Tell me about Folkston, Ga. (Waycross, St. Marys: new house, income, quality of life)

[newby]

What kind of stores are in Folkston, Ga.? Are there any health food or thrift shops there? Thanks! We're going there in a few weeks on business.

[larryb]

Not much in Folkston. It is near Waycross 38 mi north and 30 mi south is jacksonville. Great fishing though.

[georgiaboy1]

Folkston Georgia really is the land of nothing.
We have a Mcdonalds, Burger King and Sonic.
We have one grocery store.
We have the highest property taxes in the state plus we get to pay the state income taxes. Gas prices are as high in Folkston or even higher than in Jacksonville, Fla. The property values never go up. There is only a $2500 homestead exemption. (2500 not 25000)
I built a new house 8 years ago and is not worth anymore now than it was then.
Jobs are only minimum wage. You must commute to Jacksonville to get a decent job which is at least an hour drive.
Waycross is 38 miles north of here and is a little better but still not much of an opportunity for jobs.
Cable tv and internet is out of the question. I have been waiting 8 years for high speed internet and still cannot get it. I cannot get cable tv. I have to rely on satellite.
Average income here is less than half what it is for the rest of the state.
97% of the county is in timberland and that is how it will remain.
Someone once made the statement to me that "once you live in Folkston, you can never get out, you can't afford to."
True it is, this is the poorest town I have ever been in. Thank God I work in Jacksonville and can maintain some sort of quality of life by making a decent income but with the rising gas prices that is getting harder to do. My fuel bill is 450 bucks a month or more just to get to work and back home.
There are other towns just 4 miles south across the St. Marys river in Florida which would be a much better place to live without the high property tax and state income tax.
I would not recommend anyone moving to this place.