Community Profile

Located in the heart of south central Georgia, Wilcox County was formed from portions of Dooly, Irwin, and Pulaski counties in 1857. With a population of about 8,850, Wilcox County is a small rural farming area made up of the towns of Rochelle, Pitts, Pineview, and Abbeville, along with multiple unincorporated communities. The primary crops grown here include peanuts, cotton, corn, watermelons, cantaloupes, and an array of produce. In addition to farming, Wilcox County supports multiple locally owned and operated businesses, pharmacies, banks, farms, and restaurants. An active recreation department offers multiple sports, including football, baseball, softball, and soccer.

Although Abbeville is the county seat, where both the courthouse and Wilcox State Prison are located, Rochelle, with a population of about 1,100, is centrally located. 2018 marks the opening of a new school campus housing Pre-K through 12th grade. The Wilcox County School system has a strong sports program that has seen multiple region and state championships throughout the years. In recent years, local churches have worked alongside the school system to provide fellowship for sports teams and positive impacts through the Christian Learning Center. A good description of Rochelle, and Wilcox County, can be found in The Bicentennial-French Heritage Cook Book and reads, “Rochelle is a friendly town with old oak trees, wide streets, lovely homes, many fine civic organizations, and beautiful churches.” Although this quote was written in 1974, it is timeless and continues to hold true today.