Screven, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Screven · Wayne County, Georgia
Population 652 (est. 2026: ~800)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 5.67% annual growth projection

Screven, Georgia

Wayne County, Georgia · Population 769

Screven sits in the flatwoods of southeastern Georgia, about 25 miles northwest of Jesup along U.S. Highway 341. It is a small, working-class town — the kind of place where nearly everyone drives to work, the elementary school anchors community life, and a median home sells for under $100,000. Wayne County surrounds it with about 30,000 people, making Jesup the county seat and the nearest hub for most services. Savannah, roughly 80 miles to the east, is the closest metropolitan area.

People & Demographics

The ACS 2022 count places Screven's population at 689, within a broader municipal estimate of 769. The town is majority white (509 residents), with a Black population of 160 and a Hispanic/Latino population of 13. No Asian residents were counted. The median age is 34.5 — a relatively young community, which aligns with the 201 children under 18 living here. Those children make up roughly 29 percent of the total population.

There are 262 occupied households, with an average size of 2.63 people. Family households account for 187 of those, suggesting this is largely a family-oriented town rather than one with significant student or transient populations.

Economy & Employment

Median household income in Screven is $44,643, and per capita income sits at $24,433. Both figures run below Georgia's state medians, which is consistent with the broader economic profile of rural Wayne County. The poverty count stands at 191 residents — a meaningful share of the population in a town of 689.

The labor force totals 297 people, with 10 counted as unemployed. That's a tight labor market by the numbers, but the options within Screven itself are limited. Most residents commute out, likely to Jesup or surrounding Wayne County employers in timber, agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare.

Housing

Screven has 305 total housing units, of which 262 are occupied and 43 sit vacant — a vacancy rate around 14 percent, which is elevated but not unusual for small rural Georgia towns.

The split between owners and renters is close: 136 owner-occupied units versus 126 renter-occupied. Median home value is $97,500, making homeownership genuinely accessible compared to state and national norms. Median rent runs $795 per month. For households earning near the median income, the cost burden here is relatively manageable — one of the practical advantages of a town this size.

Schools

Screven Elementary School serves grades pre-K through 5 with 209 students. It is the only school operating within Screven proper. Students in grades 6 and up attend schools in the Wayne County system, centered in Jesup. The elementary enrollment of 209 is notable for a town with a total population under 800 — the school is a central institution here.

Getting Around

Of 274 workers, 250 drive alone to work. Another 21 carpool. Public transit is not available, walking is not a documented commute mode, and only 3 residents work from home. This is an entirely car-dependent community, with no meaningful alternative. Total aggregate travel time reported is 8,465 minutes, averaging out to roughly 31 minutes per worker — consistent with driving to Jesup or other nearby county destinations.

Healthcare

Wayne Memorial Hospital serves as the county hospital for Wayne County residents, located in Jesup. Specific ratings and emergency service classifications were not available in current data. For a directory of healthcare providers registered in Screven, the NPI Registry lists licensed providers by city.

Library

The Wayne County Library is the nearest public library, located approximately 11.0 miles away. It can be reached at (912) 427-2500.

Parks & Recreation

Fort Frederica National Monument, administered by the National Park Service, is located on St. Simons Island approximately 41.5 miles from Screven. The site preserves the ruins of a British colonial fort and town dating to the 1730s. A visitor center operates on site. For residents of Screven looking for outdoor destinations, the coastal Georgia corridor — including the Golden Isles — is the most accessible recreational draw.

Natural Hazards

Wayne County has been struck repeatedly by Atlantic hurricane systems and severe weather. FEMA disaster declarations for the county include:

That is fifteen federal disaster actions since 2005, with five in 2023–2024 alone. Southeastern Georgia's exposure to Gulf and Atlantic storm systems is not theoretical — it is documented and recurring. Residents should treat storm preparedness as a routine part of living here, not an occasional concern.

Government & Municipal Code

Screven's municipal code is published through Municode and accessible at library.municode.com/ga/screven_county. No local building code is on file in available records, which is worth confirming directly with city or county offices for anyone planning construction or renovation.

Weather

Current forecasts for Screven are available from the National Weather Service at forecast.weather.gov. Active weather alerts can be checked at alerts.weather.gov. The nearest official weather observation station is the Screven station, located 0.4 miles from the town center.

References

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