Bemiss, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Bemiss · Lowndes County, Georgia
Population 8,464 (est. 2026: ~11,200)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 8.71% annual growth projection

Bemiss, Georgia

Lowndes County, Georgia · Population 8,999

Bemiss is a census-designated place on the northern edge of Valdosta, Georgia's largest city in the far south of the state. It sits close enough to Valdosta to share its schools, hospital systems, and economic gravity, while remaining a distinct residential community with a notably high homeownership rate and a median household income that outpaces much of the county. Lowndes County's total population of 118,251 makes it one of the more populous counties in South Georgia, and Bemiss represents roughly 7.6% of that count — a meaningful slice, not a footnote.

People & Demographics

Bemiss holds 9,049 residents across 2,906 households. The median age is 30.1, younger than Georgia's statewide median, which reflects the proximity of Valdosta State University and a community with substantial numbers of young families — 2,746 residents are under 18, roughly 30% of the population.

The racial breakdown: 5,311 white residents, 2,602 Black residents, 314 Asian residents, and 775 Hispanic or Latino residents of any race. The average household size of 3.11 persons is higher than most Georgia suburban CDPs, consistent with the large proportion of family households — 2,419 of 2,906 total households are family households.

About 1,043 residents live below the poverty line.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in Bemiss is $82,134 — a figure that sits comfortably above Georgia's statewide median. Per capita income is $29,788. Of 4,125 residents in the labor force, 191 are unemployed, an unemployment rate of roughly 4.6%.

The Valdosta metro is the dominant employment center. Valdosta State University, South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC Health), Moody Air Force Base, and the regional retail and healthcare sectors collectively anchor the local economy. Bemiss residents commute into this ecosystem rather than drawing on a separate industrial base of their own.

Housing

Bemiss has 3,156 total housing units. Of those, 2,906 are occupied and 250 are vacant — a vacancy rate of 7.9%, which is moderate. Owner-occupied units total 2,120; renters occupy 786 units. That ownership rate of roughly 73% is high for a community this size and this close to a university city.

The median home value is $178,300. Median rent runs $1,359 per month — a number that has climbed with broader South Georgia market pressure and is notable for a community without a separate downtown commercial core.

Schools

Bemiss falls within the Lowndes County and Valdosta City school systems. Students attend a range of public schools across the Valdosta area:

Elementary (PreK–5): - Sallas Mahone Elementary — 1,078 students - Westside Elementary — 937 students - W.G. Nunn Elementary — 901 students - S.L. Mason Elementary — 887 students - Dewar Elementary — 859 students - Hahira Elementary — 807 students - Pine Grove Elementary — 664 students

Middle (6–8): - Valdosta Middle School — 1,060 students - Hahira Middle School — 859 students - Lowndes Middle School — 840 students - Newbern Middle School — 806 students - Pine Grove Middle School — 742 students

High (9–12): - Lowndes High School — 3,201 students - Valdosta High School — 2,381 students

Charter: - Scintilla Charter Academy (K–8) — 721 students

Valdosta State University, reachable by phone at (229) 333-5800, serves the region's higher education needs and is a major employer and enrollment draw for Lowndes County overall.

Getting Around

Of 3,934 workers, 3,584 drive alone — 91.1%. Carpooling accounts for 193 commuters. Zero workers report using public transit or walking to work. 151 work from home. The aggregate commute time for all workers is 79,350 minutes, which averages to roughly 20 minutes per worker — consistent with short drives into central Valdosta.

Bemiss is car-dependent without exception. There is no meaningful public transit option serving this community.

Healthcare

Two hospital systems serve the Valdosta area. SGMC Health (South Georgia Medical Center) is the regional acute care anchor for Lowndes County and surrounding counties. Greenleaf Center provides behavioral health services in the Valdosta area. Specific ratings data is not available for either facility in current CMS records.

For a full directory of individual healthcare providers in Bemiss, the NPI Registry can be queried at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov.

Library

The Willis L. Miller Library is the nearest public library, located 2.0 miles from Bemiss. Phone: (229) 333-0086.

Natural Hazards

Lowndes County has accumulated a serious FEMA disaster declaration record. Named storms and severe weather events affecting this county since 1998:

The pattern is unmistakable: this part of South Georgia sits in the path of Gulf and Atlantic storm systems year after year. Hurricane preparedness is not hypothetical for Lowndes County residents — it is a recurring practical necessity, with four named-storm declarations in 2023–2024 alone.

Government & Municipal Code

Bemiss is a census-designated place, meaning it lacks incorporated municipal government. Its municipal code is published through Municode and available at library.municode.com/ga/bemiss-cdp-georgia. There is no local building code on record for Bemiss.

Weather

Current forecasts for Bemiss are available through the National Weather Service at forecast.weather.gov. Active weather alerts can be monitored at alerts.weather.gov. The nearest official weather observation station is Valdosta 2.1 NNE, approximately 1.1 miles from Bemiss.

References

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