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Waycross, Georgia Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

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Waycross was incorporated as the county seat of Ware County on March 3, 1874. Waycross, originally known as Tebeauville, gets its name from the city’s location at key railroad junctions. Lines from six directions meet at the city. Its name signifies its strategic position where “Ways Cross”. In colonial days, it was the hub of stagecoach roads and pioneer trails. Later the old Plant System and the Brunswick and Western Railroad lines crossed here, giving birth to a modern railroad network.

Waycross marks the beginning of the Okefenokee Swamp and offers many chances to experience the swamp. The Okefenokee has a wildlife refuge in Waycross for people to enjoy the swamp. The city also offers tours of the famous swamp for tourists.

Located in the City of Waycross, Okefenokee Technical Institute and Waycross College are both two-year public technical schools managed by the State of Georgia.

The city is the location of Rice Yard, the largest railroad switching and classification facility in the United States.

Population: 15,333. Estimated population in July 2024: 15,112 (-1.4% change)
Males: 6,995 (45.6%), Females: 8,338 (54.4%)

Ware County

Zip codes: 31501, 31503.

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.4 years
Median household income: $23,399
Median house value: $46,800

Population by Race

Races in Waycross:

  • Black (53.5%)
  • White Non-Hispanic (43.8%)
  • Hispanic (1.4%)
  • Two or more races (0.7%)
  • Other race (0.7%)

Ancestries: United States (12.3%), English (5.7%), Irish (3.8%), German (3.2%), Subsaharan African (2.0%), Scotch-Irish (1.7%).

Elevation: 135 feet

Land area: 11.7 square miles

Map of Waycross, GA

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Waycross

  • High school or higher: 66.7%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.7%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 5.3%
  • Unemployed: 8.8%
  • Mean travel time to work: 18.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Waycross city

  • Never married: 24.9%
  • Now married: 44.2%
  • Separated: 5.1%
  • Widowed: 12.7%
  • Divorced: 13.1%

1.9% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -1,511 (-9.0%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Waycross:

  • SATILLA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (410 DARLINGTON AV)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Waycross:

  • BACON COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 25 miles; ALMA, GA)
  • BACON COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 25 miles; ALMA, GA)
  • CLINCH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 28 miles; HOMERVILLE, GA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Waycross:

  • MOODY AFB (about 60 miles; VALDOSTA, GA; Abbreviation: VAD)
  • BRUNSWICK GOLDEN ISLES (about 63 miles; BRUNSWICK, GA; Abbreviation: BQK)
  • JACKSONVILLE INTL (about 69 miles; JACKSONVILLE, FL; Abbreviation: JAX)

Other public-use airports nearest to Waycross:

  • WAYCROSS-WARE COUNTY (about 3 miles; WAYCROSS, GA; Abbreviation: AYS)
  • BACON COUNTY (about 25 miles; ALMA, GA; Abbreviation: AMG)
  • HOMERVILLE (about 31 miles; HOMERVILLE, GA; Abbreviation: HOE)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Waycross:

  • OKEFENOKEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (Full-time enrollment: 694; Location: 1701 CARSWELL AVE; Public)
  • WAYCROSS COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 525; Location: 2001 S GEORGIA PKY; Public; Website: www.way.peachnet.edu)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Waycross:

  • VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 70 miles; VALDOSTA, GA; Full-time enrollment: 7,157)
  • FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE (about 78 miles; JACKSONVILLE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 10,495)
  • UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA (about 89 miles; JACKSONVILLE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 9,256)
  • GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY (about 92 miles; STATESBORO, GA; Full-time enrollment: 12,724)
  • ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY (about 96 miles; SAVANNAH, GA; Full-time enrollment: 3,945)
  • SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN (about 103 miles; SAVANNAH, GA; Full-time enrollment: 4,565)
  • UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (about 106 miles; GAINESVILLE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 41,543)

Schools

Public high school in Waycross:

  • WARE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,498; Location: 700 VICTORY DRIVE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in Waycross:

  • SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 165; Location: 301 BRUNEL STREET; Grades: PK – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Waycross:

  • WACONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 814; Location: 3101 STATE STREET; Grades: PK – 05)
  • WARE COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 802; Location: 2301 CHEROKEE STREET; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • WAYCROSS MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 614; Location: 700 CENTRAL AVENUE; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • RUSKIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 471; Location: 3550 VALDOSTA HIGHWAY; Grades: KG – 05)
  • CENTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 457; Location: 2114 DOROTHY STREET; Grades: KG – 05)
  • WARESBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 438; Location: 3379 WEST CHURCH STREET; Grades: KG – 05)
  • WILLIAMS HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 394; Location: 705 DEWEY STREET; Grades: KG – 05)
  • MEMORIAL DRIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 389; Location: 2580 AMBROSE STREET; Grades: KG – 05)
  • DAFFODIL CENTER (Location: 701 MORTON AVENUE; Grades: 00 – 00)
  • ALPHA CENTER ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL (Location: 950 NEW MEXICO AVENUE; Grades: 00 – 00)

Private primary/middle school in Waycross:

  • WARE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 12; Location: 2351 WADLEY RD; Grades: UG – UG)

Libraries

Library in Waycross:

  • OKEFENOKEE REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM (Operating income: $850,015; Location: 401 LEE AVENUE; 148,943 books; 466 audio materials; 2,798 video materials; 105 serial subscriptions)

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