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Moving to Lakeland, Georgia

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Lakeland, the county seat of Lanier County was incorporated August 11, 1925. Lakeland is the county’s only incorporated municipality.

Throughout Lakeland’s brief history, its names have related to the geographic area surrounding the city. Its original name was Alapaha Station after the Alapaha River. The name was changed to Mill Town in 1832 for its numerous mills. Finally, the current name was decided upon due to the city’s close proximity to the Grand Bay Lake.

For many years, Lakeland owned and operated its own railroad.

The town is located near the Banks Lake, a 3,900-acre lake that includes the Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The lake consists of a mixture of open water and marshes.

Population: 2,730. Estimated population in July 2024: 2,769 (+1.4% change)
Males: 1,382 (50.6%), Females: 1,348 (49.4%)

Lanier County

Zip code: 31635

Demographics

Median resident age: 33.6 years
Median household income: $22,346
Median house value: $55,300

Population by Race

Races in Lakeland:

  • White Non-Hispanic (55.8%)
  • Black (39.3%)
  • Hispanic (2.9%)
  • Two or more races (1.6%)
  • American Indian (1.4%)
  • Other race (0.8%)

Ancestries: United States (16.0%), Irish (8.1%), German (4.4%), English (3.4%).

Elevation: 199 feet

Land area: 3.1 square miles

Map of Lakeland, GA

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Lakeland

  • High school or higher: 56.4%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.4%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 4.8%
  • Unemployed: 11.8%
  • Mean travel time to work: 20.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Lakeland city

  • Never married: 26.7%
  • Now married: 46.9%
  • Separated: 3.0%
  • Widowed: 12.9%
  • Divorced: 10.4%

2.4% Foreign born (1.5% Latin America, 0.4% Europe, 0.4% Africa).

Population change in the 1990s: +188 (+7.4%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Lakeland:

  • LOUIS SMITH MEMORIAL HISPITAL (852 W THIGPEN AVE)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Lakeland:

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Lakeland:

  • MOODY AFB (about 10 miles; VALDOSTA, GA; Abbreviation: VAD)
  • VALDOSTA RGNL (about 24 miles; VALDOSTA, GA; Abbreviation: VLD)
  • SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL (about 85 miles; ALBANY, GA; Abbreviation: ABY)

Other public-use airports nearest to Lakeland:

  • BERRIEN CO (about 15 miles; NASHVILLE, GA; Abbreviation: 4J2)
  • HOMERVILLE (about 22 miles; HOMERVILLE, GA; Abbreviation: HOE)
  • COOK COUNTY (about 28 miles; ADEL, GA; Abbreviation: 15J)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Lakeland:

  • VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 20 miles; VALDOSTA, GA; Full-time enrollment: 7,157)
  • ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY (about 80 miles; ALBANY, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,996)
  • FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY (about 95 miles; TALLAHASSEE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 10,991)
  • FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 95 miles; TALLAHASSEE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 29,949)
  • TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 96 miles; TALLAHASSEE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 7,016)
  • SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 104 miles; GAINESVILLE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 7,942)
  • UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (about 106 miles; GAINESVILLE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 41,543)

Schools

Public high school in Lakeland:

  • LANIER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 396; Location: 325 W. PATTEN STREET; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Lakeland:

  • LANIER COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 741; Location: 242 VALDOSTA ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
  • LANIER COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 358; Location: 325 W. PATTEN STREET; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • CROSSROADS ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL (Location: 325 WEST PATTEN STREET; Grades: 00 – 00)

Private primary/middle school in Lakeland:

  • LAKELAND ADVENTIST SCHOOL (Students: 6; Location: 842 WEST THIGPEN AVENUE; Grades: 1 – 8)

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