Barnesville, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Barnesville · Lamar County, Georgia
Population 6,070 (est. 2026: ~6,200)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 0.84% annual growth projection

Barnesville, Georgia

Lamar County, Georgia · Population 6,292

Barnesville sits along U.S. Highway 41 in the Georgia Piedmont, about 60 miles south of Atlanta and 30 miles north of Macon. It is the county seat of Lamar County, a small rural jurisdiction of roughly 18,500 people. The town has a legitimate claim to regional identity: it calls itself the "Buggy Capital of the World," a nod to the carriage-manufacturing industry that defined the local economy in the late 19th century. That era left behind a compact historic downtown with brick storefronts and a courthouse square that still functions as the town's civic center. Gordon State College anchors the northwest side of town and pulls students from across the region, which explains something notable in the demographic data: a median age of just 27.7 years, well below the Georgia average, reflecting a student population mixed into an otherwise working-class Southern county seat.

People & Demographics

Barnesville's 6,200 residents make it home to roughly a third of Lamar County's total population. The town is nearly evenly split between Black and white residents — 2,972 Black residents and 2,846 white residents — making it substantially more diverse than Georgia's rural average. The Hispanic and Latino population stands at 231. The Asian population is 62.

The median age of 27.7 reflects the presence of Gordon State College. Strip out the student population and the town looks older; include it and Barnesville skews younger than almost any rural Georgia town its size.

There are 2,192 occupied households. Family households account for 1,351 of those; average household size is 2.30. Children under 18 number 1,104, about 18 percent of the total population.

Economy & Employment

Median household income in Barnesville is $46,116. Per capita income is $23,049. Both figures trail the Georgia state median, consistent with a rural county seat where manufacturing, healthcare, and retail drive most employment.

Of the 3,005 residents counted in the labor force, 70 are unemployed — a rate of roughly 2.3 percent. A total of 818 residents fall below the poverty line, representing about 13 percent of the population.

Gordon State College is a significant employer and economic anchor. The broader Lamar County economy also draws workers to the Macon and Atlanta metro areas, as commute patterns confirm.

Housing

Barnesville has 2,434 total housing units, of which 2,192 are occupied and 242 sit vacant — a vacancy rate near 10 percent, typical for a small Georgia town.

Renters outnumber owners: 1,178 renter-occupied units versus 1,014 owner-occupied. That renter majority is partly a function of the college population. Median home value is $157,800, well below Georgia's statewide median, which makes purchase prices genuinely accessible by most standards. Median rent runs $896 per month.

Schools

Public K–12 education runs through Lamar County Schools, with four campuses:

Total K–12 enrollment across the county system sits at approximately 2,820 students.

Gordon State College (phone: 678-359-5555) provides post-secondary education directly in Barnesville. It is a University System of Georgia institution offering associate and bachelor's degrees, drawing students from across the region and representing one of the few four-year options within easy commuting distance for Lamar County residents.

Getting Around

Of 2,834 workers, 2,421 drive alone — about 85 percent. Another 273 carpool. Public transit use registers at just 2 people; Barnesville has no meaningful transit infrastructure. Eighty-eight residents walk to work, likely reflecting proximity to Gordon State College or downtown employers. Thirty-nine work from home.

Aggregate commute time across all workers totals 56,325 minutes, averaging roughly 20 minutes per commuter — moderate for rural Georgia, reflecting that many workers stay within the county while others make the drive toward Macon or Atlanta.

Healthcare

No hospital data was available for Barnesville directly. The nearest full-service hospitals are in Griffin (Spalding Regional, about 20 miles north) and Macon (Atrium Health Navicent, about 35 miles south).

For a current list of licensed healthcare providers with active NPI registrations in Barnesville, the CMS NPI Registry can be queried directly: NPI Registry — Barnesville, GA

Library

The Barnesville-Lamar County Library serves the city and county, providing the primary public library access for residents without a college affiliation. Phone: 770-358-3270. It is part of the Flint River Regional Library System.

Parks & Recreation

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park — a National Park Service unit preserving one of the most significant Native American archaeological sites in the eastern United States — lies approximately 36 miles south near Macon. The Ocmulgee Mounds Visitor Center is 36.2 miles from Barnesville and is the entry point for the park. The site encompasses earthworks built by the Mississippian culture over a thousand years ago.

Natural Hazards

Lamar County has received 15 FEMA disaster declarations since 2004, a frequency that reflects Georgia's exposure to a wide range of weather events:

Hurricane Helene in September 2024 produced both an emergency and a major disaster declaration within four days, indicating significant impact well inland. Residents should maintain preparedness for tropical remnants, ice storms, and severe spring weather.

Government & Municipal Code

Barnesville operates under a city charter and publishes its municipal code through Municode: Barnesville City Code — Municode

Note: The municipal code does not include a locally adopted building code, according to available records.

Weather

Current forecasts and active alerts for Barnesville are available through the National Weather Service:

The nearest official weather observation station is BARNESVILLE, located 1.6 miles from the town center.

References

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