| Counties of Georgia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | State of Georgia |
| Number | 159 |
| Populations | Greatest: 1,090,354 (Fulton) Least: 1,620 (Taliaferro) Average: 70,320 (2024) |
| Areas | Largest: 908 square miles (2,350 km2) (Ware) Smallest: 121 square miles (310 km2) (Clarke) Average: 373.7 square miles (968 km2) |
| Government | |
| Subdivisions |
|
TheU.S. state ofGeorgia is divided into 159counties, the second-highest number afterTexas, whichhas 254 counties. Under theGeorgia State Constitution, all of its counties are grantedhome rule to deal with problems that are purely local in nature. Also, eightconsolidated city-counties have been established in Georgia:Athens–Clarke County,Augusta–Richmond County,Columbus–Muscogee County,Georgetown–Quitman County,Statenville–Echols County,Macon–Bibb County,Cusseta–Chattahoochee County, andPreston-Webster County.
From 1732 until 1758, the minor civil divisions in Georgia were districts and towns. In 1758, theProvince of Georgia was divided intoeight parishes, and another four parishes were created in 1765. On February 5, 1777, the original eight counties of the state were created: Burke, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Richmond, and Wilkes.
Georgia has the second-largest number of counties of any state in theUnited States, only behindTexas, which has254 counties.[1] One traditional reasoning for the creation and location of so many counties in Georgia was that a country farmer, rancher, or lumberman should be able to travel to the legalcounty seat town or city, and then back home, in one day on horseback or via wagon. About 25 counties in Georgia were created in the first quarter of the 20th century, after the use of therailroad,automobile, truck, and bus had become possible. Because of theCounty Unit System, later declared unconstitutional, new counties, no matter the population, had at least one representative in the state house, keeping political power in rural areas.[2][3] The last new county to be established in Georgia wasPeach County, founded in 1924.
The proliferation of counties in Georgia led to multiple stateconstitutional amendments attempting to limit the number of counties. The most recent such amendment, ratified in 1945, limited the number to 159 counties, although there had been 161 counties from 1924 to 1931. In a rare consolidation of counties, bothCampbell County andMilton County were annexed intoFulton County in 1932 as a financial move during theGreat Depression, since those two county governments were nearlybankrupt. Fulton County containsAtlanta, and it was thought that tax revenues from Atlanta and itssuburbs would help to support the rural areas of the discarded counties, which had very little tax income of their own—mostly fromproperty taxes on farms and forests, which did not amount to much.
Due to Georgia's high number of unpopulated counties, Georgia judges are able to get around a state constitutional provision prohibiting banishment "beyond the limits of this state" by banishing criminals from all but one county of the state, usually Echols County. Because the one county where the banished criminal is technically allowed to live is so unpopulated, the banished criminals will leave the state of Georgia rather than move to that county.[4]
Georgia is the only state that still allowssole commissioner county government. As of 2021, seven of the state's 159 counties operate under that system.
During the2022 legislative session, the Georgia General Assembly began considering reducing the number of counties in the state.[5] Despite the state increasing in population by over one million according to the2020 Census, 67 counties lost population, mostly in rural areas. The rationale for consolidating counties is to reduce costs for county services such as school systems, law enforcement and elections.[5][6]
A few counties in Georgia have changed their names.Jasper County was originally named "Randolph County". Later, the present-dayRandolph County was founded.Webster County was once named "Kinchafoonee County", andBartow County was originally named "Cass County".
Per the 2020 Census, 36 of Georgia's 159 counties aremajority-minority. Eighteen have African-American majorities and 18 are majority-minority with no dominant group. An influx of immigrants to theAtlanta metropolitan area and Latino workers to theBlack Belt has helped to fuel the shift.
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| County | FIPS code[12] | County seat[13] | Est.[13] | Origin[14] | Etymology[14] | Density | Population[15] | Area[13] | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appling County | 001 | Baxley | 1818 | Land ceded by theCreek Indians in theTreaty of Fort Jackson in 1814 and the Treaty of the Creek Agency in 1818 | ColonelDaniel Appling (1787–1818), a hero of theWar of 1812 | 36.68/sq mi (14.16/km2) | 18,669 | 509 sq mi (1,318 km2) |  |
