List of counties in Georgia (U.S. state)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The U.S. state of Georgia is divided into 159 counties. Under the Georgia Constitution, counties are granted home rule to deal with issues that are local in nature. Four consolidated city-counties exist—Athens (Clarke County), Augusta (Richmond County), Columbus (Muscogee County), and Cusseta (Chattahoochee County).
Contents |
[edit] History
Georgia has the second-highest number of counties of any state in the United States, behind Texas (254). The traditional idea for county creation was that a farmer should be able to go to the county seat and back home in one day on horseback. However, about 25 counties were created in the early 20th century after the automobile had become widespread. These last counties created were generally seen as being done for political purposes.
The proliferation of counties in the state led to multiple state constitutional amendments, attempting to establish limits. The most recent such amendment, dating to 1945, limits the state to 159 counties, though there were previously 161 from 1924 to 1931. In a rare consolidation, Campbell County and Milton County were made part of Fulton County as of 1932, as an austerity measure during the Great Depression.
Currently, there is a movement among some to change the state constitution to allow the creation of at least one new county. Some residents of northern Fulton County support the re-creation of Milton County. The reasoning behind this is that the northern sections of Fulton County are among the most affluent in the state, and residents want to stop tax revenues from going to the poorer areas of South Fulton to be spent.
[edit] Changed county names
A few Georgia counties have changed names over time. Jasper County was originally known as Randolph County. Later, the current Randolph County came into being. Webster County was once known as Kinchafoonee County, and Bartow County was formerly known as Cass County.
[edit] Defunct counties
In addition, there was once another Walton County. It was a county that is in present-day North Carolina. A skirmish, "The Walton War," was actually fought between North Carolina and Georgia before Georgia gave up the claim.
[edit] Alphabetical Listing
County |
FIPS Code [1] |
County seat [2] |
Established [2] |
Origin |
Etymolgy |
Population [2] |
Area [2] |
Map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appling County | 001 | Baxley | 1818 | ? | Daniel Appling | 17,419 | ( 1,318 km²) |
509 sq mi|
Atkinson County | 003 | Pearson | 1919 | ? | William Yates Atkinson | 7,609 | ( 875 km²) |
338 sq mi|
Bacon County | 005 | Alma | 1914 | ? | Augustus Octavius Bacon | 10,103 | ( 738 km²) |
285 sq mi|
Baker County | 007 | Newton | 1825 | ? | Colonel John Baker | 4,074 | ( 888 km²) |
343 sq mi|
Baldwin County | 009 | Milledgeville | 1803 | ? | Abraham Baldwin | 44,700 | ( 668 km²) |
258 sq mi|
Banks County | 011 | Homer | 1858 | ? | Richard Banks | 14,422 | ( 606 km²) |
234 sq mi|
Barrow County | 013 | Winder | 1914 | ? | David Crenshaw Barrow Jr. | 46,144 | ( 420 km²) |
