Newton, Georgia Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Newton is the county seat of Baker County. Baker County was established in 1825 and was designated the county seat in 1831. The county was named for John Baker, a Colonel during the Revolutionary War. The city was incorporated January 20, 1872 and named for Sergeant John Newton of South Carolina, a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

The Baker County courthouse in Newton, built in 1900, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The courthouse was restored in the mid-1990s after being flooded by Tropical Storm “Alberta.”

The economy in Baker County is characterized by peanut and soybean farming, large herds of beef cattle and hogs.

The city of Newton is located on the Flint River and is located in Georgia’s Quail Plantation region. Newton is one of the few areas in Georgia not touched by a federal highway.

Population: 851. Estimated population in July 2024: 867 (+1.9% change)
Males: 381 (44.8%), Females: 470 (55.2%)

Baker County

Zip code: 31770

Demographics

Median resident age: 33.1 years
Median household income: $26,563
Median house value: $50,600

Population by Race

Races in Newton:

• Black (53.9%)
• White Non-Hispanic (42.7%)
• Hispanic (2.0%)
• Two or more races (1.4%)
• Other race (0.9%)
• American Indian (0.6%)

Ancestries: United States (22.2%), English (3.1%), Irish (2.8%), Scotch-Irish (1.5%), German (1.3%), Subsaharan African (1.1%).

Elevation: 150 feet

Land area: 2.9 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Newton

• High school or higher: 58.2%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.5%
• Graduate or professional degree: 3.3%
• Unemployed: 14.3%
• Mean travel time to work: 27.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Newton city

• Never married: 31.9%
• Now married: 39.7%
• Separated: 3.9%
• Widowed: 13.6%
• Divorced: 10.9%

1.4% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +150 (+21.4%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Newton:

• MITCHELL COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 11 miles; CAMILLA, GA)
• PHOEBE PUTNEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 18 miles; ALBANY, GA)
• HCA PALMYRA MEDICAL CENTERS (about 22 miles; ALBANY, GA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Newton:

• SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL (about 19 miles; ALBANY, GA; Abbreviation: ABY)
• TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL (about 65 miles; TALLAHASSEE, FL; Abbreviation: TLH)
• DOTHAN RGNL (about 76 miles; DOTHAN, AL; Abbreviation: DHN)

Other public-use airports nearest to Newton:

• CAMILLA-MITCHELL COUNTY (about 11 miles; CAMILLA, GA; Abbreviation: CXU)
• DAWSON MUNI (about 30 miles; DAWSON, GA; Abbreviation: 16J)
• DECATUR COUNTY INDUSTRIAL AIR PARK (about 32 miles; BAINBRIDGE, GA; Abbreviation: BGE)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Newton:

• ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY (about 24 miles; ALBANY, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,996)
• TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 60 miles; TALLAHASSEE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 7,016)
• FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 61 miles; TALLAHASSEE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 29,949)
• FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY (about 62 miles; TALLAHASSEE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 10,991)
• GEORGE C WALLACE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE-DOTHAN (about 74 miles; DOTHAN, AL; Full-time enrollment: 2,703)
• VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 80 miles; VALDOSTA, GA; Full-time enrollment: 7,157)
• COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 90 miles; COLUMBUS, GA; Full-time enrollment: 3,886)

Public primary/middle schools in Newton:

• BAKER COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 351; Location: 348 HIGHWAY 37; Grades: PK – 07)
• R.E.S.A. ACADEMY (Location: 400 HILLCREST DRIVE; Grades: 00 – 00)