Jefferson, Georgia

Jefferson is a city and the county seat of Jackson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 13,233 at the 2020 census, up from 9,432 at the 2010 census. As of 2024 the estimated population was 17,215.

History
Jefferson was founded in 1800. That same year, the seat of Jackson County was transferred to Jefferson from Clarkesboro. Jefferson was incorporated as a town in 1806 and as a city in 1896. The city was named after Thomas Jefferson.

Geography
Jefferson is located in central Jackson County at 34.12667°N, -83.59028°W (34.126736, -83.590297). It is bordered to the northwest by Pendergrass and to the southeast by Arcade. U.S. Route 129 passes through the southwest side of the city, leading northwest 21 mi to Gainesville and southeast 19 mi to Athens. Interstate 85 runs through the northern end of Jefferson, 5 mi northwest of the center of town, with access from Exits 137 and 140. I-85 leads southwest 55 mi to Atlanta and northeast 90 mi to Greenville, South Carolina.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Jefferson has a total area of 57.0 km2, of which 56.1 sqkm are land and 0.9 sqkm, or 1.53%, are water. Curry Creek, a tributary of the North Oconee River, flows just to the east of downtown, and the Middle Oconee River runs along the western edge of the city.

Demographics


As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,233 people, 3,933 households, and 2,885 families residing in the city.

Jackson County School District


The Jackson County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools, and one charter school. As of December 2020, the district had a total of 8,611 students.


 * East Jackson Elementary School
 * Gum Springs Elementary School
 * Maysville Elementary School
 * North Jackson Elementary School
 * South Jackson Elementary School
 * West Jackson Elementary School
 * East Jackson Middle School
 * West Jackson Middle School
 * East Jackson Comprehensive High School
 * Jackson County Comprehensive High School
 * EMPOWER College and Career Center (charter school)

Jefferson City School District
The Jefferson City School District holds kindergarten to grade twelve, and consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 115 full-time teachers and over 1,525 students.
 * Jefferson Elementary School
 * Jefferson Academy
 * Jefferson Middle School
 * Jefferson High School

Martin Institute
The Martin Institute was a school in Jefferson from 1818 to 1942.

Notable people

 * Chris Beck, pitcher for the New York Mets
 * Hiram Parks Bell, U.S. Representative
 * Damon Jesse Gause, World War II war hero
 * Brantley Gilbert, country music singer, songwriter
 * Crawford W. Long, physician who first used ether for surgical anesthesia
 * Brandon Mosley, former Auburn University and former New York Giants offensive lineman
 * Corey Smith, country music singer, songwriter
 * Malaki Starks, Safety for the Georgia Bulldogs