Helena was a city in Telfair and Wheeler counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 2,883 at the 2010 census, up from 2,307 in 2000 and 1,256 in 1990. The population increase accompanied establishment of the McRae Correctional Institution, which provided new jobs. The prison population is counted as well. On January 1, 2015, Helena and the adjacent city (and Telfair County seat) of McRae merged to form McRae-Helena.

History

The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the place as the Town of Helena in 1890. It is unknown why the name "Helena" was applied to this community.

By 2013, Helena's wastewater capacity had become too large for the city to manage. Simply turning over water services to neighboring McRae would have left Helena with only two services. Eventually, the two cities agreed to merge. The necessary legislation was signed into law on April 10, 2014. At midnight on January 1, 2015, Helena and McRae merged as the city of McRae-Helena.

Geography

Helena is located at (32.074601, -82.912698).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

As of the census