State Route 23 (SR 23) is a

state highway A state highway, state road, or state route (and the equivalent provincial highway, provincial road, or provincial route) is usually a road that is either ''numbered'' or ''maintained'' by a sub-national state or province. A road numbered by a ...

that travels south-to-north through portions of Charlton, Brantley, Wayne,

Long Long may refer to: Measurement * Long, characteristic of something of great duration * Long, characteristic of something of great length * Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate * Longa (music), note value in early music mensur ...

, Tattnall, Candler,

Emanuel Emanuel may refer to: * Emanuel (name), a given name and surname (see there for a list of people with this name) * Emanuel School, Australia, Sydney, Australia * Emanuel School, Battersea, London, England * Emanuel (band), a five-piece rock band fr ...

, Jenkins, and

Burke Burke is an Anglo-Norman Irish surname, deriving from the ancient Anglo-Norman and Hiberno-Norman noble dynasty, the House of Burgh. In Ireland, the descendants of William de Burgh (–1206) had the surname ''de Burgh'' which was gaelicised ...

counties in the

southeastern The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...

and east-central parts of the U.S. state of

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

. The highway connects the

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

state line, south-southwest of

Saint George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

with the southern part of the

Augusta metropolitan area The Augusta metropolitan area is a metropolitan area in the U.S. states of Georgia and South Carolina centered on the principal city of Augusta. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Census Bureau and other agencies define Augusta's Metr ...

, via Folkston, Nahunta, Jesup,

Ludowici Ludowici is a city in Long County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,703 at the 2010 census and an estimated 2,221 in 2018. The city is the county seat of Long County. It is a part of the Hinesville-Fort Stewart metropolitan statisti ...

, Glennville, Reidsville, Metter, Twin City, and Millen. SR 23's original segment was from Statesboro to Millen. It was shifted westward and was incrementally extended in both directions to each of its current termini.

Route description

Florida to Reidsville

SR 23 begins at the

state line west-northwest of the southernmost point in the state, in Charlton County. South-southeast of here, the roadway continues as State Road 121, which travels to

Macclenny, Florida Macclenny is a city in Baker County, Florida . Located just west of Jacksonville, it is one of the principal municipalities comprising Greater Jacksonville. The population was 7,304 at the 2020 census, up from 6,374 in 2010. It is the county seat ...

. North-northwest of here, SR 23 travels

concurrent Concurrent means happening at the same time. Concurrency, concurrent, or concurrence may refer to: Law * Concurrence, in jurisprudence, the need to prove both ''actus reus'' and ''mens rea'' * Concurring opinion (also called a "concurrence"), a ...

with SR 121 on Okefenokee Parkway. Almost immediately, they meet the southern terminus of SR 185. A short distance later, the two highways curve to the northeast. Then, they curve to the north-northwest and enter

. In town, they have an

intersection In mathematics, the intersection of two or more objects is another object consisting of everything that is contained in all of the objects simultaneously. For example, in Euclidean geometry, when two lines in a plane are not parallel, their i ...

with SR 94 (Moniac Road). The concurrent highways continue to the north-northwest, through

rural area In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are descri ...

s of the county and then curve to the northeast. After that, they enter Folkston, to an intersection with US 1/ US 23/ US 301/ SR 4/ SR 15 (2nd Street North). The six highways travel to the north-northwest concurrently. Along the Folkston–

Homeland A homeland is a place where a cultural, national, or racial identity has formed. The definition can also mean simply one's country of birth. When used as a proper noun, the Homeland, as well as its equivalents in other languages, often has ethni ...

city line, which travels through the large intersection, US 301/SR 23 continue straight ahead, while US 1/US 23/SR 4/SR 15 travel to the northwest. Then, US 301/SR 23 gradually curve to the north-northeast and enter Brantley County. The concurrency enters Nahunta, where it intersects US 82/ SR 520 (Cleveland Street). Then, they intersect SR 32 in Hortense, just before entering Wayne County. Just before entering Jesup, they pass by Jesup–Wayne County Airport and Pine Forest Country Club. In town, they intersect US 25/ US 341/ SR 27 (East Cherry Street). At this intersection, US 25 joins the concurrency. The three highways curve to the north-northwest and intersect US 84/ SR 38 (North 1st Street), which join the concurrency. Immediately, the five highways travel north-northeast and then leave town. Just under later, they curve to the northeast. Then, they pass by an

industrial waste Industrial waste is the waste produced by industrial activity which includes any material that is rendered useless during a manufacturing process such as that of factories, mills, and mining operations. Types of industrial waste include dirt and ...

pond of

Rayonier Rayonier Inc, headquartered in Wildlight, Florida, is a timberland real estate investment trust ("REIT") with assets located in some of the most productive softwood timber growing regions in the United States and New Zealand. Its core business s ...

just before crossing over the

Altamaha River The Altamaha River is a major river in the U.S. state of Georgia. It flows generally eastward for 137 miles (220 km) from its origin at the confluence of the Oconee River and Ocmulgee River towards the Atlantic Ocean, where it empties ...

into

Long County Long County may refer to: *Long County, Shaanxi (陇县), China *Long County, Georgia, United States {{geodis ...