| Atkinson County | 003 | Pearson | 1917 | Clinch and Coffee counties | William Yates Atkinson (1854–99),governor of Georgia (1894–98) and speaker of theGeorgia House of Representatives | 24.96/sq mi (9.64/km2) | 8,435 | 338 sq mi (875 km2) |  |
| Bacon County | 005 | Alma | 1914 | Appling, Pierce and Ware counties | Augustus Octavius Bacon (1839–1914), U.S. Senator (1895–1914);President pro tempore of the United States Senate | 38.75/sq mi (14.96/km2) | 11,045 | 285 sq mi (738 km2) |  |
| Baker County | 007 | Newton | 1825 | Early County | ColonelJohn Baker (died 1792), a hero of theAmerican Revolutionary War | 7.97/sq mi (3.08/km2) | 2,732 | 343 sq mi (888 km2) |  |
| Baldwin County | 009 | Milledgeville | 1803 | Creek cessions of 1802 and 1805 | Abraham Baldwin (1754–1807), aFounding Father; U.S. Senator (1799–1807); one of the Georgia delegates who signed theU.S. Constitution | 169.16/sq mi (65.31/km2) | 43,644 | 258 sq mi (668 km2) |  |
| Banks County | 011 | Homer | 1859 | Franklin and Habersham counties | Dr.Richard Banks (1784–1850), local physician noted for treating natives with smallpox | 86.83/sq mi (33.53/km2) | 20,318 | 234 sq mi (606 km2) |  |
| Barrow County | 013 | Winder | 1914 | Gwinnett, Jackson and Walton counties | "Uncle Dave"David Crenshaw Barrow Jr. (1852–1929),chancellor of theUniversity of Georgia (1906–29) | 594.41/sq mi (229.50/km2) | 96,294 | 162 sq mi (420 km2) |  |
| Bartow County | 015 | Cartersville | 1832 | Created from a portion of Cherokee County and originally called Cass County after GeneralLewis Cass | GeneralFrancis S. Bartow (1816–61),Confederatepolitical leader; first Confederate general killed in theAmerican Civil War | 255.45/sq mi (98.63/km2) | 117,508 | 460 sq mi (1,191 km2) |  |
| Ben Hill County | 017 | Fitzgerald | 1906 | Irwin and Wilcox counties | Benjamin Harvey Hill (1823–82), U.S. Senator (1877–82) | 67.24/sq mi (25.96/km2) | 16,945 | 252 sq mi (653 km2) |  |
| Berrien County | 019 | Nashville | 1856 | Coffee, Irwin, and Lowndes counties | John Macpherson Berrien (1781–1856), U.S. Senator;U.S. Attorney General | 41.30/sq mi (15.95/km2) | 18,666 | 452 sq mi (1,171 km2) |  |
| Bibb County | 021 | Macon | 1822 | Houston, Jones, Monroe, and Twiggs counties | Dr.William Wyatt Bibb (1780–1820), firstGovernor of Alabama; U.S. Senator | 628.22/sq mi (242.56/km2) | 157,056 | 250 sq mi (647 km2) |  |
| Bleckley County | 023 | Cochran | 1912 | Pulaski County | Logan Edwin Bleckley (1827–1907),Georgia State Supreme CourtChief Justice | 58.18/sq mi (22.46/km2) | 12,626 | 217 sq mi (562 km2) |  |
| Brantley County | 025 | Nahunta | 1920 | Charlton, Pierce, and Wayne counties | Benjamin Daniel Brantley (1832-91), a state legislator, local merchant and confederate soldier orWilliam Gordon Brantley (1860–1934), U.S. Congressman | 42.33/sq mi (16.34/km2) | 18,795 | 444 sq mi (1,150 km2) |  |
| Brooks County | 027 | Quitman | 1858 | Lowndes and Thomas counties | CaptainPreston S. Brooks (1819–57), a hero of theMexican–American War;Congressman fromSouth Carolina | 33.09/sq mi (12.78/km2) | 16,344 | 494 sq mi (1,279 km2) |  |
| Bryan County | 029 | Pembroke | 1793 | Chatham County | Jonathan Bryan (1708–88), colonial settler; famous state representative | 115.62/sq mi (44.64/km2) | 51,105 | 442 sq mi (1,145 km2) |  |
| Bulloch County | 031 | Statesboro | 1796 | Bryan and Screven counties | Archibald Bulloch (1729–77), a hero of the Revolutionary War; Speaker of theGeorgia House of Representatives; actinggovernor of Georgia (1775–77) and first governor of Georgia | 125.12/sq mi (48.31/km2) | 85,454 | 683 sq mi (1,769 km2) |  |
| Burke County | 033 | Waynesboro | 1777 | Originally organized as St. George Parish | Edmund Burke (1729–97), British-American political philosopher andMember of Parliament (MP) who sympathized with the cause of American independence | 29.45/sq mi (11.37/km2) | 24,472 | 831 sq mi (2,152 km2) |  |
| Butts County | 035 | Jackson | 1825 | Henry and Monroe counties | CaptainSamuel Butts (1777–1814), a hero of theCreek War | 145.06/sq mi (56.01/km2) | 27,127 | 187 sq mi (484 km2) |  |
| Calhoun County | 037 | Morgan | 1854 | Baker and Early counties | John C. Calhoun (1782–1850), U.S. Congressman; U.S. Senator;Vice President of the United States from South Carolina | 19.43/sq mi (7.50/km2) | 5,441 | 280 sq mi (725 km2) |  |
| Camden County | 039 | Woodbine | 1777 | St. Mary and St. Thomas parishes | Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714–94),Lord Chancellor ofGreat Britain who sympathized with the cause of American independence | 93.81/sq mi (36.22/km2) | 59,099 | 630 sq mi (1,632 km2) |  |
