SR23'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
Georgia State Route 23 and 121 just before the intersection with GA 94 in Saint George, Georgia.
SR23 begins at the Florida state line west-northwest of the southernmost point in the state, in Charlton County. South-southeast of here, the roadway continues as State Road121, which travels to Macclenny, Florida. North of here, SR23 travels concurrent with SR121 on Okefenokee Parkway. Almost immediately, they meet the southern end of SR185. A short distance later, the two highways curve to the northeast. Then, they curve to the north-northwest and enter Saint George. In town, they have an intersection with SR94 (Moniac Road). The concurrent highways continue to the north, through rural areas of the county and then curve to the northeast. After that, they enter Folkston, to an intersection with US1/US23/US301/SR4/SR15 (2nd Street North). The seven highways travel to the north concurrently. Along the Folkston–Homeland city line, which travels through the large intersection, US301/SR23 continue straight ahead, while US1/US23/SR4/SR15 travel to the northwest. Then, US301/SR23 gradually curve to the north and enter Brantley County. The concurrency enters Nahunta, where it intersects US82/SR520 (Cleveland Street). Then, they intersect SR32 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 US25/US341/SR27 (East Cherry Street). At this intersection, US25 joins the concurrency. The three highways curve to the northwest and intersect US84/SR38 (North 1st Street), which join the concurrency. Immediately, the five highways travel north and then leave town. Just under 3 miles (4.8km) later, they curve to the northeast. Then, they pass by an industrial waste pond of Rayonier just before crossing over the Altamaha River into Long County. In Ludowici, they intersect SR57 (Mc Donald Street). At this intersection, US84/SR38 split off to the northeast on Cypress Street, while US25/US301/SR23/SR57 travel to the northwest. The concurrent highways begin a curve to the north and cross over Beards Creek into Tattnall County. After they meet the western end of SR196, they curve to the northeast and enter Glennville. At Barnard Street, they intersect SR144, and SR23/SR57 split off to the northwest. A little over 2,000 feet (610m) later, SR144 splits off to the west on Hencart Road, while SR23/SR57 pass by Kicks Playland and leave town. To the northwest, they intersect SR169. A little farther along, SR121 rejoins the concurrency. The three highways enter Reidsville.
Reidsville to northern end
In Reidsville, SR23/SR57/SR121 intersect US280/SR30 (Brazell Street). Before leaving town, they curve north. After that, they curve to the northeast and enter Collins, where they intersect SR292 (Manassas Street). SR23/SR57/SR121 curve to the north and enter Cobbtown. In town, they meet the eastern end of SR152 (New Cobbtown Road). Approximately 400 feet (120m) later, SR57 continues straight ahead, while SR23/SR121 curve to the northeast and leave town just before entering Candler County. In Metter, they have an interchange with Interstate 16 (I-16; Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway). In the main part of town, they intersect SR46 (Broad Street). At this intersection, SR23 splits off to the west, concurrent with SR46 for a few blocks, while SR121 continues straight ahead. At College Street, SR23 splits off to the north 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 SR192. At this intersection, SR23 turns to the right and travels to the northeast. Then, it intersects US80/SR26. Just before leaving town, the route passes by Twin City Cemetery. After traveling through Garfield, it enters Jenkins County. The highway passes through rural areas of the county, curves to the east, and intersects US25/SR67/SR121. The four highways head concurrently to the north. Then, they curve to the northeast and cross over the Ogeechee River just before entering Millen. In town, they intersect SR17 Byp. (South Gray Street), which joins the concurrency. The five highways curve north and intersect SR17 (West Winthrope Avenue). At this intersection, SR17 Byp. meets its northern end and US25/SR121 continue straight ahead, while SR23/SR67 turn right and follow SR17 south. At Masonic Street, SR17 and SR23 split off to different directions, while SR67 continues to the east. At Jordan Avenue, SR23 curves to the northeast. Just after leaving town, it intersects SR21 (Millen Bypass). Farther to the north, it crosses over Beaverdam Creek into Burke County. In Sardis, it intersects SR24 (Charles Perry Avenue). In Girard, the highway begins a northwesterly routing. The highway enters Shell Bluff, where it intersects SR80. Then, it passes Hagler Lake before meeting its northern end, an intersection with SR56, just south of Augusta.[1]
National Highway System
The following portions of SR23 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 US1/US23/US301/SR4/SR15)[3]
The Jesup–Ludowici segment (mostly concurrent with US84/US301/SR38)[3]
The section concurrent with US25/SR67/SR121 southwest of Millen and into the city[3]
History
1920s
SR23 was established at least as early as 1919 on a different alignment than it travels today. It extended from SR26 in Statesboro to SR21 in Millen. At this time, SR38 was established on SR23's current path from Jesup to Ludowici. Also, an unnumbered road was established from SR30 in Reidsville to SR26 in Metter.[2] By the end of September 1921, the original path of SR23 from Statesboro to Millen was shifted westward, to travel from SR26 in Metter to SR21 in Millen; this placed SR23 on a concurrency with SR26 from Metter to Graymont, the old name of Twin City. SR23's former path was redesignated as portions of SR46 and SR67. SR23 was extended southward to SR30 in Reidsville, with a very brief concurrency with SR30 there, then southeast to SR25 in Darien.[2][4] By October 1926, SR38's crossing over the Altamaha River, between Jesup and Ludowici, was indicated to have "no bridge or ferry". Also, US17 was designated on SR25 in Darien.[4][5]
1930s
