JENKINS COUNTY
County Offices
548 Cotton Avenue
Millen 478-982-5595
http://www.jenkinscountyga.com
Chamber of Commerce
548 Cotton Avenue
Millen 478-982-5595
http://www.jenkinscountyga.com/chamber-benefits.php
Strategically located between two of Georgia’s largest cities, rural Jenkins County is poised for development driven by continued growth in Augusta and Savannah. Characterizing itself as a progressive, industry-friendly community, the county is already home to a successful mix of agricultural, manufacturing, service, and distribution sectors. The strong transportation system serving the area is anchored by U.S. Route 25 and a network of state routes including 555/565 Savannah River Parkway. Augusta Regional Airport in Augusta is just a 45-minute drive from Jenkins County for commercial airline service.
Services
Access to first-rate healthcare begins at home in Jenkins County, where Optim Medical Center-Jenkins provides a regional center of clinical excellence. Comprehensive surgical, hospital, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic services ensure access to quality care for a rural population. Should the need for advanced care arise, Jenkins County is less than an hour’s drive from healthcare resources that rank among the finest in the South—and the nation. Augusta is home to the world-class network of Augusta University Health, a system that encompasses Augusta University Medical Center at Augusta University and the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. This nationally recognized network consistently ranks among the top one percent for the number of physicians on “America’s Top Doctors” list. The 581-bed teaching facility of University Hospital anchors the University Health Care System, distinguished among Georgia’s most comprehensive and largest healthcare providers. Doctors Hospital adds yet another leading institution with several specialty centers including the Joseph M. Still Burn Center—the largest inpatient burn center in America.
Opportunities for quality education from preschool through post-graduate are available locally and within the surrounding metro area. Surpassing the state average for graduation rates and high school test scores, Jenkins County School District ensures a strong foundation for continuing education—and for life. Nearby Augusta is home to several public and private institutions of higher education, crowned by Augusta University on two campuses. Formed by a merger of two colleges, AU offers an unusually rich curriculum for liberal arts, medical, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) disciplines. The Summerville campus also offers a collaborative program with East Georgia State College designed to help students earn the GPA needed to transfer to a four-year program at Augusta University. A first-rate technical education is available at Augusta Technical College, the only school of its kind in Georgia to win the U.S. Secretary of Education’s Award of Excellence. In addition to the private liberal arts institution of Paine College, Augusta hosts auxiliary campuses for several private colleges including Georgia Military College, Brenau University, Virginia College, and Miller-Motte Technical College.
Lifestyle
Jenkins County welcomes newcomers to the best of rural and small-town living, blending a friendly, relaxed country atmosphere with a progressive business attitude. The county’s natural beauty is accented by one of Georgia’s remaining free-flowing streams, the Ogeechee River, along with richly wooded forestland. Popular outdoor adventures include hiking, biking, swimming, paddling, ATV riding, and exploring nature at one of Georgia’s most scenic state parks, Carolina Bay wetlands, and the Ogeechee River area. Beautiful Magnolia Springs State Park is best known for crystal clear springs that flow seven million gallons per day. Spanning the sparkling water, a boardwalk offers views of alligators, turtles, and other wildlife while a small lake beckons anglers. Other amenities include campsites, rental cottages, a group lodge and picnic shelters, and a pioneer camp. During the Civil War this site was known as Camp Lawton and served as a large prison. Recent archeological discoveries from that era, heralded as some of the most significant in recent history, are on display at Georgia Southern University and at the Camp Lawton Museum in the park.
Cultural attractions close to home include buildings and homes on the National Register of Historic Places, Civil War sites like Camp Lawton, and Jenkins County Museum. Close proximity to Augusta opens up a world of additional arts and entertainment attractions, where intimate and grand venues present a full lineup of performing arts. The city is known throughout the South and across the nation for hosting colorful celebrations, including the famous Westobou and Arts in the Heart of Augusta festivals. Other stellar attractions in Augusta include Artists Row, Morris Museum of Art, Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Augusta Museum of History, National Science Center’s Fort Discovery, George Golf Hall of Fame, Augusta Canal, Savannah Rapids Park, and Augusta Riverwalk. One of the strongest draws to Jenkins County is the exceptional blend of home settings and styles, including mini-farms, quaint neighborhoods, country manors, and scenic acreage for new construction—all at affordable prices. With its strong community spirit and gracious, welcoming atmosphere, Jenkins County is an idyllic place to call home.
COMMUNITY PROFILES
Millen
City Offices
478-982-6100
http://www.jenkinscountyga.com
Chamber of Commerce
478-982-5595
http://www.jenkinscountyga.com
Just minutes from the scenic Ogeechee River, the county seat of Millen serves as the hub city for the county’s rural population. Access to rail, highway, and airport facilities along with the Port of Savannah gives the city a real advantage along the growing corridor between Augusta and Savannah. Local shops, services, eateries, and restaurants enjoy an atmosphere of historic charm—many of them housed in character-rich structures that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Proud of its status and legacy as a railroad town, Millen showcases two early 18th century depots along Cotton Avenue and preserves its colorful community history at Jenkins County Museum. The city also serves as a gracious host to more than 100,000 annual visitors on route to Magnolia Springs State Park. Enjoying access to the abundant flow of spring water, nearby 127-acre Bo Ginn National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium is another unique attraction.