| Candler County | 043 | Metter | 1914 | Bulloch, Emanuel and Tattnall counties | Allen Daniel Candler (1834–1910), state legislator; U.S. Congressman; Governor of Georgia (1898–1902) | 45.06/sq mi (17.40/km2) | 11,130 | 247 sq mi (640 km2) |  |
| Carroll County | 045 | Carrollton | 1826 | Lands ceded by the Creek Indians in 1825 in theTreaty of Indian Springs | Charles Carroll (1737–1832), the last surviving signer of theDeclaration of Independence | 260.34/sq mi (100.52/km2) | 129,911 | 499 sq mi (1,292 km2) |  |
| Catoosa County | 047 | Ringgold | 1853 | Walker and Whitfield counties | Chief Catoosa, aCherokee chief | 425.56/sq mi (164.31/km2) | 68,940 | 162 sq mi (420 km2) |  |
| Charlton County | 049 | Folkston | 1854 | Camden County | Robert Milledge Charlton (1807–54), jurist; U.S. Senator (1852–54); mayor ofSavannah | 16.67/sq mi (6.44/km2) | 13,021 | 781 sq mi (2,023 km2) |  |
| Chatham County | 051 | Savannah | 1777 | Christ Church and St. Philip parishes | William Pitt,Earl of Chatham (1708–78),British Prime Minister who sympathized with the cause of American independence | 698.49/sq mi (269.69/km2) | 307,336 | 440 sq mi (1,140 km2) |  |
| Chattahoochee County | 053 | Cusseta | 1854 | Marion and Muscogee counties | Chattahoochee River, which forms the county's (and the state's) western border | 34.33/sq mi (13.25/km2) | 8,548 | 249 sq mi (645 km2) |  |
| Chattooga County | 055 | Summerville | 1838 | Floyd and Walker counties | Chattooga River | 80.59/sq mi (31.12/km2) | 25,306 | 314 sq mi (813 km2) |  |
| Cherokee County | 057 | Canton | 1831 | Cherokee Cession of 1831 | Cherokee Nation, which controlled this part of the state autonomously until 1831 | 692.25/sq mi (267.28/km2) | 293,513 | 424 sq mi (1,098 km2) |  |
| Clarke County | 059 | Athens | 1801 | Jackson County | Elijah Clarke (1733–99), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 1,074.34/sq mi (414.80/km2) | 129,995 | 121 sq mi (313 km2) |  |
| Clay County | 061 | Fort Gaines | 1854 | Early and Randolph counties | Henry Clay (1777–1852),Secretary of State;Speaker of the House of Representatives; U.S. Senator from Kentucky | 14.44/sq mi (5.58/km2) | 2,815 | 195 sq mi (505 km2) |  |
| Clayton County | 063 | Jonesboro | 1858 | Fayette and Henry counties | Augustin Smith Clayton (1783–1839), a local jurist and U.S. Congressman | 2,081.84/sq mi (803.80/km2) | 297,703 | 143 sq mi (370 km2) |  |
| Clinch County | 065 | Homerville | 1850 | Lowndes and Ware counties | GeneralDuncan Lamont Clinch (1784–1849), a hero of the War of 1812 and theSeminole War; U.S. Congressman | 8.49/sq mi (3.28/km2) | 6,871 | 809 sq mi (2,095 km2) |  |
| Cobb County | 067 | Marietta | 1832 | Cherokee County | ColonelThomas Willis Cobb (1784–1835), a hero of the War of 1812; U.S. Congressman | 2,316.29/sq mi (894.32/km2) | 787,538 | 340 sq mi (881 km2) |  |
| Coffee County | 069 | Douglas | 1854 | Clinch, Irwin, Telfair and Ware counties | GeneralJohn E. Coffee (1782–1836), a hero of the War of 1812 | 73.21/sq mi (28.27/km2) | 43,851 | 599 sq mi (1,551 km2) |  |
| Colquitt County | 071 | Moultrie | 1856 | Lowndes and Thomas counties | Walter Terry Colquitt (1799–1855), Methodist pastor; U.S. Senator | 85.10/sq mi (32.86/km2) | 46,977 | 552 sq mi (1,430 km2) |  |
| Columbia County | 073 | Appling (de jure) andEvans (de facto) | 1790 | Richmond County | Christopher Columbus (1446–1506), explorer | 577.49/sq mi (222.97/km2) | 167,472 | 290 sq mi (751 km2) |  |
| Cook County | 075 | Adel | 1918 | Berrien County | GeneralPhilip Cook (1817–94),Confederate general; Georgia'sGeorgia Secretary of State | 78.53/sq mi (30.32/km2) | 17,984 | 229 sq mi (593 km2) |  |
| Coweta County | 077 | Newnan | 1826 | Created on Creek lands ceded in 1825 in the treaty of Indian Springs and Creek Cessions of 1826 | Coweta tribe of theCreek Nation and their village near Columbus | 357.19/sq mi (137.91/km2) | 158,233 | 443 sq mi (1,147 km2) |  |
| Crawford County | 079 | Knoxville | 1822 | Houston County | William Harris Crawford (1772–1834), U.S. Senator; ambassador to France;Secretary of the Treasury | 38.00/sq mi (14.67/km2) | 12,349 | 325 sq mi (842 km2) |  |
| Crisp County | 081 | Cordele | 1905 | Dooly County | Charles Frederick Crisp (1845–96), Speaker of the House of Representatives | 71.05/sq mi (27.43/km2) | 19,468 | 274 sq mi (710 km2) |  |
| Dade County | 083 | Trenton | 1837 | Walker County | MajorFrancis L. Dade (1793–1835), a hero of the Seminole War | 92.34/sq mi (35.65/km2) | 16,068 | 174 sq mi (451 km2) |  |
| Dawson County | 085 | Dawsonville | 1857 | Gilmer and Lumpkin counties | William Crosby Dawson (1798–1857), U.S. Senator (1849–55); state legislator | 159.94/sq mi (61.75/km2) | 33,748 | 211 sq mi (546 km2) |  |