162 sq mi|
Bartow County | 015 | Cartersville | 1832 | ? | Francis S. Bartow | 76,019 | ( 1,191 km²) |
460 sq mi|
Ben Hill County | 017 | Fitzgerald | 1906 | ? | Benjamin Harvey Hill | 17,484 | ( 653 km²) |
252 sq mi|
Berrien County | 019 | Nashville | 1856 | ? | John MacPherson Berrien | 16,235 | ( 1,171 km²) |
452 sq mi|
Bibb County | 021 | Macon | 1822 | ? | William Wyatt Bibb | 153,887 | ( 647 km²) |
250 sq mi|
Bleckley County | 023 | Cochran | 1912 | ? | Logan Edwin Bleckley | 11,666 | ( 562 km²) |
217 sq mi|
Brantley County | 025 | Nahunta | 1920 | ? | Benjamin D. Brantley or William Gordon Brantley | 14,629 | ( 1,150 km²) |
444 sq mi|
Brooks County | 027 | Quitman | 1858 | ? | Peterson Smith Brooks | 16,450 | ( 1,279 km²) |
494 sq mi|
Bryan County | 029 | Pembroke | 1793 | ? | Jonathan Bryan | 23,417 | ( 1,145 km²) |
442 sq mi|
Bulloch County | 031 | Statesboro | 1796 | ? | Archibald Bulloch | 55,983 | ( 1,769 km²) |
683 sq mi|
Burke County | 033 | Waynesboro | 1777 | ? | Edmund Burke | 22,243 | ( 2,152 km²) |
831 sq mi|
Butts County | 035 | Jackson | 1825 | ? | Captain Samuel Butts | 19,522 | ( 484 km²) |
187 sq mi|
Calhoun County | 037 | Morgan | 1854 | ? | John Caldwell Calhoun | 6,320 | ( 725 km²) |
280 sq mi|
Camden County | 039 | Woodbine | 1777 | ? | Charles Pratt 1st Earl Camden | 43,664 | ( 1,632 km²) |
630 sq mi|
Candler County | 043 | Metter | 1914 | ? | Allen Daniel Candler | 9,577 | ( 640 km²) |
247 sq mi|
Carroll County | 045 | Carrollton | 1826 | ? | Charles Carroll | 87,268 | ( 1,292 km²) |
499 sq mi|
Catoosa County | 047 | Ringgold | 1853 | ? | Chief Catoosa | 53,282 | ( 420 km²) |
162 sq mi|
Charlton County | 049 | Folkston | 1854 | ? | Robert Milledge Carlton | 10,282 | ( 2,023 km²) |
781 sq mi|
Chatham County | 051 | Savannah | 1777 | ? | William Pitt 1st Earl of Chatham | 232,048 | ( 1,140 km²) |
440 sq mi|
Chattahoochee County | 053 | Cusseta | 1854 | ? | Chattagoochee River | 14,882 | ( 645 km²) |
249 sq mi|
Chattooga County | 055 | Summerville | 1838 | ? | Chattooga River | 25,470 | ( 813 km²) |
314 sq mi|
Cherokee County | 057 | Canton | 1832 | ? | Cherokee Native Americans | 141,903 | ( 1,098 km²) |
424 sq mi|
Clarke County | 059 | Athens | 1801 | ? | Elijah Clarke | 101,489 | ( 313 km²) |
121 sq mi|
Clay County | 061 | Fort Gaines | 1854 | ? | Henry Clay | 3,357 | ( 505 km²) |
195 sq mi|
Clayton County | 063 | Jonesboro | 1858 | ? | Augustin Smith Clayton | 236,517 | ( 370 km²) |
143 sq mi|
Clinch County | 065 | Homerville | 1850 | ? | Duncan Lamont Clinch | 6,878 | ( 2,095 km²) |
809 sq mi|
Cobb County | 067 | Marietta | 1832 | ? | Thomas Willis Cobb | 607,751 | ( 881 km²) |
340 sq mi|
Coffee County | 069 | Douglas | 1854 | ? | John E. Coffee | 37,413 | ( 1,551 km²) |
599 sq mi|
Colquitt County | 071 | Moultrie | 1856 | ? | Walter Terry Colquitt | 42,053 | ( 1,430 km²) |
552 sq mi|
Columbia County | 073 | Appling | 1790 | ? | Christopher Columbus | 89,288 | ( 751 km²) |
290 sq mi|
Cook County | 075 | Adel | 1918 | ? | Phillip Cook | 15,771 | ( 593 km²) |
229 sq mi|