. In

, they intersect SR 57 (Mc Donald Street). At this intersection, US 84/SR 38 split off to the northeast on Cypress Street, while US 25/US 301/SR 23/SR 57 travel to the northwest. The concurrent highways begin a curve to the north-northwest and cross over Beards Creek into

Tattnall County Tattnall County is a county located in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,520. The county seat is Reidsville. Tattnall County was created on December 5, 1801, from part of Montgomery ...

. After they meet the western terminus of SR 196, they curve to the north-northeast and enter Glennville. At Barnard Street, they intersect SR 144, and SR 23/SR 57 split off to the northwest. A little over later, SR 144 splits off to the west-southwest on Hencart Road, while SR 23/SR 57 pass by Kicks Playland and leave town. To the northwest, they intersect SR 169. A little farther along, SR 121 rejoins the concurrency. The three highways enter Reidsville.

Reidsville to northern terminus

In Reidsville, SR 23/SR 57/SR 121 intersect US 280/ SR 30 (Brazell Street). Before leaving town, they curve to a nearly due-north routing. After that, they curve to the north-northeast and enter

Collins Collins may refer to: People Surname Given name * Collins O. Bright (1917–?), Sierra Leonean diplomat * Collins Chabane (1960–2015), South African Minister of Public Service and Administration * Collins Cheboi (born 1987), Kenyan middle- ...

, where they intersect SR 292 (Manassas Street). SR 23/SR 57/SR 121 curve to the north-northwest and enter Cobbtown. In town, they meet the eastern terminus of SR 152 (New Cobbtown Road). Approximately later, SR 57 continues straight ahead, while SR 23/SR 121 curve to the northeast and leave town just before entering Candler County. In Metter, they have an interchange with

Interstate 16 Interstate 16 (I-16), also known as Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, is an east–west Interstate Highway located entirely within the US state of Georgia. It carries the hidden designation of State Route 404 (SR 404) for its ...

(I-16; Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway). In the main part of town, they intersect SR 46 (Broad Street). At this intersection, SR 23 splits off to the west, concurrent with SR 46 for a few blocks, while SR 121 continues straight ahead. At College Street, SR 23 splits off to the north-northeast and gradually curves to the northwest. It passes Candler County Hospital. Just after leaving town, it passes Willow Lake Golf Club and Byrd Cemetery. Farther to the northwest, the highway enters Emanuel County and crosses into the city limits of Twin City. In town, is an intersection with SR 192. At this intersection, SR 23 turns to the right and travels to the northeast. Then, it intersects US 80/ SR 26. Just before leaving town, the route passes by Twin City Cemetery. After traveling through

Garfield ''Garfield'' is an American comic strip created by Jim Davis. Originally published locally as ''Jon'' in 1976, then in nationwide syndication from 1978 as ''Garfield'', it chronicles the life of the title character Garfield the cat, his human ...

, it enters Jenkins County. The highway passes through rural areas of the county, curves to the east-southeast, and intersects US 25/ SR 67/SR 121. The four highways head concurrently to the north-northeast. Then, they curve to the northeast and cross over the

Ogeechee River The Ogeechee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 26, 2011 blackwater river in the U.S. state of Georgia. It heads at the confluence of its North and South ...

just before entering Millen. In town, they intersect SR 17 Byp. (South Gray Street), which joins the concurrency. The five highways curve to a nearly due-north routing and intersect SR 17 (West Winthrope Avenue). At this intersection, SR 17 Byp. meets its northern terminus and US 25/SR 121 continue straight ahead, while SR 23/SR 67 turn right and follow SR 17 south. At Masonic Street, SR 17 and SR 23 split off to different directions, while SR 67 continues to the east. At Jordan Avenue, SR 23 curves to the northeast. Just after leaving town, it intersects SR 21 (Millen Bypass). Farther to the northeast, it crosses over Beaverdam Creek into Burke County. In

Sardis Sardis () or Sardes (; Lydian: 𐤳𐤱𐤠𐤭𐤣 ''Sfard''; el, Σάρδεις ''Sardeis''; peo, Sparda; hbo, ספרד ''Sfarad'') was an ancient city at the location of modern ''Sart'' (Sartmahmut before 19 October 2005), near Salihli, ...

, it intersects SR 24 (Charles Perry Avenue). In Girard, the highway begins a northwesterly routing. The highway enters Shell Bluff, where it intersects SR 80. Then, it passes Hagler Lake before meeting its northern terminus, an intersection with SR 56, just south of Augusta.