| Decatur County | 087 | Bainbridge | 1823 | Early County | CommodoreStephen Decatur (1779–1820), a naval hero of the actions against theBarbary Pirates in the early 19th century | 49.23/sq mi (19.01/km2) | 29,391 | 597 sq mi (1,546 km2) |  |
| DeKalb County | 089 | Decatur | 1822 | Henry, Fayette, and Gwinnett counties | "Baron"Johann DeKalb (1721–80) a German who accompaniedGilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, and was inspector general of the Colonial Army | 2,874.28/sq mi (1,109.77/km2) | 770,307 | 268 sq mi (694 km2) |  |
| Dodge County | 091 | Eastman | 1870 | Montgomery, Pulaski and Telfair counties | William Earle Dodge (1805–1883), temperance leader; businessman from New York; a co-founder ofPhelps, Dodge, and Company, a mining and metals company | 39.18/sq mi (15.13/km2) | 19,630 | 501 sq mi (1,298 km2) |  |
| Dooly County | 093 | Vienna | 1821 | Creek Cession of 1821 | ColonelJohn Dooly (1740–80), a hero of theAmerican Revolution | 28.46/sq mi (10.99/km2) | 11,186 | 393 sq mi (1,018 km2) |  |
| Dougherty County | 095 | Albany | 1853 | Baker County | Charles Dougherty (1801–53), judge fromAthens, Georgia | 249.75/sq mi (96.43/km2) | 82,418 | 330 sq mi (855 km2) |  |
| Douglas County | 097 | Douglasville | 1870 | The former Campbell County and Carroll County | Stephen Arnold Douglas (1813–61), anIllinoisDemocratic Congressman who ran againstAbraham Lincoln in the1860 United States presidential election and lost | 763.25/sq mi (294.69/km2) | 151,887 | 199 sq mi (515 km2) |  |
| Early County | 099 | Blakely | 1818 | Creek Cession of 1814 | Peter Early (1773–1817), tenth governor of Georgia | 20.44/sq mi (7.89/km2) | 10,444 | 511 sq mi (1,323 km2) |  |
| Echols County | 101 | Statenville | 1858 | Clinch and Lowndes counties | General Robert M. Echols (1798–1847), a state legislator and a hero of theMexican–American War | 9.15/sq mi (3.53/km2) | 3,698 | 404 sq mi (1,046 km2) |  |
| Effingham County | 103 | Springfield | 1777 | St. Matthew and St. Philip parishes | Thomas Howard,Earl of Effingham (1746–1791), who sympathized with the cause of American independence | 152.39/sq mi (58.84/km2) | 73,148 | 480 sq mi (1,243 km2) |  |
| Elbert County | 105 | Elberton | 1790 | Wilkes County | Samuel Elbert (1740–88), a general in the Revolutionary War; became Governor of Georgia in 1785 | 54.61/sq mi (21.09/km2) | 20,152 | 369 sq mi (956 km2) |  |
| Emanuel County | 107 | Swainsboro | 1812 | Bulloch and Montgomery counties | ColonelDavid Emanuel (1744–1808), became the governor of Georgia in 1801 | 33.85/sq mi (13.07/km2) | 23,224 | 686 sq mi (1,777 km2) |  |
| Evans County | 109 | Claxton | 1914 | Bulloch and Tattnall counties | GeneralClement Anselm Evans (1832–1911), a hero of the American Civil War; the commander in chief of theUnited Confederate Veterans | 58.75/sq mi (22.68/km2) | 10,869 | 185 sq mi (479 km2) |  |
| Fannin County | 111 | Blue Ridge | 1854 | Gilmer and Union counties | ColonelJames Walker Fannin Jr. (1809–36), a hero of theTexas Revolution | 66.98/sq mi (25.86/km2) | 25,854 | 386 sq mi (1,000 km2) |  |
| Fayette County | 113 | Fayetteville | 1821 | Creek Cession of 1821 | Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), a French hero of the Revolutionary War | 635.06/sq mi (245.20/km2) | 125,107 | 197 sq mi (510 km2) |  |
| Floyd County | 115 | Rome | 1832 | Cherokee County | GeneralJohn Floyd (1769–1839), soldier, U.S. Congressman | 197.64/sq mi (76.31/km2) | 101,390 | 513 sq mi (1,329 km2) |  |
| Forsyth County | 117 | Cumming | 1832 | Cherokee County | John Forsyth (1780–1841),Secretary of State under PresidentMartin Van Buren | 1,239.36/sq mi (478.52/km2) | 280,096 | 226 sq mi (585 km2) |  |
| Franklin County | 119 | Carnesville | 1784 | Cherokee and Creek Cessions of 1783 | Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), writer, inventor, philosopher, publisher, and aFounding Father of the United States | 95.85/sq mi (37.01/km2) | 25,208 | 263 sq mi (681 km2) |  |
| Fulton County | 121 | Atlanta | 1853 | DeKalb County + the former Campbell and Milton counties and a portion of Cobb County | Robert Fulton (1765–1815), the inventor who built the Clermont, the first commercially successful steamboat. | 2,061.16/sq mi (795.82/km2) | 1,090,354 | 529 sq mi (1,370 km2) |  |
| Gilmer County | 123 | Ellijay | 1832 | Cherokee County | George Rockingham Gilmer (1780–1859), 16th governor of Georgia | 78.05/sq mi (30.14/km2) | 33,327 | 427 sq mi (1,106 km2) |  |
| Glascock County | 125 | Gibson | 1857 | Warren County | GeneralThomas Glascock (1780–1841), a hero of the War of 1812 and the Seminole War of 1817; U.S. Congressman | 20.89/sq mi (8.07/km2) | 3,008 | 144 sq mi (373 km2) |  |