Coweta County | 077 | Newnan | 1826 | ? | Coweta Native Americans | 89,215 | ( 1,147 km²) |
443 sq mi|
Crawford County | 079 | Knoxville | 1822 | ? | William Harris Crawford | 12,495 | ( 842 km²) |
325 sq mi|
Crisp County | 081 | Cordele | 1905 | ? | Charles Frederick Crisp | 21,996 | ( 710 km²) |
274 sq mi|
Dade County | 083 | Trenton | 1837 | ? | Francis Langhorne Dade | 15,154 | ( 451 km²) |
174 sq mi|
Dawson County | 085 | Dawsonville | 1857 | ? | William Crosby Dawson | 15,999 | ( 546 km²) |
211 sq mi|
Decatur County | 087 | Bainbridge | 1823 | ? | Stephen Decatur | 28,240 | ( 1,546 km²) |
597 sq mi|
DeKalb County | 089 | Decatur | 1822 | ? | Johann DeKalb | 665,865 | ( 694 km²) |
268 sq mi|
Dodge County | 091 | Eastman | 1870 | ? | William Earl Dodge | 19,171 | ( 1,298 km²) |
501 sq mi|
Dooly County | 093 | Vienna | 1821 | ? | John Dooly | 11,525 | ( 1,018 km²) |
393 sq mi|
Dougherty County | 095 | Albany | 1853 | ? | Charles Doughterty | 96,065 | ( 855 km²) |
330 sq mi|
Douglas County | 097 | Douglasville | 1870 | ? | Stephen Arnold Douglas | 92,174 | ( 515 km²) |
199 sq mi|
Early County | 099 | Blakely | 1818 | ? | Peter Early | 12,354 | ( 1,323 km²) |
511 sq mi|
Echols County | 101 | Statenville | 1858 | ? | Robert M. Echols | 3,754 | ( 1,046 km²) |
404 sq mi|
Effingham County | 103 | Springfield | 1777 | ? | Francis Howard 1st Earl of Effingham | 37,535 | ( 1,243 km²) |
480 sq mi|
Elbert County | 105 | Elberton | 1790 | ? | Samuel Elbert | 20,511 | ( 956 km²) |
369 sq mi|
Emanuel County | 107 | Swainsboro | 1812 | ? | David Emanuel | 21,837 | ( 1,777 km²) |
686 sq mi|
Evans County | 109 | Claxton | 1914 | ? | Clement Anselm Evans | 10,495 | ( 479 km²) |
185 sq mi|
Fannin County | 111 | Blue Ridge | 1854 | ? | James Walker Fannin Jr. | 19,798 | ( 1,000 km²) |
386 sq mi|
Fayette County | 113 | Fayetteville | 1821 | ? | Marquis de la Fayette | 91,263 | ( 510 km²) |
197 sq mi|
Floyd County | 115 | Rome | 1832 | ? | John Floyd | 90,565 | ( 1,329 km²) |
513 sq mi|
Forsyth County | 117 | Cumming | 1832 | ? | John Forsyth | 98,407 | ( 585 km²) |
226 sq mi|
Franklin County | 119 | Carnesville | 1784 | ? | Benjamin Franklin | 20,285 | ( 681 km²) |
263 sq mi|
Fulton County | 121 | Atlanta | 1853 | ? | Robert Fulton | 816,006 | ( 1,370 km²) |
529 sq mi|
Gilmer County | 123 | Ellijay | 1832 | ? | George Rockingham Gilmer | 23,456 | ( 1,106 km²) |
427 sq mi|
Glascock County | 125 | Gibson | 1857 | ? | Thomas Glascock | 2,556 | ( 373 km²) |
144 sq mi|
Glynn County | 127 | Brunswick | 1777 | ? | John Glynn | 67,568 | ( 1,093 km²) |
422 sq mi|
Gordon County | 129 | Calhoun | 1850 | ? | William Washington Gordon | 44,104 | ( 919 km²) |
355 sq mi|
Grady County | 131 | Cairo | 1906 | ? | Henry Woodfin Grady | 23,659 | ( 1,186 km²) |
458 sq mi|
Greene County | 133 | Greensboro | 1786 | ? | Nathanael Greene | 14,406 | ( 1,005 km²) |
388 sq mi|
Gwinnett County | 135 | Lawrenceville | 1818 | ? | Button Gwinnett | 588,448 | ( 1,121 km²) |
433 sq mi|
Habersham County | 137 | Clarkesville | 1818 | ? | Joseph Habersham | 35,902 | ( 720 km²) |
278 sq mi|
Hall County | 139 | Gainesville | 1818 | ? | Lyman Hall | 139,277 | ( 1,020 km²) |
