Baxley is a city and the county seat of Appling County, in southeastern Georgia. It sits along U.S. Route 1 and near the Altamaha River, one of the largest free-flowing rivers on the East Coast. The city was incorporated in 1875 and named for Wilson Baxley, an early settler from coastal North Carolina who operated a general store in the settlement before its formal founding. The arrival of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad in the 1870s prompted the relocation of the county seat from nearby Holmesville and fueled growth built on timber, naval stores, and agriculture; the county was once known as the 'Turpentine Capital of the World.' The 2020 census counted 4,942 residents. Baxley's economy today is anchored by industry, most notably the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Power Plant operated by Georgia Power on the Altamaha River, the area's largest employer, along with a sawmill operated by International Forest Products and the Tri-County Industrial Park on the city's outskirts. The surrounding countryside of farmlands and timberlands, together with the Altamaha River and nearby lakes, defines the area's character. Baxley functions as a regional hub for shopping, medical services, and commerce in Appling County, and its downtown and courthouse square anchor public life. U.S. Route 1 links the city to the larger communities of southeast Georgia, and its position on the coastal plain places the coast and the Altamaha's vast floodplain forests within driving distance. Residents enjoy a slower pace and close-knit community typical of South Georgia's county seats, with outdoor recreation on the river and in nearby forests within easy reach.