| Glynn County | 127 | Brunswick | 1777 | St. David and St. Patrick parishes | John Glynn (1722–79), BritishMember of Parliament andSerjeant-at-law, who sympathized with the cause of American independence | 205.07/sq mi (79.18/km2) | 86,540 | 422 sq mi (1,093 km2) |  |
| Gordon County | 129 | Calhoun | 1850 | Cass (now Bartow) and Floyd counties | William Washington Gordon (1796–1842), first president of theCentral of Georgia Railroad | 171.17/sq mi (66.09/km2) | 60,765 | 355 sq mi (919 km2) |  |
| Grady County | 131 | Cairo | 1905 | Decatur and Thomas counties | Henry Woodfin Grady (1850–89), orator; managing editor of theAtlanta Constitution | 57.36/sq mi (22.15/km2) | 26,271 | 458 sq mi (1,186 km2) |  |
| Greene County | 133 | Greensboro | 1786 | Washington County | GeneralNathanael Greene (1742–86), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 54.36/sq mi (20.99/km2) | 21,091 | 388 sq mi (1,005 km2) |  |
| Gwinnett County | 135 | Lawrenceville | 1818 | Cherokee Cession of 1817 and Creek Cession of 1818 | Button Gwinnett (1735–1777), one of Georgia's delegates to theContinental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence | 2,318.40/sq mi (895.14/km2) | 1,003,869 | 433 sq mi (1,121 km2) |  |
| Habersham County | 137 | Clarkesville | 1818 | Cherokee Cessions of 1817 and 1819 | ColonelJoseph Habersham (1751–1815), a hero of the Revolutionary War;U.S. Postmaster General in the Cabinet ofGeorge Washington | 178.65/sq mi (68.98/km2) | 49,665 | 278 sq mi (720 km2) |  |
| Hall County | 139 | Gainesville | 1818 | Cherokee Cessions of 1817 and 1819 | Dr.Lyman Hall (1724–90), one of Georgia's delegates to the Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence; became the governor of Georgia in 1783 | 562.80/sq mi (217.30/km2) | 221,745 | 394 sq mi (1,020 km2) |  |
| Hancock County | 141 | Sparta | 1793 | Greene and Washington counties | John Hancock (1737–93), President of the Continental Congress; first signer of the Declaration of Independence | 18.36/sq mi (7.09/km2) | 8,683 | 473 sq mi (1,225 km2) |  |
| Haralson County | 143 | Buchanan | 1856 | Carroll and Polk counties | GeneralHugh Anderson Haralson (1805–54), U.S. Congressman | 114.91/sq mi (44.37/km2) | 32,404 | 282 sq mi (730 km2) |  |
| Harris County | 145 | Hamilton | 1827 | Muscogee and Troup counties | Charles Harris (1772–1827), prominent attorney fromSavannah | 79.59/sq mi (30.73/km2) | 36,929 | 464 sq mi (1,202 km2) |  |
| Hart County | 147 | Hartwell | 1853 | Elbert and Franklin counties | Nancy Morgan Hart (1735–1830), a heroine of the Revolutionary War | 120.91/sq mi (46.68/km2) | 28,052 | 232 sq mi (601 km2) |  |
| Heard County | 149 | Franklin | 1830 | Carroll, Coweta and Troup counties | Stephen Heard (1740–1815), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 40.94/sq mi (15.81/km2) | 12,119 | 296 sq mi (767 km2) |  |
| Henry County | 151 | McDonough | 1821 | Creek Cession of 1821 | Patrick Henry (1736–99), prominent lawyer, orator, and aFounding Father of the United States | 802.83/sq mi (309.97/km2) | 259,315 | 323 sq mi (837 km2) |  |
| Houston County | 153 | Perry | 1821 | Creek Cession of 1821 | John Houstoun (1744–1796), member of the Continental Congress; became governor of Georgia in 1778 | 463.92/sq mi (179.12/km2) | 174,897 | 377 sq mi (976 km2) |  |
| Irwin County | 155 | Ocilla | 1818 | Creek Cessions of 1814 and 1818 | Jared Irwin (1751–1818), the governor who rescinded theYazoo Act in 1796 | 25.64/sq mi (9.90/km2) | 9,155 | 357 sq mi (925 km2) |  |
| Jackson County | 157 | Jefferson | 1796 | Franklin County | GeneralJames Jackson (1757–1806), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 274.34/sq mi (105.92/km2) | 93,825 | 342 sq mi (886 km2) |  |
| Jasper County | 159 | Monticello | 1807 | Baldwin (FKA Randolph County 1807–12) | SergeantWilliam Jasper (1750–1779), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 46.54/sq mi (17.97/km2) | 17,219 | 370 sq mi (958 km2) |  |
| Jeff Davis County | 161 | Hazlehurst | 1905 | Appling and Coffee counties | Jefferson Davis (1808–89), the first and onlyPresident of the Confederate States of America | 45.40/sq mi (17.53/km2) | 15,119 | 333 sq mi (862 km2) |  |
| Jefferson County | 163 | Louisville | 1796 | Burke and Warren counties | Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), thirdPresident of the United States | 28.45/sq mi (10.98/km2) | 15,019 | 528 sq mi (1,368 km2) |  |
| Jenkins County | 165 | Millen | 1905 | Bulloch, Burke, Emanuel, and Screven counties | Charles Jones Jenkins (1805–83), governor of Georgia, who was the author of the famousGeorgia Platform of 1850 | 25.25/sq mi (9.75/km2) | 8,836 | 350 sq mi (906 km2) |  |
| Johnson County | 167 | Wrightsville | 1858 | Emanuel, Laurens and Washington counties | Herschel Vespasian Johnson (1812–80), U.S. Senator; Governor of Georgia | 30.19/sq mi (11.66/km2) | 9,178 | 304 sq mi (787 km2) |  |