In the second half of 1930, US25 designated on SR23 south-southwest of Millen.[6][7] By the beginning of 1932, SR38's crossing over Altamaha River was indicated to have a bridge. US280 was designated on the portion of SR23 in Reidsville.[7][8] In April 1932, the path of SR23 from Darien to Ludowici was shifted southwestward. SR23 then extended southwest on SR38 from Ludowici to Jesup, then on a sole path south-southwest to US1/SR4 in Folkston. The former path of SR23 was redesignated as SR99.[9][10] In the first quarter of 1937, the southern terminus of SR23 was extended west-southwest from Folkston and south to Saint George.[11][12] At the end of the year, it was extended again: south-southwest to the Florida state line.[13][14] The next year, SR23 was truncated to SR94 in Saint George.[14][15] By the middle of 1939, US25 designated on the Jesup–Glennville segment. Also, the northern terminus of SR23 was extended northeast to SR24 in Sardis.[15][16] At least as early as 1939, an unnumbered road was established northeast from Sardis to Girard, then northwest to SR56 north-northeast of Waynesboro.[17]
1940s to 1980s
At the end of 1940, SR23's southern terminus was re-extended south-southwest to the Florida state line.[18][19] Between November 1946 and February 1948, US301 was designated on the Folkston–Glennville segment.[20][21] Between July 1957 and June 1960, SR23 was extended on this road. At this time, the entire length of the highway was paved.[22][23] By June 1963, SR121 was extended on the path of SR23 from Homeland to the Florida state line. SR121 was also designated on SR23 from southeast of Reidsville to Metter.[23][24] In 1985, SR57 was designated on SR23 from Ludowici to Cobbtown.[25][26]
Major intersections
This section is missing mileposts for junctions. Please help by adding them.
State Route23 Connector (SR23 Conn.) was a connector route of SR23 that existed entirely within the city limits of Glennville. Between February 1948 and April 1949, it was established from SR23 in the northwestern part of the city to US25/US301/SR73 in the northern part of the city.[21][27] In 1985, this connector was decommissioned.[25][26]
State Route23 Spur (SR23 Spur) is a 472-foot-long (144m)spur route of SR23 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 intersection with the SR23 mainline in the southwestern part of town. It travels one block to meet its northern terminus, an intersection with SR192.[28]
SR23 Spur is not part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.[3]
Between the beginning of 1940 and the beginning of 1953, SR23 Spur was established from SR23 at what is its current southern terminus to US80/SR26.[29][30] By the beginning of 1975, it was truncated to its current length. Its former path was redesignated as a western rerouting of SR192. The former path of SR192 was redesignated as SR192 Spur.[30][31]
1 2 State Highway Department of Georgia (1921). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (October 1926). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (June 1930). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
1 2 State Highway Department of Georgia (November 1930). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1932). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (April 1932). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (May 1932). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1, 1937). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (April 1, 1937). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (October 1, 1937). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
1 2 Georgia State Highway Board (January 1, 1938). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC5673161. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
1 2 State Highway Department of Georgia (September 1, 1938). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC5673161. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (July 1, 1939). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC5673161. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ Georgia Department of Transportation (1940). General Highway Map: Burke County, Georgia (Map). Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation – via GDOT Maps.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (October 1, 1940). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC5673161. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1, 1941). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC5673161. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
↑ State Highway Department of Georgia (1946). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC5673161. Retrieved June 22, 2017. (Corrected to November 7, 1946.)
1 2 3 State Highway Department of Georgia (1948). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC5673161. Retrieved June 22, 2017. (Corrected to February 28, 1948.)
1 2 3 Georgia Department of Transportation (1984). Official Highway and Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (1984–1985ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
1 2 3 Georgia Department of Transportation (1986). Official Highway and Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (1986–1987ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
1 2 State Highway Department of Georgia (1949). System of State Roads(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC5673161. Retrieved June 22, 2017. (Corrected to April 1, 1949.)
1 2 Georgia Department of Transportation (1940). General Highway Map: Emanuel County, Georgia (Map). Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation – via GDOT Maps.
1 2 3 Georgia Department of Transportation (1953). General Highway Map: Emanuel County, Georgia (Map). Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation – via GDOT Maps.
↑ Georgia Department of Transportation (1975). General Highway Map: Emanuel County, Georgia (Map). Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation – via GDOT Maps.
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Millen–Jenkins County Scenic Byway 
SR 121 / SR 121 at the Florida state line southwest of Saint George 
SR 56 south of Augusta 
