Dawson, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Dawson · Terrell County, Georgia
Population 4,292 (est. 2026: ~4,100)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -1.05% annual growth projection

Dawson, Georgia

Terrell County, Georgia · Population 4,414

Dawson sits in the southwestern corner of Georgia's coastal plain, the county seat of Terrell County, roughly 40 miles south of Albany and about 130 miles south of Atlanta. This is deep rural Georgia — flat farmland, pecan groves, and a small-town core that has served as the commercial and civic anchor for Terrell County for generations. The town carries the economic weight of a place that has seen population decline and persistent poverty, but it remains the center of gravity for a county of 9,185 people. Nearby Plains — home of Jimmy Carter National Historical Park — sits about 20 miles northwest, and Andersonville National Historic Site is roughly 35 miles away. Dawson is not a suburb of anything. It stands on its own.

People & Demographics

Dawson's population of 4,414 represents nearly half of all Terrell County residents. The ACS 2022 five-year estimates put the city's measured population at 4,342, with a median age of 33.4 — noticeably younger than the Georgia state median. The racial composition is predominantly Black (3,571 residents, roughly 82%), with 662 white residents and 106 Asian residents. The Hispanic or Latino population is recorded at just 2 individuals.

There are 1,516 occupied households, 978 of which are family households. The average household size of 2.81 is consistent with a community with a significant share of children — 1,237 residents are under 18, making up more than 28% of the population.

Economy & Employment

The economic picture in Dawson is one of the most important things to understand before moving here. Median household income sits at $31,310 — well below the Georgia state median, which runs in the low-to-mid $60,000s. Per capita income is $16,957. Of the 4,342 measured residents, 2,003 fall below the poverty line — a poverty rate approaching 46%.

The labor force numbers 1,532 people, with 200 counted as unemployed. Agriculture, public sector employment, and service industries are the economic pillars of Terrell County. There is no significant industrial or tech employment base locally. Workers who want broader career options typically look toward Albany, the nearest mid-sized city.

Housing

Housing in Dawson is among the most affordable in Georgia by raw numbers, though that affordability reflects the economic conditions of the area rather than a hidden market opportunity. The median home value is $80,600. Median rent runs $719 per month.

Of 2,054 total housing units, 1,516 are occupied and 538 are vacant — a vacancy rate of about 26%, which signals the long-term population contraction common in rural southwest Georgia. The split between renters and owners is heavily skewed toward renters: 1,034 renter-occupied units compared to just 482 owner-occupied units. Roughly 68% of occupied households rent, which is unusually high and reflects both income constraints and the structure of available housing stock.

Schools

Dawson and Terrell County are served by the Terrell County School System. The schools operating in Dawson include:

Total K–12 enrollment across the district's main schools is just over 1,000 students. For higher education, the nearest colleges are in Albany — Darton State College and Albany State University — both approximately 40 miles north.

Getting Around

Dawson is a car-dependent community. Of 1,277 measured workers, 854 drove alone to work and 224 carpooled. Sixty-three workers walked to work. Zero used public transit — there is no meaningful public transit infrastructure serving Dawson. One hundred fifteen residents worked from home.

Aggregate commute time across all workers totals 29,530 minutes, which works out to an average one-way commute of roughly 23 minutes — modest by Georgia standards, reflecting that most employment is either local or in nearby Albany.

Healthcare

No hospital operates within Dawson city limits. The nearest full-service hospital options are in Albany, approximately 40 miles north. Healthcare access is a genuine logistical consideration for residents. A current list of licensed healthcare providers in Dawson registered with CMS can be searched through the NPI Registry.

Library

The Terrell County Library serves Dawson and the surrounding county. Contact: (229) 995-2902. The library functions as a key community resource in a county where internet access and educational infrastructure are constrained.

Parks & Recreation

Two nationally significant NPS sites sit within reasonable driving distance of Dawson:

Both sites draw visitors from across the region and are practical day-trip destinations for residents.

Natural Hazards

Terrell County has a documented history of federally declared disasters, and the pattern is instructive for anyone considering property or infrastructure decisions here:

Southwest Georgia sits in a corridor that absorbs weakened but still destructive Atlantic and Gulf hurricanes as they move inland. Flooding and wind events are recurring risks, not rare ones.

Government & Municipal Code

Dawson's municipal code is published through Municode and available at library.municode.com/ga/dawson_county. The city does not have a local building code on file with Municode.

Weather

Current forecasts and alerts for Dawson are available from the National Weather Service:

The nearest weather observation station is DAWSON, located 2.1 miles from the city center.

References

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