| Jones County | 169 | Gray | 1807 | Baldwin County | James Jones (1769–1801), U.S. Congressman | 73.72/sq mi (28.46/km2) | 29,047 | 394 sq mi (1,020 km2) |  |
| Lamar County | 171 | Barnesville | 1920 | Monroe and Pike counties | Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar (1825–93), U.S. Senator; Associate Justice of theU.S. Supreme Court | 111.84/sq mi (43.18/km2) | 20,690 | 185 sq mi (479 km2) |  |
| Lanier County | 173 | Lakeland | 1920 | Berrien, Clinch and Lowndes counties | Sidney Lanier (1842–1881), attorney, linguist, mathematician,[16] and musician | 55.96/sq mi (21.61/km2) | 10,464 | 187 sq mi (484 km2) |  |
| Laurens County | 175 | Dublin | 1807 | Wilkinson County | ColonelJohn Laurens (1754–82), aide toGeorge Washington during the Revolutionary War | 61.85/sq mi (23.88/km2) | 50,287 | 813 sq mi (2,106 km2) |  |
| Lee County | 177 | Leesburg | 1826 | Creek Cessions of 1826 | Lieutenant ColonelHenry Lee III (1732–1794), a hero of the Revolutionary War, who attained the nickname "Light-Horse Harry" | 95.71/sq mi (36.95/km2) | 34,073 | 356 sq mi (922 km2) |  |
| Liberty County | 179 | Hinesville | 1777 | St Andrew, St James, and St John Parishes | Named in honor of the noted patriotism of the citizens ofMidway in their support of the cause of colonial independence | 132.19/sq mi (51.04/km2) | 68,607 | 519 sq mi (1,344 km2) |  |
| Lincoln County | 181 | Lincolnton | 1796 | Wilkes County | GeneralBenjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), a hero of the Revolutionary War; was later assigned to the suppression ofShays' Rebellion | 38.15/sq mi (14.73/km2) | 8,049 | 211 sq mi (546 km2) |  |
| Long County | 183 | Ludowici | 1920 | Liberty County | Dr.Crawford Williamson Long (1815–78), in 1842 the first man to usediethyl ether as ananesthetic for dental surgery | 50.97/sq mi (19.68/km2) | 20,439 | 401 sq mi (1,039 km2) |  |
| Lowndes County | 185 | Valdosta | 1825 | Irwin County | William Jones Lowndes (1782–1822), prominent figure in the affairs ofSouth Carolina throughout the formative years of the United States | 242.23/sq mi (93.53/km2) | 122,082 | 504 sq mi (1,305 km2) |  |
| Lumpkin County | 187 | Dahlonega | 1832 | Cherokee, Habersham, and Hall counties | Wilson Lumpkin (1783–1870), Governor of Georgia; U.S. Senator | 126.82/sq mi (48.97/km2) | 36,016 | 284 sq mi (736 km2) |  |
| Macon County | 193 | Oglethorpe | 1837 | Houston and Marion counties | GeneralNathaniel Macon (1758–1837), Speaker of the House of Representatives; U.S. Senator | 29.36/sq mi (11.34/km2) | 11,831 | 403 sq mi (1,044 km2) |  |
| Madison County | 195 | Danielsville | 1811 | Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Jackson and Oglethorpe counties | James Madison (1751–1836), fourthPresident of the United States; chief writer of theU.S. Constitution | 115.39/sq mi (44.55/km2) | 32,771 | 284 sq mi (736 km2) |  |
| Marion County | 197 | Buena Vista | 1827 | Lee and Muscogee counties | GeneralFrancis Marion (1732–95), the "Swamp Fox"; a hero of the Revolutionary War | 20.80/sq mi (8.03/km2) | 7,635 | 367 sq mi (951 km2) |  |
| McDuffie County | 189 | Thomson | 1870 | Columbia and Warren counties | George McDuffie (1790–1851), orator andgovernor of South Carolina | 83.71/sq mi (32.32/km2) | 21,764 | 260 sq mi (673 km2) |  |
| McIntosh County | 191 | Darien | 1793 | Liberty County | GeneralLachlan McIntosh (1727–1806), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 27.19/sq mi (10.50/km2) | 11,800 | 434 sq mi (1,124 km2) |  |
| Meriwether County | 199 | Greenville | 1827 | Formed from Troup County | GeneralDavid Meriwether (1755–1822), a hero of the Revolutionary War; U.S. Congressman | 42.62/sq mi (16.46/km2) | 21,439 | 503 sq mi (1,303 km2) |  |
| Miller County | 201 | Colquitt | 1856 | Baker and Early counties | Andrew Jackson Miller (1806–56), president of theMedical College of Georgia | 20.58/sq mi (7.95/km2) | 5,824 | 283 sq mi (733 km2) |  |
| Mitchell County | 205 | Camilla | 1857 | Baker County | Gen. Henry Mitchell (1760–1839), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 39.71/sq mi (15.33/km2) | 20,329 | 512 sq mi (1,326 km2) |  |
| Monroe County | 207 | Forsyth | 1821 | Creek Cession of 1821 | James Monroe (1758–1831), the fifthPresident of the United States and the creator of theMonroe Doctrine of 1823 | 79.39/sq mi (30.65/km2) | 31,437 | 396 sq mi (1,026 km2) |  |
| Montgomery County | 209 | Mount Vernon | 1793 | Washington County | GeneralRichard Montgomery (1738–75), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 34.96/sq mi (13.50/km2) | 8,566 | 245 sq mi (635 km2) |  |
| Morgan County | 211 | Madison | 1807 | Baldwin County | GeneralDaniel Morgan (1736–1802), a hero of the Revolutionary War; U.S. Congressman | 62.69/sq mi (24.20/km2) | 21,940 | 350 sq mi (906 km2) |  |
