Ocilla, Georgia Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Ocilla, the county seat of Irwin County, was incorporated as a town November 24, 1897. Ocilla is a version of an old Native American name, “Osceola”.

The Irwin County courthouse in Ocilla, built in 1905, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ocilla is the county’s only incorporated municipality. During the Civil War, Irwinville to the northeast of Ocilla, was the county seat. This is where Union soldiers captured Jefferson Davis (president of the Confederacy) and today is the site of the Jefferson Davis Memorial Park.

The Sweet Potato Festival, held each October, is hosted by the town of Ocilla.

Population: 3,270. Estimated population in July 2024: 3,417 (+4.5% change)
Males: 1,571 (48.0%), Females: 1,699 (52.0%)

Irwin County

Zip code: 31774

Demographics

Median resident age: 30.7 years
Median household income: $22,332
Median house value: $48,100

Population by Race

Races in Ocilla:

  • Black (59.4%)
  • White Non-Hispanic (38.5%)
  • Hispanic (1.8%)
  • Other race (0.9%)

Ancestries: United States (15.2%), Irish (3.3%), English (3.0%), German (1.1%), Subsaharan African (1.0%).

Elevation: 340 feet

Land area: 2.6 square miles

Map of Ocilla, GA

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Ocilla

  • High school or higher: 59.6%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.6%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 2.7%
  • Unemployed: 9.2%
  • Mean travel time to work: 19.3 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Ocilla city

  • Never married: 35.2%
  • Now married: 39.3%
  • Separated: 4.0%
  • Widowed: 13.0%
  • Divorced: 8.5%

0.5% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -15 (-0.5%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Ocilla:

  • IRWIN COUNTY HOSPITAL (710 N IRWIN AVE)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Ocilla:

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Ocilla:

  • MOODY AFB (about 44 miles; VALDOSTA, GA; Abbreviation: VAD)
  • VALDOSTA RGNL (about 58 miles; VALDOSTA, GA; Abbreviation: VLD)
  • SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL (about 65 miles; ALBANY, GA; Abbreviation: ABY)

Other public-use airports nearest to Ocilla:

  • FITZGERALD MUNI (about 6 miles; FITZGERALD, GA; Abbreviation: FZG)
  • HENRY TIFT MYERS (about 21 miles; TIFTON, GA; Abbreviation: TMA)
  • TURNER COUNTY (about 27 miles; ASHBURN, GA; Abbreviation: 75J)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Ocilla:

  • VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 52 miles; VALDOSTA, GA; Full-time enrollment: 7,157)
  • ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY (about 59 miles; ALBANY, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,996)
  • FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (about 80 miles; FT VALLEY, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,233)
  • MACON STATE COLLEGE (about 88 miles; MACON, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,557)
  • CENTRAL GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 88 miles; MACON, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,383)
  • MERCER UNIVERSITY (about 90 miles; MACON, GA; Full-time enrollment: 5,859)
  • GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY (about 103 miles; MILLEDGEVILLE, GA; Full-time enrollment: 4,028)

Schools

Public high school in Ocilla:

  • IRWIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 526; Location: 149 CHIEFTAN CIRCLE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Ocilla:

  • IRWIN COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 865; Location: 521 LAX HIGHWAY; Grades: PK – 05)
  • IRWIN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 431; Location: 149 CHIEFTAIN CIRCLE; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • EDUCATIONAL CENTER (ALTERNATIVE CENTER) (Location: 310 VO TECH DRIVE; Grades: 00 – 00)