National Highway System

The following portions of SR 23 part of the National Highway System, a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility, and defense: * The Folkston–Homeland segment (concurrent with US 1/US 23/US 301/SR 4/SR 15) * The Jesup–Ludowici segment (mostly concurrent with US 84/US 301/SR 38) * The section concurrent with US 25/SR 67/SR 121 southwest of Millen and into the city

History

1920s

SR 23 was established at least as early as 1919 on a different alignment than it travels today. It extended from SR 26 in Statesboro to SR 21 in Millen. At this time, SR 38 was established on SR 23's current path from Jesup to Ludowici. Also, an unnumbered road was established from SR 30 in Reidsville to SR 26 in Metter. By the end of September 1921, the original path of SR 23 from Statesboro to Millen was shifted westward, to travel from SR 26 in Metter to SR 21 in Millen; this placed SR 23 on a concurrency with SR 26 from Metter to Graymont, the old name of Twin City. SR 23's former path was redesignated as portions of SR 46 and SR 67. SR 23 was extended southward to SR 30 in Reidsville, with a very brief concurrency with SR 30 there, then southeast to SR 25 in Darien. By October 1926, SR 38's crossing over the Altamaha River, between Jesup and Ludowici, was indicated to have "no bridge or ferry". Also, US 17 was designated on SR 25 in Darien.

1930s

In the second half of 1930, US 25 designated on SR 23 south-southwest of Millen. By the beginning of 1932, SR 38's crossing over Altamaha River was indicated to have a bridge. US 280 was designated on the portion of SR 23 in Reidsville. In April 1932, the path of SR 23 from Darien to Ludowici was shifted southwestward. SR 23 then extended southwest on SR 38 from Ludowici to Jesup, then on a sole path south-southwest to US 1/SR 4 in Folkston. The former path of SR 23 was redesignated as SR 99. In the first quarter of 1937, the southern terminus of SR 23 was extended west-southwest from Folkston and south to Saint George. At the end of the year, it was extended again: south-southwest to the Florida state line. The next year, SR 23 was truncated to SR 94 in Saint George. By the middle of 1939, US 25 designated on the Jesup–Glennville segment. Also, the northern terminus of SR 23 was extended northeast to SR 24 in Sardis. At least as early as 1939, an unnumbered road was established northeast from Sardis to Girard, then northwest to SR 56 north-northeast of Waynesboro.

1940s to 1980s

At the end of 1940, SR 23's southern terminus was re-extended south-southwest to the Florida state line. Between November 1946 and February 1948, US 301 was designated on the Folkston–Glennville segment. Between July 1957 and June 1960, SR 23 was extended on this road. At this time, the entire length of the highway was paved. By June 1963, SR 121 was extended on the path of SR 23 from Homeland to the Florida state line. SR 121 was also designated on SR 23 from southeast of Reidsville to Metter. In 1985, SR 57 was designated on SR 23 from Ludowici to Cobbtown.

Major intersections

Special routes

Glennville connector route

State Route 23 Connector (SR 23 Conn.) was a

connector route A connector is a highway or freeway road that connects to another highway or freeway. It can be part of an interchange such as the MacArthur Maze or a longer roadway such as the Interstate 635. A connector route is a type of special route or su ...

of SR 23 that existed entirely within the

city limits City limits or city boundaries refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limit can be called the city proper. Town limit/boundary and village limit/boundary apply to towns and villages. Similarly, corporate limi ...

of Glennville. Between February 1948 and April 1949, it was established from SR 23 in the northwestern part of the city to US 25/ US 301/ SR 73 in the northern part of the city. In 1985, this connector was decommissioned.

Twin City spur route

State Route 23 Spur (SR 23 Spur) is a

spur route A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important road such as a freeway, Interstate Highway, or motorway. A bypass or beltway should not be considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with another or the s ...

of SR 23 that exists entirely within the southeastern part of Emanuel County and travels completely within the city limits of Twin City. The highway is known as 5th Avenue for its entire length. It begins at an

with the SR 23 mainline in the southwestern part of town. It travels one block to meet its northern terminus, an intersection with SR 192. SR 23 Spur is not part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility. Between the beginning of 1940 and the beginning of 1953, SR 23 Spur was established from SR 23 at what is its current southern terminus to US 80/ SR 26. By the beginning of 1975, it was truncated to its current length. Its former path was redesignated as a western rerouting of SR 192. The former path of SR 192 was redesignated as SR 192 Spur.

References

External links

* {{Commons category-inline
Georgia Roads (Routes 21 - 40)
023 Transportation in Charlton County, Georgia Transportation in Brantley County, Georgia Transportation in Wayne County, Georgia Transportation in Long County, Georgia Transportation in Tattnall County, Georgia Transportation in Candler County, Georgia Transportation in Emanuel County, Georgia Transportation in Jenkins County, Georgia Transportation in Burke County, Georgia