394 sq mi|
Hancock County | 141 | Sparta | 1793 | ? | John Hancock | 10,076 | ( 1,225 km²) |
473 sq mi|
Haralson County | 143 | Buchanan | 1856 | ? | Hugh Anderson Haralson | 25,690 | ( 730 km²) |
282 sq mi|
Harris County | 145 | Hamilton | 1827 | ? | Charles Harris | 23,695 | ( 1,202 km²) |
464 sq mi|
Hart County | 147 | Hartwell | 1853 | ? | Nancy Morgan Hart | 22,997 | ( 601 km²) |
232 sq mi|
Heard County | 149 | Franklin | 1830 | ? | Stephen Heard | 11,012 | ( 767 km²) |
296 sq mi|
Henry County | 151 | McDonough | 1821 | ? | Patrick Henry | 119,341 | ( 837 km²) |
323 sq mi|
Houston County | 153 | Perry | 1821 | ? | John Houston | 110,765 | ( 976 km²) |
377 sq mi|
Irwin County | 155 | Ocilla | 1818 | ? | Jared Irwin | 9,931 | ( 925 km²) |
357 sq mi|
Jackson County | 157 | Jefferson | 1796 | ? | James Jackson | 41,589 | ( 886 km²) |
342 sq mi|
Jasper County | 159 | Monticello | 1807 | ? | William Jasper | 11,426 | ( 958 km²) |
370 sq mi|
Jeff Davis County | 161 | Hazlehurst | 1905 | ? | Jefferson Davis | 12,684 | ( 862 km²) |
333 sq mi|
Jefferson County | 163 | Louisville | 1796 | ? | Thomas Jefferson | 17,266 | ( 1,368 km²) |
528 sq mi|
Jenkins County | 165 | Millen | 1905 | ? | Charles Jones Jenkins | 8,575 | ( 906 km²) |
350 sq mi|
Johnson County | 167 | Wrightsville | 1858 | ? | Herschel Vespasian Johnson | 8,560 | ( 787 km²) |
304 sq mi|
Jones County | 169 | Gray | 1807 | ? | James Jones | 23,639 | ( 1,020 km²) |
394 sq mi|
Lamar County | 171 | Barnesville | 1920 | ? | Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar | 15,912 | ( 479 km²) |
185 sq mi|
Lanier County | 173 | Lakeland | 1920 | ? | Sidney Lanier | 7,241 | ( 484 km²) |
187 sq mi|
Laurens County | 175 | Dublin | 1807 | ? | John Laurens | 44,874 | ( 2,106 km²) |
813 sq mi|
Lee County | 177 | Leesburg | 1826 | ? | Richard Henry Lee | 24,757 | ( 922 km²) |
356 sq mi|
Liberty County | 179 | Hinesville | 1777 | ? | righ and freedom of liberty | 61,610 | ( 1,344 km²) |
519 sq mi|
Lincoln County | 181 | Lincolnton | 1796 | ? | Benjamin Lincoln | 8,348 | ( 546 km²) |
211 sq mi|
Long County | 183 | Ludowici | 1920 | ? | Crawford Williamson Long | 10,304 | ( 1,039 km²) |
401 sq mi|
Lowndes County | 185 | Valdosta | 1825 | ? | William Jones Lowdens | 92,115 | ( 1,305 km²) |
504 sq mi|
Lumpkin County | 187 | Dahlonega | 1832 | ? | Wilson Lumpkin | 21,016 | ( 736 km²) |
284 sq mi|
Macon County | 189 | Oglethorpe | 1837 | ? | Nathaniel Macon | 14,074 | ( 1,044 km²) |
403 sq mi|
Madison County | 191 | Danielsville | 1811 | ? | James Madison | 25,730 | ( 736 km²) |
284 sq mi|
Marion County | 193 | Buena Vista | 1827 | ? | Francis Marion | 7,144 | ( 951 km²) |
367 sq mi|
McDuffie County | 195 | Thomson | 1870 | ? | George McDuffie | 21,231 | ( 673 km²) |
260 sq mi|
McIntosh County | 197 | Darien | 1793 | ? | William McIntosh | 10,847 | ( 1,124 km²) |
434 sq mi|
Meriwether County | 199 | Greenville | 1827 | ? | David Meriwether | 22,534 | ( 1,303 km²) |
503 sq mi|
Miller County | 201 | Colquitt | 1856 | ? | Andrew Jackson Miller | 6,383 | ( 733 km²) |
283 sq mi|
