Lakeland is a city and the county seat of Lanier County, Georgia, United States. The city is the county seat of Lanier County. It is part of the Valdosta metropolitan area. The population was 2,875 at the 2020 census.

Originally called Alapaha and then Milltown or Mill Town, Lakeland received its current name in 1925 in honor of its proximity to Grand Bay Lake, Lake Irma, and Banks Lake. For many years, Lakeland owned and operated its own railroad.

By the late 1830s, a community known as Alapaha had come into existence along the road from Waresboro, Georgia, to Troupville, Georgia, near the mill established by Joshua Lee on what is now Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. In 1838, a post office was established and was officially named Alapaha after the nearby Alapaha River. In 1848, Joshua Lee sold his mill to William Lastinger. In the 1850s, additional mills were established in the area and the population of the community continued to grow. In 1857, Alapaha was renamed Milltown. During the American Civil, William Lastinger sold his mill to Henry Banks. Milltown was incorporated in 1901. In 1919, Milltown was designated seat of the newly formed Lanier County. In 1928, the city was incorporated and renamed to its present form of Lakeland.

Lakeland is located at 31°2′21″N 83°4′13″W / 31.03917°N 83.07028°W / 31.03917; -83.07028 (31.039214, -83.070397).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), of which 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (1.28%) is water.

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,875 people, 997 households, and 631 families residing in the city.

The median age was 36.3 years. 24.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.4 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.