Homeland, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Homeland · Charlton County, Georgia
Population 877 (est. 2026: ~500)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -13.91% annual growth projection

Homeland, Georgia

Charlton County, Georgia · Population 886

Homeland sits in the flat, piney lowlands of Charlton County in Georgia's far southeast corner — close enough to the Florida state line that the landscape feels more like the Okefenokee Swamp's edge than anything most people picture when they think of Georgia. The Okefenokee itself is the defining geographic fact of this part of the state, and Homeland lives in its shadow. Folkston, the county seat, is the nearest town of any size. Jacksonville, Florida — about 75 miles south — is the closest metro with a major hospital system, airport, and full range of services. This is a small, working community in a rural county of 12,518 people, and life here reflects that: low housing costs, short commutes by distance if not by road, and tight reliance on county-level institutions.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 count puts Homeland at 1,155 residents, with a median age of 32.9 — younger than most rural Georgia communities. The population is majority White (682), with a significant Black population (359), a Hispanic/Latino community of 46, and minimal Asian representation (1). There are 304 occupied households, averaging 3.80 people per household — a notably large household size that reflects both family structure and housing constraints. Children under 18 number 204, meaning roughly one in five residents is school-aged. About 123 residents — roughly 10.6% of the population — fall below the federal poverty line.

Economy & Employment

The labor force counts 666 residents, with only 12 unemployed — a low unemployment figure in absolute terms. Per capita income sits at $22,766, and median household income reaches $52,222. That household figure is below the Georgia state median, which typically runs in the low-to-mid $60,000s, consistent with the economic profile of most Charlton County communities. Local employment options are limited; the county's economic base leans on timber, agriculture, government work, and services tied to Okefenokee tourism. Many residents commute out of town for work.

Housing

Homeland has 376 total housing units, of which 304 are occupied and 72 sit vacant — a vacancy rate of about 19%, high by most measures and typical of rural South Georgia towns that have seen population stagnation. Of occupied units, 204 are owner-occupied and 100 are renter-occupied, a roughly 67/33 split. The median home value is $55,500 — extremely low by Georgia and national standards, which makes ownership accessible for working families but also signals limited investment and constrained appreciation. Median rent runs $735 per month. The combination of low purchase prices and moderate rents makes Homeland one of the more affordable places to live in the state, though the trade-offs in services and amenities are real.

Schools

Charlton County operates a single school district serving Homeland and the surrounding county. Schools by level:

No schools sit within Homeland itself; students travel to Folkston and other county points. The high school enrollment of 452 reflects the modest but stable county population.

Getting Around

Homeland is car country, full stop. Of 654 workers, 598 drive alone and 28 carpool. Public transit use is zero. Two residents walk to work. Twenty-six work from home. The aggregate commute time across all workers comes to 18,425 minutes, working out to an average one-way commute of roughly 28 minutes — long for a town this size, pointing to how many residents leave the county for jobs in Waycross, Kingsland, or Jacksonville. There are no bus lines, no rail connections, and no meaningful alternatives to a personal vehicle.

Healthcare

No hospitals operate in Homeland. The nearest full-service facilities are in Waycross (Satilla Regional Medical Center, roughly 40 miles north) and the Jacksonville metro hospital system to the south. For a lookup of individual healthcare providers registered in Homeland through CMS, the NPI Registry lists credentialed clinicians by city.

Library

The Charlton County Library serves Homeland residents and is located approximately 0.3 miles from the town center. Phone: (912) 496-2041. As the only public library in the county, it functions as a community anchor for residents without reliable home internet and for students across all grade levels.

Parks & Recreation

Charlton County's greatest asset is its proximity to protected natural lands of national significance.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is accessible roughly 33–34 miles away, with campgrounds at Sea Camp (32.8 mi), Stafford Beach (33.8 mi), and the wilderness backcountry site at Hickory Hill (34.0 mi). The Mainland Visitor Center (27.8 mi) and Mainland Museum (27.9 mi) serve as the primary entry points for planning a visit; the Sea Camp Ranger Station (32.4 mi) handles on-island logistics.

Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve and Fort Frederica National Monument round out the NPS presence in the broader region, though both require travel into coastal Georgia and the Sea Islands area.

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge — one of the largest intact freshwater ecosystems in North America — is essentially the county's backyard and the dominant recreational draw for residents and visitors alike.

Natural Hazards

Charlton County has an unusually dense FEMA disaster declaration history, and that history tells the real story of what living here means in terms of risk.

Hurricanes and tropical storms dominate the list. Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024 (both a major disaster declaration and an emergency declaration). Tropical Storm Debby generated two separate federal declarations in 2024. Hurricane Idalia hit in 2023. Hurricanes Dorian (2019), Michael (2018), Irma (2017), and Matthew (2016) all produced emergency declarations for this county. Even storms that made landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast consistently generate flooding and wind damage in Charlton County due to the flat terrain and high water table.

Wildfire is the other major threat. The West Mims Fire (2017), the Racepond Wildfire (2011), and the Bugaboo Scrub Fire (2007) all drew federal fire management declarations — not surprising for a county bordered by the Okefenokee, which has seen some of the largest wildfires in modern Georgia history.

Anyone buying or renting in Homeland should take both flood and wildfire insurance seriously; the FEMA record shows this county faces both threats on a recurring basis.

Government & Municipal Code

Homeland's municipal code is published and maintained through Municode: https://library.municode.com/ga/homeland-city-georgia

The city does not have a building code on file. Residents and contractors planning construction or renovation should verify current requirements directly with city hall and Charlton County.

Weather

Current forecasts and conditions are available through the National Weather Service:

The nearest weather observation station is HOMELAND 0.7 N, located approximately 2.0 miles from the town center. The climate is humid subtropical — hot, wet summers with significant tropical weather exposure and mild winters.

References

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