Mitchell County | 205 | Camilla | 1857 | ? | Gen. Henry Mitchell | 23,932 | ( 1,326 km²) |
512 sq mi|
Monroe County | 207 | Forsyth | 1821 | ? | James Monroe | 21,757 | ( 1,026 km²) |
396 sq mi|
Montgomery County | 209 | Mount Vernon | 1793 | ? | Richard Montgomery | 8,270 | ( 635 km²) |
245 sq mi|
Morgan County | 211 | Madison | 1807 | ? | Daniel Morgan | 15,457 | ( 906 km²) |
350 sq mi|
Murray County | 213 | Chatsworth | 1832 | ? | Thomas W. Murray | 36,506 | ( 891 km²) |
344 sq mi|
Muscogee County | 215 | Columbus | 1826 | ? | Muscogee Native Americans | 186,291 | ( 559 km²) |
216 sq mi|
Newton County | 217 | Covington | 1821 | ? | John Newton | 62,001 | ( 715 km²) |
276 sq mi|
Oconee County | 219 | Watkinsville | 1875 | ? | Oconee River | 26,225 | ( 482 km²) |
186 sq mi|
Oglethorpe County | 221 | Lexington | 1793 | ? | James Edwar Oglethorpe | 12,635 | ( 1,142 km²) |
441 sq mi|
Paulding County | 223 | Dallas | 1832 | ? | John Paulding | 81,678 | ( 813 km²) |
314 sq mi|
Peach County | 225 | Fort Valley | 1924 | ? | peaches | 23,668 | ( 391 km²) |
151 sq mi|
Pickens County | 227 | Jasper | 1853 | ? | Andrew Pickens | 22,983 | ( 601 km²) |
232 sq mi|
Pierce County | 229 | Blackshear | 1857 | ? | Franklin Pierce | 15,636 | ( 888 km²) |
343 sq mi|
Pike County | 231 | Zebulon | 1822 | ? | Zebulon Montgomery Pike | 13,688 | ( 565 km²) |
218 sq mi|
Polk County | 233 | Cedartown | 1851 | ? | James Knox Polk | 38,127 | ( 805 km²) |
311 sq mi|
Pulaski County | 235 | Hawkinsville | 1808 | ? | Kazimierz Pulaski | 9,588 | ( 640 km²) |
247 sq mi|
Putnam County | 237 | Eatonton | 1807 | ? | Israel Putnam | 18,812 | ( 891 km²) |
344 sq mi|
Quitman County | 239 | Georgetown | 1858 | ? | John Anthony Quitman | 2,598 | ( 394 km²) |
152 sq mi|
Rabun County | 241 | Clayton | 1819 | ? | William Rabun | 15,050 | ( 961 km²) |
371 sq mi|
Randolph County | 243 | Cuthbert | 1828 | ? | John Randolph | 7,791 | ( 1,111 km²) |
429 sq mi|
Richmond County | 245 | Augusta | 1777 | ? | Charles Lenox Duke of Richmond | 199,775 | ( 839 km²) |
324 sq mi|
Rockdale County | 247 | Conyers | 1870 | ? | Rockdale Church | 70,111 | ( 339 km²) |
131 sq mi|
Schley County | 249 | Ellaville | 1857 | ? | William Schley | 3,766 | ( 435 km²) |
168 sq mi|
Screven County | 251 | Sylvania | 1793 | ? | James Screven | 15,374 | ( 1,678 km²) |
648 sq mi|
Seminole County | 253 | Donalsonville | 1920 | ? | Seminole Native Americans | 9,369 | ( 616 km²) |
238 sq mi|
Spalding County | 255 | Griffin | 1851 | ? | Thomas Spalding | 58,417 | ( 513 km²) |
198 sq mi|
Stephens County | 257 | Toccoa | 1905 | ? | Alexander Stephens | 25,435 | ( 464 km²) |
179 sq mi|
Stewart County | 259 | Lumpkin | 1830 | ? | Daniel Stewart | 5,252 | ( 1,189 km²) |
459 sq mi|
Sumter County | 261 | Americus | 1831 | ? | Thomas Sumter | 33,200 | ( 1,256 km²) |
485 sq mi|
Talbot County | 263 | Talbotton | 1827 | ? | Matthew Talbot | 6,498 | ( 1,018 km²) |
393 sq mi|
Taliaferro County | 265 | Crawfordville | 1825 | ? | Benjamin Taliaferro | 2,077 | ( 505 km²) |
195 sq mi|
Tattnall County | 267 | Reidsville | 1801 | ? | Josiah Tattnall | 22,305 | ( 1,254 km²) |