| Murray County | 213 | Chatsworth | 1832 | Cherokee County | Thomas W. Murray (1790–1832), famousstate legislator | 120.10/sq mi (46.37/km2) | 41,316 | 344 sq mi (891 km2) |  |
| Muscogee County | 215 | Columbus | 1826 | Creek Cession of 1826 | Muskogee ethnic group, to which theCreek andSeminole Nations belong | 934.40/sq mi (360.77/km2) | 201,830 | 216 sq mi (559 km2) |  |
| Newton County | 217 | Covington | 1821 | Henry, Jasper, and Walton counties | SergeantJohn Newton (1755–80), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 449.31/sq mi (173.48/km2) | 124,010 | 276 sq mi (715 km2) |  |
| Oconee County | 219 | Watkinsville | 1875 | Clarke County | Oconee River, which forms its eastern boundary | 240.60/sq mi (92.90/km2) | 44,751 | 186 sq mi (482 km2) |  |
| Oglethorpe County | 221 | Lexington | 1793 | Wilkes County | GeneralJames Edward Oglethorpe (1696–1785), the founder of the Colony of Georgia | 36.67/sq mi (14.16/km2) | 16,172 | 441 sq mi (1,142 km2) |  |
| Paulding County | 223 | Dallas | 1832 | Cherokee County | John Paulding (1759–1818), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 600.47/sq mi (231.84/km2) | 188,549 | 314 sq mi (813 km2) |  |
| Peach County | 225 | Fort Valley | 1924 | Houston and Macon counties | Its location inCentral Georgia is one of the richest peach-producing regions in the country. | 193.46/sq mi (74.70/km2) | 29,213 | 151 sq mi (391 km2) |  |
| Pickens County | 227 | Jasper | 1853 | Cherokee and Gilmer counties | GeneralAndrew Pickens (1739–1817), a hero of the Revolutionary War; U.S. Congressman | 157.67/sq mi (60.88/km2) | 36,580 | 232 sq mi (601 km2) |  |
| Pierce County | 229 | Blackshear | 1857 | Appling and Ware counties | Franklin Pierce (1804–1869), fourteenthPresident of the United States | 60.26/sq mi (23.27/km2) | 20,669 | 343 sq mi (888 km2) |  |
| Pike County | 231 | Zebulon | 1822 | Monroe County | GeneralZebulon Pike (1779–1813), explorer and a hero of the War of 1812 | 94.81/sq mi (36.61/km2) | 20,669 | 218 sq mi (565 km2) |  |
| Polk County | 233 | Cedartown | 1851 | Floyd and Paulding counties | James Knox Polk (1795–1849), eleventhPresident of the United States | 143.44/sq mi (55.38/km2) | 44,610 | 311 sq mi (805 km2) |  |
| Pulaski County | 235 | Hawkinsville | 1808 | Laurens County | CountKazimierz Pułaski ofPoland (1748–79), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 41.21/sq mi (15.91/km2) | 10,180 | 247 sq mi (640 km2) |  |
| Putnam County | 237 | Eatonton | 1807 | Baldwin County | GeneralIsrael Putnam (1718–90), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 67.97/sq mi (26.24/km2) | 23,383 | 344 sq mi (891 km2) |  |
| Quitman County | 239 | Georgetown | 1858 | Randolph and Stewart counties | GeneralJohn Anthony Quitman (1799–1858), a hero of the Mexican-American War | 15.28/sq mi (5.90/km2) | 2,323 | 152 sq mi (394 km2) |  |
| Rabun County | 241 | Clayton | 1819 | Cherokee Cession of 1819 | William Rabun (1771–1819), Governor of Georgia (1817–19) | 47.74/sq mi (18.43/km2) | 17,711 | 371 sq mi (961 km2) |  |
| Randolph County | 243 | Cuthbert | 1828 | Lee County | John Randolph of Roanoke (1773–1833), U.S. Congressman | 14.18/sq mi (5.47/km2) | 6,085 | 429 sq mi (1,111 km2) |  |
| Richmond County | 245 | Augusta | 1777 | St Paul Parish | Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond (1735–1806), who sympathized with the cause of American independence | 636.74/sq mi (245.85/km2) | 206,303 | 324 sq mi (839 km2) |  |
| Rockdale County | 247 | Conyers | 1870 | Henry and Newton counties | Rockdale Church, which was so named for the subterranean bed ofgranite that underlies this region of the state | 745.11/sq mi (287.69/km2) | 97,610 | 131 sq mi (339 km2) |  |
| Schley County | 249 | Ellaville | 1857 | Marion and Sumter counties | William Schley (1786–1858), governor of Georgia (1835–37) | 26.80/sq mi (10.35/km2) | 4,503 | 168 sq mi (435 km2) |  |
| Screven County | 251 | Sylvania | 1793 | Burke and Effingham counties | General James Screven (1744–1778), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 22.11/sq mi (8.54/km2) | 14,325 | 648 sq mi (1,678 km2) |  |
| Seminole County | 253 | Donalsonville | 1920 | Decatur and Early counties | Seminole Nation | 38.97/sq mi (15.05/km2) | 9,274 | 238 sq mi (616 km2) |  |
| Spalding County | 255 | Griffin | 1851 | Fayette, Henry, and Pike counties | Thomas Spalding (1774–1851), U.S. Congressman, state legislator, and agriculturalist | 355.01/sq mi (137.07/km2) | 70,292 | 198 sq mi (513 km2) |  |
| Stephens County | 257 | Toccoa | 1905 | Franklin and Habersham counties | Alexander Stephens (1812–83), U.S. Congressman; Governor of Georgia; first and only Vice President of theConfederate States of America | 153.62/sq mi (59.31/km2) | 27,498 | 179 sq mi (464 km2) |  |
