Colquitt, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Colquitt · Miller County, Georgia
Population 2,085 (est. 2026: ~1,500)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -8.97% annual growth projection

Colquitt, Georgia

Miller County, Georgia · Population 2,001

Colquitt sits in the far southwestern corner of Georgia, about 35 miles south of Albany and roughly 50 miles north of the Florida state line. It is the county seat of Miller County, one of the smallest and most rural counties in the state. The town is best known as the home of Swamp Gravy, Georgia's official folk-life play, performed in a converted cotton warehouse called the Cotton Hall — a detail that says a lot about how Colquitt has leaned into its heritage rather than away from it. With a population just over 2,000 in a county of about 6,000, nearly a third of Miller County lives here, making Colquitt the undisputed center of local commerce, schools, and civic life.

People & Demographics

Colquitt's 2,131 residents skew slightly older than most small Georgia cities, with a median age of 42.5. The population is majority Black at 1,086 residents, with 879 white residents and 36 Asian residents. Hispanic or Latino residents number 18. There are 895 occupied households, with an average household size of 2.19 — smaller than the national average, reflecting an older population with fewer large families. Children under 18 account for 508 residents, roughly a quarter of the total population. Family households number 507 out of 895 total, meaning a substantial share of households are single-person or non-family arrangements.

Economy & Employment

The economic picture in Colquitt is challenging. Median household income sits at $26,125 — well below Georgia's statewide median and a figure that puts significant financial pressure on most families here. Per capita income is $25,544. Of the 2,131 residents, 827 live below the poverty line, a poverty rate that exceeds 38 percent — more than double the state average.

The labor force numbers 851 people, with 77 counted as unemployed. Agriculture, timber, and government services — particularly the school system and county administration — anchor local employment. The surrounding landscape is dominated by peanut, cotton, and timber operations, and many residents commute to Albany or Bainbridge for broader job markets.

Housing

Housing in Colquitt is among the most affordable in Georgia by purchase price. The median home value is $98,500, and median rent is $638 per month. Of 958 total housing units, 895 are occupied and 63 are vacant — a vacancy rate of about 6.6 percent, relatively tight for a town this size and income level.

The split between owners and renters leans toward renting: 503 households rent while 392 own, meaning roughly 56 percent of occupied units are renter-occupied. That ratio, combined with the low median income, suggests a housing market shaped more by economic necessity than lifestyle choice. For buyers, the low median value means entry-level homeownership is within reach in a way it simply is not in larger Georgia markets.

Schools

Colquitt is served by three Miller County Schools, all located in or near town:

Total enrollment across all three schools is 735 students, which aligns closely with the 508 children under 18 counted in Colquitt proper — indicating the schools draw heavily from across the entire county rather than just the city limits.

Getting Around

Colquitt is a car-dependent town with essentially no public transit infrastructure. Of 744 workers, 593 drive alone to work, and 68 carpool. Only 2 residents use public transit, and 6 walk. Working from home accounts for 64 workers — a meaningful number for a town this size, likely reflecting remote jobs held by higher-income households.

The aggregate commute travel time is 15,965 minutes across all workers, putting the average one-way commute at roughly 21 minutes. That figure is consistent with a mix of local jobs and longer drives to Albany or Bainbridge for employment.

Healthcare

Miller County Hospital serves the community and is located in Colquitt. For specialized care, Albany — approximately 35 miles north — provides the nearest full-service regional hospital system. Local healthcare providers registered with CMS can be searched through the NPI Registry for Colquitt, GA.

Library

The James W. Merritt, Jr. Memorial Library serves Colquitt and Miller County residents. Contact: (229) 758-3131. As the only public library in the county, it functions as a community anchor beyond book lending — providing internet access and public resources in a county with limited broadband options.

Natural Hazards

Miller County has a well-documented history of federally declared disasters, and the record reflects Colquitt's vulnerability to the same weather systems that batter the Gulf Coast. Declared events since 1977:

The pattern is consistent: Miller County sits in a corridor that catches inland effects from Gulf hurricanes and is vulnerable to tornado outbreaks and flash flooding. Hurricane Michael in 2018 was particularly damaging to local agriculture and infrastructure.

Government & Municipal Code

Colquitt's municipal code is published through Municode and available at library.municode.com/ga/colquitt_county. No local building code is currently on file through this platform, which can affect permitting and construction standards for new development and renovations.

Weather

Current forecasts and conditions for Colquitt are available through the National Weather Service. Active weather alerts can be monitored at alerts.weather.gov. The nearest observation station is Colquitt 2 W, located 3.5 miles from town center.

Southwest Georgia summers are long and hot, with high humidity and afternoon thunderstorms common from May through September. The hurricane declaration history above is a reliable guide to the storm risk profile during that season.

References

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