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Georgia Counties

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Georgia Counties

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 — Athens (Clarke County), Augusta (Richmond County), Columbus (Muscogee County), and Cusseta (Chattahoochee County) — exist.

Georgia has the second-highest number of Counties of any state in the United States, behind Texas (254). 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.

Washington County, Georgia

Washington County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

County Seat: Sandersville
Year Organized: 1784
Square Miles: 680

Court House:

P.O. Box 308
County Courthouse
Sandersville, GA 31082-0308

Etymology - Origin of County Name

One of Georgia's original counties, it was the first in the nation to be named for President George Washington.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County History

Washington County, the 10th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1783. One of Georgia's original counties, it was the first in the nation to be named for President George Washington. Its first settlers were Revolutionary War veterans, who were given land grants for their service to the country.

Points of Interest

Washington County is the "Kaolin Capital of the World." One of Georgia's most important minerals, kaolin is a white, alumina-silicate clay used in hundreds of products ranging from paper to cosmetics to the nose cones of rockets.

The Official State of Georgia Historical Plates, depicting events and people from the state's history, were designed by Sandersville native Louise Irwin in 1933. The plates are made in England by Wedgewood and are available for sale at the Sandersville Public Library.

About two dozen historical markers are placed throughout the county, most relating to the Civil War. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places are the Francis Plantation, Washington County Courthouse, the Old City Cemetery, North Harris Street Historic District, and Charles Edward Choate Historic District.

Hamburg State Park offers a 225-acre lake with tent and trailer sites, a museum, grist mill fishing, boats and canoes.

Notable Citizens

Two of Georgia's governors called Washington County home: Jared Irwin and Thomas W. Hardwick.

Neighboring Counties:

Northeast: Glascock County; Jefferson County
Southeast: Johnson County
Southwest: Wilkinson County
Northwest: Baldwin County; Hancock County

Cities and Towns:

- Davisboro	city	Incorporated Area
- Deepstep	town	Incorporated Area
- Harrison	town	Incorporated Area
- Oconee	city	Incorporated Area
- Riddleville	town	Incorporated Area
- Sandersville (County Seat)	city	Incorporated Area
- Tennille	city	Incorporated Area

County Resources:

Chamber of Commerce http://www.washingtoncounty-ga.com/chamber.shtml

Additional County Info http://www.georgiaplanning.com/CountyPortal/countyportal.asp?FIPS=13303

County Resources

The history of our nation was a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names given the counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic features of this country!"

But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.

Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally, act locally."