Jesup, Georgia
The town that trains built. An independent guide to the history, the people and the downtown of Wayne County's seat.
A railroad town at the heart of Wayne County
Jesup, Georgia sits in the wiregrass region of the southeast, about 40 miles from the Atlantic coast. It is the seat of Wayne County and the county's largest city, with a historic courthouse, a restored train depot, and a downtown built around the tracks that started it all.
This is a community guide for people who live in Jesup, are thinking about moving here, or want to know what makes it worth a visit.
The town that trains built
Jesup did not start as a village that later got a railroad. It started at a railroad crossing. When the Macon and Brunswick and the Atlantic and Gulf lines met here, stores, a sawmill and a hotel followed, and a town took shape around the junction.
Willis Clary starts building a hotel near the railroad junction. Stores and a sawmill spring up beside it.
The community takes the name Jesup, after General Thomas Jesup. Clary becomes its first mayor.
Jesup replaces Waynesville as the county seat of Wayne County.
The Wayne County Courthouse is built in Jesup. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The Arch Festival begins as a way to celebrate the renewed downtown.
The city restores the historic depot, and the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation honors the project with an Excellence in Rehabilitation award.
The historic depot
Restored to its early 1900s look, with a passenger waiting room and photographs of Jesup's railroad past.
Wayne County Courthouse
Built in 1902 and 1903 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Heritage Center
The Wayne County Historical Society's Heritage Center is housed in a restored railroad section house.
Living in Jesup, Georgia
About 30,000 people live in Wayne County, and Jesup is its largest city. It is a small-town setting with the coast close by: Hinesville is roughly 35 miles to the east and Ludowici about 12 miles to the northeast.
Timber built the county's early economy and forest products still matter here. The railroad that gave Jesup its start is still active too, so the sound of a train is part of daily life.
Shop local in Jesup
Downtown Jesup grew up around the depot, and the businesses that keep it going are your neighbors. Spending here has a few clear benefits:
- Money spent locally keeps circulating in Wayne County.
- Local owners know the area, the weather and the people they serve.
- Trades and home services, from electricians to roofers, are only a phone call away.
The Altamaha River and the wiregrass outdoors
Wayne County is bordered by the Altamaha River. Early settlers tied logs into rafts and floated them downriver to the coast. Today the river, along with the creeks and swamps of the wiregrass region, draws people out for fishing, paddling and camping.
Getting to Jesup
Jesup is about 40 miles from the Atlantic coast. Hinesville is roughly 35 miles east and Ludowici about 12 miles northeast.
Jesup is also still a stop for passenger trains. Amtrak serves the restored depot (station code JSP), so check Amtrak for current schedules.
Questions about Jesup, GA
What is Jesup, GA known for?
Jesup is known as the town that trains built. It grew up around the crossing of two railroads in the late 1860s and is still an active railroad town today.
What county is Jesup, Georgia in?
Jesup is in Wayne County and has been the county seat since 1873.
How far is Jesup from the coast?
About 40 miles from the Atlantic coast, in the wiregrass region of southeast Georgia.
Is there passenger train service in Jesup?
Yes. Amtrak serves the restored Jesup depot. Check Amtrak for current schedules.
Is this the official City of Jesup website?
No. Jesupgeorgia.com is an independent community guide and is not operated by the City of Jesup or Wayne County government. For official services, visit the City of Jesup or Wayne County websites.