Nunez, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Nunez · Emanuel County, Georgia
Population 129 (est. 2026: ~100)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -3.88% annual growth projection

Nunez, Georgia

Emanuel County, Georgia · Population 134

Nunez sits in the flat, pine-studded interior of Emanuel County, roughly in the geographic center of Georgia's coastal plain. It is a small rural community — one of the smallest incorporated places in the state — where the population fits comfortably inside a single school building. The county seat, Swainsboro, lies a short drive to the west and anchors most of the commerce, services, and institutions that Nunez residents use daily. This is farm and forest country, where distances between things are real, self-sufficiency runs deep, and home ownership is the norm.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 estimates put Nunez's population at 167, with a median age of 41.5. The racial composition is majority Black (88 residents) and White (55 residents), with a Hispanic or Latino population of 14. There are 63 households, 40 of which are family households, and an average household size of 2.65. Children under 18 number 62 — meaning roughly 37 percent of the population is school-age, a notably high share that reflects the presence of young families. Emanuel County as a whole holds about 22,768 residents, making Nunez a fraction of the county's total population.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in Nunez is $44,306 and per capita income is $24,835. For reference, Georgia's statewide median household income sits considerably higher, placing Nunez in the lower tier economically. Of the 167 residents, 70 are in the labor force and — according to ACS estimates — none are counted as unemployed, though that figure should be read cautiously given the small sample size. Poverty touches 39 residents, a significant share of a community this size.

There is no large local employer within Nunez itself. The working population commutes out, primarily toward Swainsboro, where Emanuel County's economy is centered around agriculture, timber, manufacturing, and government services.

Housing

All 63 housing units in Nunez are occupied — a zero-vacancy rate unusual even by small-town standards. Of those, 48 are owner-occupied and 15 are renter-occupied, putting the homeownership rate at about 76 percent. The median home value is $87,500, which is well below Georgia state medians and reflects the rural land market of Emanuel County. Median rent data was not available from the ACS estimates. For buyers, Nunez represents genuine affordability relative to most of the state, though the housing stock is limited and turnover is slow.

Schools

Nunez students are served by Emanuel County public schools based in Swainsboro. The local school system operates several large campuses:

Emanuel County Institute, located in Twin City, offers an alternative pathway through secondary school and draws students from across the county. All schools require a drive from Nunez; there are no schools within the town itself.

Getting Around

Nunez is car-dependent without exception. Of 54 workers counted in the ACS commuting data, 21 drove alone and 21 carpooled — a remarkably even split that speaks to the economics and community ties of a small rural place. No residents used public transit or walked to work, and none worked from home. The aggregate commute time for all workers combined was 1,060 minutes, which works out to roughly 20 minutes per commuter each way — consistent with travel to Swainsboro or neighboring towns. There is no public transportation serving Nunez.

Healthcare

Emanuel Medical Center serves Emanuel County and is the primary hospital resource for Nunez residents. Swainsboro, where the hospital is located, is the nearest full-service healthcare hub. For individual provider searches, the NPI Registry covers providers registered in Nunez. For anything beyond routine care, residents typically travel to larger facilities in Augusta or Savannah.

Library

The Franklin Memorial Library is the nearest public library, located approximately 10.9 miles from Nunez. It can be reached at (478) 237-7791. The library is part of the regional network serving Emanuel County residents.

Natural Hazards

Emanuel County has an extensive FEMA disaster declaration record — 15 declarations since 2014. Hurricane activity dominates the list. Hurricane Helene (2024) generated both an emergency management declaration and a major disaster declaration within days of each other. Hurricane Idalia (2023), Hurricane Michael (2018), Hurricane Irma (2017), and Hurricane Matthew (2016) each earned separate declarations. Severe winter storms struck in January 2026 and February–March 2014. The COVID-19 pandemic added two more federal declarations in 2020.

For a landlocked county in middle Georgia, this record reflects how far tropical systems travel inland and how seriously winter weather events disrupt infrastructure in a region not built for ice. Residents and prospective homeowners should factor flood zones and storm preparedness into any decisions about property here.

Government & Municipal Code

Nunez is an incorporated city with its own municipal code, published by Municode and accessible at library.municode.com/ga/nunez-city-georgia. The code does not include a local building code. Construction and development standards default to state and county requirements.

Weather

Current conditions and forecasts for the Nunez area are available through the National Weather Service forecast page. Active weather alerts can be checked at alerts.weather.gov. The nearest official weather observation station is Garfield 2.7 N, located 8.3 miles away.

References

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