Millen, city in and the county seat of Jenkins County, Georgia, United States
Millen is a small city in Jenkins County, Georgia, situated beside the Ogeechee River about 50 miles south of Augusta and serving as the county seat. The town contains approximately 3,000 residents and displays a mix of historic buildings and quiet streets where the pace of life reflects its agricultural and forestry heritage.
The site was settled in 1835 and initially called 79, named for its mileage from Savannah. Railroad construction in the 1850s brought rapid growth, and it was formally renamed Millen's Junction in 1881 after the railroad official who managed the junction there.
The name Millen comes from McPherson B. Millen, a railroad superintendent whose legacy shapes the town's identity. The community gathers each fall for the Fair on the Square at the courthouse, where crafts, games, and family activities reveal how residents keep their history and sense of belonging alive.
Visitors can hike, bike, swim, and fish along the Ogeechee River or at nearby Magnolia Springs State Park. The Community House is available for rent to host events and features a kitchen, piano, and tables and chairs for gatherings.
The town was originally named 79 because it sat exactly 79 miles from Savannah, a naming choice that reflected its geographic importance to early travelers. During the Civil War, Camp Lawton, a prisoner camp near the town, was a site of historical significance that remains little known today.
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