Pinehurst, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Pinehurst · Dooly County, Georgia
Population 515 (est. 2026: ~700)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 8.16% annual growth projection

Pinehurst, Georgia

Dooly County, Georgia · Population 309

Pinehurst sits in the flat, agricultural heart of Middle Georgia, a small city in Dooly County where cotton fields and pecan groves define the landscape. With 309 residents, it is a close-knit community roughly 140 miles south of Atlanta and about 6 miles east of Vienna, the county seat. This is Deep South rural Georgia — unhurried, agricultural, and shaped by generations of families who stayed. It is not a suburb of anything. The nearest metro area is Macon, roughly 45 miles to the northeast. Life here is self-contained by necessity.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 data puts Pinehurst's population at 440, with a median age of 45.3 — older than Georgia's statewide median, reflecting the broader rural Georgia pattern of younger residents leaving for urban job markets. The community is predominantly Black (278 residents) alongside 152 white residents, and 26 residents identify as Hispanic or Latino.

There are 137 households, 88 of which are family households. The average household size of 2.91 is notably higher than typical rural Georgia figures. Children under 18 number 107 — a meaningful share of the total population for a town this size, which points to a younger family presence despite the elevated median age.

Dooly County as a whole has 11,208 residents, meaning Pinehurst accounts for a small fraction of county population, with Vienna pulling most of the county's commercial and civic weight.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in Pinehurst is $34,375, and the per capita income is $17,264. Both figures sit well below Georgia's statewide median household income, which consistently exceeds $65,000. Of 440 residents, 166 fall below the poverty line — a poverty rate approaching 38%, which is severe even by rural Georgia standards.

The labor force stands at 106 people, with 9 unemployed. The employment base reflects the surrounding agricultural economy: Dooly County is a major peanut and cotton producing county in Georgia. Local job options are limited, and many working residents commute out of town.

Housing

Pinehurst has 154 total housing units, of which 137 are occupied and 17 vacant — an 11% vacancy rate. Owner-occupied units number 95; 42 households rent. The median home value of $82,500 is low by any Georgia measure, making homeownership financially accessible for those with stable income. Median rent runs $750 per month.

The combination of low home values and depressed incomes means housing cost burden is a real factor for renter households. At $750 in rent against a median household income of $34,375, renters are paying a significant share of monthly income toward housing.

Schools

Children in Pinehurst attend Dooly County schools. Dooly County Elementary School serves grades pre-K through 5 with 507 students. Dooly County Middle School serves grades 6 through 8 with 251 students. High school students attend Dooly County High School in Vienna. There are no private or charter schools in Pinehurst itself.

Getting Around

Of 97 total workers, 54 drive alone to work and 11 carpool. No residents use public transit — there is none. Two residents walk to work, and 25 work from home, a notable 26% of workers, higher than might be expected in a town this rural. The aggregate travel time for all workers is 2,105 minutes, suggesting an average one-way commute of roughly 22 minutes — consistent with trips into Vienna or toward Cordele, the nearest larger town with a more developed commercial base.

A personal vehicle is not optional here. There is no transit infrastructure.

Healthcare

The nearest hospital serving Dooly County residents is Flint River Community Hospital. For local provider searches, the CMS NPI Registry can be queried directly for Pinehurst-area clinicians: NPI Registry — Pinehurst, GA.

Residents with serious medical needs typically travel to Cordele (Crisp Regional Hospital) or to Macon for specialty care.

Library

The Elizabeth Harris Library is the nearest public library, located 6.1 miles from Pinehurst. It can be reached at (478) 627-9303. The library is part of the Flint River Regional Library System, which serves multiple rural Middle Georgia counties.

Parks & Recreation

Three National Park Service sites are within reasonable driving distance of Pinehurst:

These three sites make Dooly County a reasonable base for day trips into deep Georgia history.

Natural Hazards

Dooly County has a long and serious FEMA disaster declaration history. The county has been included in 15 federal declarations since 1994:

This record reflects Middle Georgia's exposure to Gulf Coast storm tracks, its vulnerability to flooding in low-lying agricultural terrain, and the county's consistent role in statewide emergency response. Residents should maintain flood awareness and storm preparedness plans.

Government & Municipal Code

Pinehurst operates under a municipal code published through Municode: Pinehurst City Code. The city does not currently maintain a local building code. Construction and building standards default to state and county requirements.

Weather

Current forecasts and conditions for Pinehurst are available through the National Weather Service: NWS Forecast for Pinehurst, GA. Active weather alerts can be monitored at NWS Alerts. The nearest weather observation station is in Vienna, 6.4 miles away.

References

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