The Chattahoochee River, 3 miles (5 km) to the west, was the main source of transportation, bearing downstream huge square-cut timbers to Apalachicola, Florida, for ship building and turpentine for export, and bearing cotton upstream to the cotton mills in Columbus.

In 1821 the Armstrong and Attaway Company built the first cotton gin at nearby Saffold Navy Yard.

The first families established here were the Allens, Rambos, Donalsons, Harrells, Shewmakes, Saffolds, Johnsons, Hayes, Gibsons, Crawfords, and Moodys.

In 1828 a road was made from Blakely to Bainbridge on which settled the Hodges, Warrens, Minters, Easoms and Perrys.

[6] In addition to small farm agriculture, Jakin's early economic growth resulted from turpentine.

Blakely, the Early County seat, is 21 miles (34 km) to the north via Jakin Road.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Jakin has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.2 km2), all land.