Shellman, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Shellman · Randolph County, Georgia
Population 901 (est. 2026: ~1,200)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 8.1% annual growth projection

Shellman, Georgia

Randolph County, Georgia · Population 861

Shellman sits in the far southwestern corner of Georgia, deep in Randolph County farm country roughly 30 miles northwest of Albany and about 25 miles east of Columbus's outer orbit. This is one of the most rural stretches of the state — flat, pine-shaded land where small towns anchor county life and the distances between places are real. With 861 residents, Shellman functions as the county seat of Randolph County, a county of only 6,425 people itself. The town is not wealthy, not growing fast, and not suburban. What it is: a tight, majority-Black community with a low cost of living, deep roots, and a local charter school that draws more students than the town has working adults.

People & Demographics

Shellman's ACS-estimated population of 928 skews slightly older, with a median age of 40. The racial composition is clear-cut: 657 residents identify as Black (roughly 71%), 224 as white, with no recorded Asian or Hispanic/Latino population. There are 314 households in town, of which 185 are family households. The average household size of 2.96 is higher than many rural Georgia towns, and 236 children under 18 live here — a meaningful share of the population.

Economy & Employment

The economic picture in Shellman is difficult. Median household income sits at $24,737 — far below Georgia's statewide median, which hovers around $65,000. Per capita income is $21,916. Of the 928 residents counted, 345 fall below the federal poverty line. That's roughly 37% of the population.

The labor force stands at 342, with 94 people unemployed — an unemployment rate of about 27% among those counted in the labor force. The jobs that exist here tend to be in agriculture, local government, education, and service work tied to the county seat function. Many workers commute out of Shellman to Albany, Americus, or Columbus for employment.

Housing

Housing in Shellman is among the most affordable in the state. The median home value is $93,200, and median rent runs $675 per month. Of 425 total housing units, 314 are occupied — leaving 111 vacant, a vacancy rate of about 26%. That level of vacancy is common in shrinking rural towns and reflects both outmigration and aging housing stock.

Owner-occupied units (165) slightly outnumber renter-occupied (149), a near-even split unusual for a town with low incomes. For buyers, the combination of sub-$100,000 median home values and low rents means housing costs alone are rarely the barrier to living here.

Schools

Southwest Georgia S.T.E.M. Charter Academy operates in Shellman, serving grades pre-K through 11 with an enrollment of 486 students — a student body that exceeds the number of working adults in the town. The school draws from across the region, making it a significant local institution. Randolph County's broader school district serves surrounding communities, and high school completion in Shellman requires proximity to district offerings.

Among residents 25 and older (650 total), 273 hold a high school diploma as their highest credential. 62 hold bachelor's degrees and 10 have master's degrees.

Getting Around

Shellman is car-dependent. Of 248 total workers, 165 drive alone and 37 carpool. Notably, 13 workers use public transit — unusual for a town this small and rural, suggesting county or regional transit connections exist. Only 2 walk to work and 8 work from home. Average aggregate commute data works out to roughly 23 minutes per worker, consistent with regional commutes to Albany or Americus.

Healthcare

No hospital operates within Shellman itself. The nearest significant medical facilities are in Albany (Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, roughly 30 miles) and Americus (Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, approximately 25 miles). For a directory of individual healthcare providers registered in Shellman with the CMS National Provider Identifier system, the NPI Registry lists active local providers.

Library

The Randolph County Library serves Shellman residents and is located approximately 10.1 miles from town. Phone: (229) 732-2566. As the county library, it serves the entire Randolph County population.

Parks & Recreation

Two major National Park Service sites are within regional reach:

Both sites are significant regional draws and accessible as day trips.

Natural Hazards

Randolph County has been hit repeatedly. The FEMA declaration record going back to 1994 tells the story of southwestern Georgia's vulnerability:

Twelve federal disaster or emergency declarations in 30 years. Windstorm, flood, and tropical cyclone risk are all real here. Residents should maintain renter's or homeowner's insurance and have storm preparedness plans.

Government & Municipal Code

Shellman's municipal code is published through Municode and accessible at library.municode.com/ga/shellman-city-georgia. The city does not have a local building code on file with the Municode system — residents and contractors should confirm applicable state-level building requirements with Randolph County.

Weather

Current forecasts and conditions for the Shellman area are available through the National Weather Service. Active weather alerts can be checked at alerts.weather.gov. The nearest official weather observation station is Dawson, Georgia, approximately 9.9 miles from town.

References

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