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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.

Wayne County, Georgia

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

County Seat: Jesup
Year Organized: 1803
Square Miles: 645

Court House:

P.O. Box 270
County Government Building
Jesup, GA 31598-0270

Etymology - Origin of County Name

The county bears the name of a flamboyant Pennsylvania commander in the Revolutionary War, General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. Until 1850, the county bragged that it had no jails and needed none.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County History

Georgia's 28th county, Wayne County, was created in 1803 from Creek Indian land. The county bears the name of a flamboyant Pennsylvania commander in the Revolutionary War, General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. Until 1850, the county bragged that it had no jails and needed none.

The county seat was moved to Jesup in 1874. The current courthouse, built in 1803, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Often called "the town that trains made," Jesup's history is full of railway lore. In 1890, 57 trains per day made stops in Jesup, passenger fares collected averaged $1,000 per day, and the rail yard could hold 500 cars. Residents relied on the trains to set their clocks, provide entertainment, and sound alarms in emergencies. By 1924, Jesup was known as the railway center of South Coast Georgia. Trains still stop for passenger service three times daily.

Points of Interest

For recreation, residents of Wayne County may choose from many water sports. The Altamaha River offers canoeing, boating and fishing. Skiing competitions on Lake Kenerly attract national athletes.

Wayne County is home to two Wildlife Management Areas: Little Satilla and Tyler Tract.

Notable Citizens

One of Wayne County's swimmers, David Larsen, became an Olympic Gold Medalist.

Neighboring Counties:

Northeast: Long County
East: McIntosh County
Southeast: Glynn County
South: Brantley County
Southwest: Pierce County
Northwest: Appling County; Tattnall County

Cities and Towns:

- Jesup (County Seat)	city	Incorporated Area
- Odum	town	Incorporated Area
- Screven	city	Incorporated Area

County Resources:

County http://www.co.wayne.ga.us/

Chamber of Commerce http://www.waynechamber.com/

Additional County Info http://www.georgiaplanning.com/CountyPortal/countyportal.asp?FIPS=13305

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."