[6] The community was named after Thomas M. Ray, the proprietor of a local mill.

U.S. Route 129 passes through the city, leading north 10 miles (16 km) to Nashville, the Berrien county seat, and east 8 miles (13 km) to Lakeland, the Lanier county seat.

Georgia State Route 125 leads south from Ray City 18 miles (29 km) to Valdosta, and State Route 37 leads west 14 miles (23 km) to Adel.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Ray City has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.0 km2), of which 0.52 acres (2,119 m2), or 0.07%, are water.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 956 people, 484 households, and 313 families residing in the city.