Dixie Union, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Dixie Union · Ware County, Georgia
Population 56 (est. 2026: ~200)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 44.64% annual growth projection

Dixie Union, Georgia

Ware County, Georgia · Population 184

Dixie Union sits in the flatwoods of southeast Georgia, a small census-designated place in Ware County tucked between the sprawl of Waycross and the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp. With fewer than 200 residents and no incorporated town government, Dixie Union is less a municipal entity than a named rural community — the kind of place where neighbors know each other and the nearest grocery run involves driving toward Waycross, the county seat roughly 10 miles to the north. Ware County itself holds about 36,251 people, making Dixie Union home to less than one half of one percent of the county's population.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 survey counted 48 residents in Dixie Union, a figure that illustrates how fluid small-CDP population estimates can be. The median age is 71.8 years — a number that stands out even against Georgia's statewide median of around 37 — signaling a community composed almost entirely of older adults. There are no children under 18 recorded in the dataset, and no Hispanic or Latino residents. All 48 counted residents identified as white. The 27 households average 1.78 people each, and 19 of those households are family households.

Economy & Employment

Only 13 residents were counted in the labor force at the time of the survey, with zero unemployed. Every working resident drove alone to their job — no carpooling, no transit, no remote work. The median household income sits at $40,938, which trails the Georgia statewide median household income by a meaningful margin. Per capita income is $26,258. Eleven residents fall below the federal poverty line, which represents a notable share of a very small population. The nature of employment isn't specified in available data, but the surrounding Ware County economy centers on healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and timber-related industries.

Housing

All 27 housing units in Dixie Union are occupied, and all 27 are owner-occupied. There are no renters and no vacant units. That 100% owner-occupancy rate is unusual even by rural Georgia standards and reflects the tight, established character of the community. Median home value and median rent data are not available for this CDP. Anyone considering a move here should expect limited inventory — houses here rarely come on the market, and when they do, they're unlikely to be listed on major platforms.

Schools

School-level enrollment data is not available for Dixie Union specifically. Students in this area are served by Ware County Schools, which operates out of Waycross. The county school system includes Ware County High School and several elementary and middle schools centered in Waycross. Families drive into the county seat for schooling.

Getting Around

All 13 workers drove alone to work. There is no public transit, no carpooling recorded, and no one walked or worked from home. This is a car-dependent community without exception. Waycross serves as the commercial and services hub, and most daily needs — groceries, medical appointments, banking — require a vehicle and a trip down US-1 or US-82.

Healthcare

The nearest major hospital is Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross. Ware County has no Level I or Level II trauma center; patients with serious emergencies may be transported to Jacksonville, Florida (roughly 70 miles south) or Savannah (roughly 100 miles northeast) depending on the nature of care needed. For a community with a median age approaching 72, proximity to reliable healthcare is a real consideration. Providers registered in Dixie Union can be searched through the CMS NPI Registry.

Parks & Recreation

Dixie Union sits at the doorstep of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, one of the largest intact freshwater ecosystems in North America. The refuge spans over 400,000 acres and offers boat trails, fishing, wildlife observation, and primitive camping. The Stephen C. Foster State Park, located on the western edge of the Okefenokee, provides a formal entry point with camping facilities and guided boat tours. Laura S. Walker State Park, closer to Waycross, offers a lake and campground. For residents of Dixie Union, these natural resources are effectively in the backyard.

Natural Hazards

Ware County has been hit repeatedly and hard. FEMA has issued 15 disaster and emergency declarations tied to this county since 2011. In 2024 alone, the county received four separate federal declarations covering Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby. Hurricane Idalia struck in 2023. Prior years brought Hurricane Irma (two declarations in 2017), Hurricane Michael (2018), Hurricane Matthew (two declarations in 2016), and a significant severe storms and tornado event in January 2017. The West Mims Fire (2017) and Sweat Farm Again Fire (2011) reflect the wildfire risk in the surrounding flatwoods and peat-based Okefenokee ecosystem. Anyone living in or moving to Dixie Union should carry flood insurance, maintain hurricane preparedness supplies, and know their evacuation routes — this county has earned every one of those declarations.

Government & Municipal Code

Dixie Union is a census-designated place, not an incorporated municipality, meaning it has no mayor, city council, or local police department. County services come through Ware County government in Waycross. A municipal code is published through Municode and is available at https://library.municode.com/ga/dixie-union-cdp-georgia. There is no local building code on record for this CDP.

Weather

Dixie Union falls under the forecast area of the National Weather Service office in Jacksonville, Florida. Current forecasts can be accessed at weather.gov. Southeast Georgia's climate brings hot, humid summers, mild winters, and a pronounced hurricane and tropical storm season running June through November — a season that, based on recent FEMA history, routinely reaches Ware County with meaningful force.

References

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