The 7 Cities of Liberty County

What makes Liberty County special? It’s the people for us! Home to Fort Stewart and the 3rd Infantry Division, the largest military installation east of the Mississippi River, we have some of the most fascinating folks on the planet right here. Add in all of our local flavor with history dating back to the Revolutionary War, and you have a recipe for community success! We hope you enjoy reading about our seven cities & what makes each unique & special!

Brief History

We know that many people including locals may not realize that Liberty County is made up of seven cities. We are one of only 3 counties in the state of Georgia that isn’t named after a person or group of people. Liberty was named for the quality of liberty, having declared its independence from England before anyone else in the state. The formation of the county is fun to read about, especially since Liberty County started as a group of parishes before becoming the bustling community it is today.

Riceboro

If you drive through Riceboro today you will find a quiet town with one gas station, a caution light and scenic dirt roads. As the oldest existing town in Liberty County, Riceboro is also home to one of our favorite community events: Ricefest! Ricefest is geared toward family fun, with activities such as a rice cook off, homecoming dance, live music, a parade & more! You can also check out the Historic Baptismal Trail. This educational and beautiful spot can teach everyone a little more about Liberty County history. From 1840 until 1940 the Historic Baptismal Trail was an active holy place for African Americans of the Geechee community. It has a boardwalk, picnic tables and interpretive signs that explain the significance of the area.

Flemington

Chartered in 1941 by an act of the legislature of the state of Georgia, Flemington is one of our oldest cities! William Fleming was hoping to make a summer home & at the same time enjoy the company of his friends. So, he surveyed a tract of unsettled land about 10 miles west of Midway which he named Gravel Hill. This area later on became known as Flemington. Early settlers of Midway established their summer homes here in what they called “pine land” on higher & healthier ground.

Hinesville

Hinesville, named after Charles Hines, became the new county seat in 1837. Besides being the current county seat, Hinesville has so much to offer! You can visit the old Liberty County Jail, enjoy shopping at one of the many boutiques, eat some amazing food. You can also visit Bradwell Park, located in the heart of downtown Hinesville. The newly renovated park now has a stage for live performances & a splash pad for the kiddos to enjoy.

Allenhurst

Allenhurst is one of our smallest communities with a population of around 600. Located on the west side of the county, most of its history was impacted by the start of timbering in south Georgia. Ernest Dunlevie & B.H. Allen established the Southern Lumber Company between Hinesville and Walthourville and Allenhurst was born! A community evolved around the mill that was built & was named Allenhurst in honor of B.H. Allen.

Walthourville

If you travel to the western end of our county, you’ll find a quaint town filled with the friendliest people around. You will also find a historical marker that reads, “organized by women, supported by men.” Walthourville is a city of many firsts including some of the first female leaders in the whole state! In 1974, Governor Jimmy Carter appointed a mayor and council for the newly incorporated city, and he appointed all women! On April 10, 1974, Lyndol Anderson was sworn into the office of mayor with her councilwomen: Faye Booth, Maxine Gaskin, Carrie Kent, Ardith Herbert, Celia Davis & city clerk Molene Burke. Mayor Anderson donated her monthly pay back to the city & focused on improving the lives of the citizens with running water.

Midway

Located on the east side of the county, Midway is home to Dorchester Academy which is one of only 11 stops in Georgia on the U.S Civil Rights Trail. Midway is also home to Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretative Center. Rich in biological diversity, housing a variety of trees, flowers, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects, Cay Creek is a great place to take your fur friends for a Saturday stroll! Midway’s most recent claim to fame is a visit by American talk show host, television producer, actress, author & philanthropist Oprah Winfrey! She was in town for the wrap of her upcoming movie, The Color Purple Musical which releases in December 2023.

Gum Branch/Gumbranch

However, you spell it, the Gum Branch community dates back to  1833 when Gum Branch Primitive Baptist Church was founded. In 1996, the Liberty County Historical Society declared the land on which the church stands to be a historical landmark. Now known as Gum Branch Baptist Church, you can find directions to the historical marker here. Located on the west side of Liberty County the community does have a County maintained park, basketball court & walking track.

 

As you can see each city is one of a kind and each one makes us #LibertyCountyProud. We encourage everyone to explore everything Liberty County has to offer!