484 sq mi|
Taylor County | 269 | Butler | 1852 | ? | Zachary Taylor | 8,815 | ( 979 km²) |
378 sq mi|
Telfair County | 271 | McRae | 1807 | ? | Edward Telfair | 11,794 | ( 1,142 km²) |
441 sq mi|
Terrell County | 273 | Dawson | 1856 | ? | William Terrell | 10,970 | ( 870 km²) |
336 sq mi|
Thomas County | 275 | Thomasville | 1825 | ? | Jett Thomas | 42,737 | ( 1,419 km²) |
548 sq mi|
Tift County | 277 | Tifton | 1905 | ? | Nelson Tift | 38,407 | ( 686 km²) |
265 sq mi|
Toombs County | 279 | Lyons | 1905 | ? | Robert Toombs | 26,067 | ( 951 km²) |
367 sq mi|
Towns County | 281 | Hiawassee | 1856 | ? | George Washington Towns | 9,319 | ( 430 km²) |
166 sq mi|
Treutlen County | 283 | Soperton | 1917 | ? | John A. Treutlen | 6,854 | ( 521 km²) |
201 sq mi|
Troup County | 285 | Lagrange | 1826 | ? | George M. Troup | 58,779 | ( 1,072 km²) |
414 sq mi|
Turner County | 287 | Ashburn | 1905 | ? | Henry Gray Turner | 9,504 | ( 741 km²) |
286 sq mi|
Twiggs County | 289 | Jeffersonville | 1809 | ? | John Twiggs | 10,590 | ( 932 km²) |
360 sq mi|
Union County | 291 | Blairsville | 1832 | ? | Federal Union | 17,289 | ( 837 km²) |
323 sq mi|
Upson County | 293 | Thomaston | 1824 | ? | Stephen Upson | 27,597 | ( 844 km²) |
326 sq mi|
Walker County | 295 | Lafayette | 1833 | ? | Freeman Walker | 61,053 | ( 1,155 km²) |
446 sq mi|
Walton County | 297 | Monroe | 1803 | ? | George Walton | 60,687 | ( 852 km²) |
329 sq mi|
Ware County | 299 | Waycross | 1824 | ? | Nicholas Ware | 35,483 | ( 2,339 km²) |
903 sq mi|
Warren County | 301 | Warrenton | 1793 | ? | Joseph Warren | 6,336 | ( 741 km²) |
286 sq mi|
Washington County | 303 | Sandersville | 1784 | ? | George Washington | 21,176 | ( 1,761 km²) |
680 sq mi|
Wayne County | 305 | Jesup | 1803 | ? | "Mad" Anthony Wayne | 26,565 | ( 1,671 km²) |
645 sq mi|
Webster County | 307 | Preston | 1853 | ? | Daniel Webster | 2,390 | ( 544 km²) |
210 sq mi|
Wheeler County | 309 | Alamo | 1912 | ? | Joseph E. Wheeler | 6,179 | ( 772 km²) |
298 sq mi|
White County | 311 | Cleveland | 1857 | ? | David T. White | 19,944 | ( 627 km²) |
242 sq mi|
Whitfield County | 313 | Dalton | 1851 | ? | George Whitfield | 83,525 | ( 751 km²) |
290 sq mi|
Wilcox County | 315 | Abbeville | 1857 | ? | Mark Wilcox | 8,577 | ( 984 km²) |
380 sq mi|
Wilkes County | 317 | Washington | 1777 | ? | John Wilkes | 10,687 | ( 1,220 km²) |
471 sq mi|
Wilkinson County | 319 | Irwinton | 1803 | ? | James Wilkinson | 10,220 | ( 1,158 km²) |
447 sq mi|
Worth County | 321 | Sylvester | 1853 | ? | William James Worth | 21,967 | ( 1,476 km²) |
570 sq mi
[edit] External links
- Historical Atlas of Georgia Counties
- Article IX of the Constitution of Georgia, on counties and municipal corporations
- History of Walton County
- Walton War
- List of Digital Library of Georgia collections by county
- New Georgia Encyclopedia
[edit] References
- ^ EPA County FIPS Code Listing. EPA.gov. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
- ^ a b c d National Association of Counties. NACo - Find a county. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
|