According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 335 square miles (870 km2), of which 331 square miles (860 km2) is land and 4.7 square miles (12 km2) (1.4%) is water.[4]
Most of the northern border area, as well as part of the western border of Jeff Davis County, from northeast ofHazlehurst to west ofDenton, is located in the LowerOcmulgee River sub-basin of theAltamaha River basin. Most of the eastern corner of the county, east of Hazlehurst and north ofGraham, is located in the Altamaha River sub-basin of the larger basin by the same name. The central and southeastern portion of Jeff Davis County, south of Hazlehurst, is located in the LittleSatilla River sub-basin of theSt. Marys-Satilla River basin. The remaining central and southern portion of the county is located in the Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys-Satilla River basin.[5]
Jeff Davis County had an estimated $164,341,000 in retail sales in 2017.[6] Agriculture is a major factor of the economy. Cotton and peanuts, along with the formerly more significant tobacco, are the primary commercial crops. Timber, too, is an important product.[7]
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 14,779, 5,560 households, and 3,790 families. The median age was 37.0 years; 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.4 males age 18 and over. 33.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 66.7% lived in rural areas.[19][20]
There were 5,560 households in the county, of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20]
There were 6,351 housing units, of which 12.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.9% were owner-occupied and 33.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.[20]
