor Center (10.5 miles) and the Sea Camp Ranger Station (12.8 miles) serve as entry points for Cumberland Island visits.
- Hickory Hill Wilderness Campsite is available approximately 13.1 miles away for those seeking backcountry camping access.
Natural Hazards
Camden County has been hammered by Atlantic storm systems repeatedly over the past decade. The FEMA declaration history speaks directly to the real risk of living in coastal Georgia:
- Hurricane Helene — Dual declarations in September 2024
- Tropical Storm/Hurricane Debby — Two declarations, August–September 2024
- Hurricane Idalia — September 2023
- Hurricane Dorian — September 2019
- Hurricane Michael — October 2018
- Hurricane Irma — Two declarations, September 2017
- Hurricane Matthew — Two declarations, October 2016
The county has seen named storm activity requiring federal disaster or emergency declarations in six of the nine years between 2016 and 2024. Flood insurance and hurricane preparedness are not optional considerations in this geography — they are baseline necessities.
Government & Municipal Code
Kings Bay Base is governed under the authority of the U.S. Navy as a federal installation; standard municipal governance does not apply in the conventional sense. A municipal code is published through Municode and is accessible at library.municode.com/ga/kings-bay-base-cdp-georgia. No local building code is on file.
Weather
Current forecasts and active alerts for Kings Bay Base are available through the National Weather Service:
The nearest weather observation station is Woodbine, 0.3 miles away.
References
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2022 5-Year Estimates — Tables B01001, B01002, B02001, B03001, B09001, B11001, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25001, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25064, B25077, B08006, B08013
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Common Core of Data 2022
- FEMA Disaster Declarations — Camden County, Georgia
- CMS Hospital Compare — Southeast Georgia Health System, Camden Campus
- Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) — Woodbine Public Library
- National Park Service — Cumberland Island National Seashore, Fort Frederica National Monument, Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
- CMS NPI Registry — Kings Bay Base, GA
- National Weather Service / NOAA — Forecast Office
The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)