In Georgia’s southeastern corner, Charlton County is a place defined by history, resilience, and generational pride. Newly appointed County Administrator Glenn Hull felt that pride immediately and when pressed to choose a single word to describe his community, he didn’t hesitate: “Pride.”
Charlton County’s identity is shaped by families who have lived there for more than 250 years and by the unique natural ecosystem that surrounds them, including what may soon become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hull saw that pride firsthand during the Okefenokee Festival, a lively street celebration drawing more than 5,000 visitors with vendors, food, music, and joyful chaos.
But pride doesn’t mean complacency. Hull inherited a county with big opportunities for improved civic engagement, and he’s meeting that head-on. One of his most exciting initiatives is the launch of a Citizens Academy, designed to help residents understand the inner workings of local government and see firsthand how hard public servants work on their behalf.
Engagement isn’t always easy. Recently, 60 residents crowded into a commission meeting to protest the World Heritage Site evaluation. Rather than viewing the tension as a setback, Hull treated it as an invitation to listen more deeply. “It’s absolutely my job,” he says, to help residents feel heard, informed, and respected.
The county stands at a crossroads as development from the Jacksonville region moves northward. Hull hopes that five years from now, residents will describe their home with another powerful word: “Robust.” A place rooted in history but growing confidently into its next chapter.