| Stewart County | 259 | Lumpkin | 1830 | Randolph County | GeneralDaniel Stewart (1759–1829), a hero of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 | 10.48/sq mi (4.05/km2) | 4,809 | 459 sq mi (1,189 km2) |  |
| Sumter County | 261 | Americus | 1831 | Lee County | GeneralThomas Sumter (1734–1832), the "Fighting Gamecock," a hero of the Revolutionary War | 59.74/sq mi (23.07/km2) | 28,972 | 485 sq mi (1,256 km2) |  |
| Talbot County | 263 | Talbotton | 1827 | Muscogee County | Matthew Talbot (1762–1827), served in theGeorgia State Senate for 15 years, including two years as the President of the Senate, and Governor of Georgia for two weeks in 1819 | 14.64/sq mi (5.65/km2) | 5,755 | 393 sq mi (1,018 km2) |  |
| Taliaferro County | 265 | Crawfordville | 1825 | Greene, Hancock, Oglethorpe, Warren, and Wilkes counties | ColonelBenjamin Taliaferro (1750–1821), U.S. Congressman; a hero of the Revolutionary War | 8.31/sq mi (3.21/km2) | 1,620 | 195 sq mi (505 km2) |  |
| Tattnall County | 267 | Reidsville | 1801 | Montgomery County | Josiah Tattnall (1764–1803), U.S. Senator; Governor of Georgia | 50.15/sq mi (19.36/km2) | 24,275 | 484 sq mi (1,254 km2) |  |
| Taylor County | 269 | Butler | 1852 | Macon, Marion and Talbot counties | Zachary Taylor (1784–1850), the twelfthPresident of the United States | 20.59/sq mi (7.95/km2) | 7,783 | 378 sq mi (979 km2) |  |
| Telfair County | 271 | McRae-Helena | 1807 | Wilkinson County | Edward Telfair (1735–1807), the second Governor of Georgia following the establishment of the United States | 24.94/sq mi (9.63/km2) | 11,000 | 441 sq mi (1,142 km2) |  |
| Terrell County | 273 | Dawson | 1856 | Lee and Randolph counties | Dr.William Terrell (1778–1855), U.S. Congressman | 25.89/sq mi (10.00/km2) | 8,698 | 336 sq mi (870 km2) |  |
| Thomas County | 275 | Thomasville | 1825 | Decatur and Irwin counties | GeneralJett Thomas (1776–1817), a hero of the War of 1812 | 84.04/sq mi (32.45/km2) | 46,054 | 548 sq mi (1,419 km2) |  |
| Tift County | 277 | Tifton | 1905 | Berrien, Irwin and Worth counties | ColonelNelson Tift (1810–91), a captain in theConfederate States Navy; U.S. Congressman | 157.39/sq mi (60.77/km2) | 41,708 | 265 sq mi (686 km2) |  |
| Toombs County | 279 | Lyons | 1905 | Emanuel, Montgomery, and Tattnall counties | GeneralRobert Toombs (1810–85), U.S. Senator;Confederate States Secretary of State | 74.90/sq mi (28.92/km2) | 27,488 | 367 sq mi (951 km2) |  |
| Towns County | 281 | Hiawassee | 1856 | Rabun and Union counties | George Washington Towns (1801–54), governor of Georgia during theantebellum period | 79.42/sq mi (30.66/km2) | 13,184 | 166 sq mi (430 km2) |  |
| Treutlen County | 283 | Soperton | 1918 | Emanuel and Montgomery counties | John A. Treutlen (1726–82), the first elected Governor of Georgia (1777–78) | 31.94/sq mi (12.33/km2) | 6,420 | 201 sq mi (521 km2) |  |
| Troup County | 285 | LaGrange | 1826 | Creek Cession of 1826 | George M. Troup (1780–1856), Governor of Georgia (1823–27); U.S. Senator | 172.74/sq mi (66.70/km2) | 71,513 | 414 sq mi (1,072 km2) |  |
| Turner County | 287 | Ashburn | 1905 | Dooly, Irwin, Wilcox and Worth counties | CaptainHenry G. Turner (1839–1904), U.S. Congressman; a hero of theAmerican Civil War | 31.55/sq mi (12.18/km2) | 9,023 | 286 sq mi (741 km2) |  |
| Twiggs County | 289 | Jeffersonville | 1809 | Wilkinson County | GeneralJohn Twiggs (1750–1816), a hero of the Revolutionary War; Governor of Georgia | 21.47/sq mi (8.29/km2) | 7,728 | 360 sq mi (932 km2) |  |
| Union County | 291 | Blairsville | 1832 | Cherokee County | Federalunion of the states | 85.45/sq mi (32.99/km2) | 27,601 | 323 sq mi (837 km2) |  |
| Upson County | 293 | Thomaston | 1824 | Crawford and Pike counties | Stephen Upson (1786–1824),state legislator | 86.99/sq mi (33.59/km2) | 28,358 | 326 sq mi (844 km2) |  |
| Walker County | 295 | LaFayette | 1833 | Murray County | MajorFreeman Walker (1780–1827), U.S. Senator (1819–1821) | 155.47/sq mi (60.03/km2) | 69,340 | 446 sq mi (1,155 km2) |  |
| Walton County | 297 | Monroe | 1818 | Creek Cession of 1818 | George Walton (1749–1804), one of Georgia's delegates to the Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence | 333.71/sq mi (128.85/km2) | 109,792 | 329 sq mi (852 km2) |  |
| Ware County | 299 | Waycross | 1824 | Appling County | Nicholas Ware (1769–1824), U.S. Senator (1821–24) | 40.11/sq mi (15.49/km2) | 36,222 | 903 sq mi (2,339 km2) |  |
| Warren County | 301 | Warrenton | 1793 | Columbia, Hancock, Richmond, and Wilkes counties | GeneralJoseph Warren (1741–75), a hero of the Revolutionary War | 18.00/sq mi (6.95/km2) | 5,148 | 286 sq mi (741 km2) |  |
| Washington County | 303 | Sandersville | 1784 | Creek Cession of 1783 | George Washington (1732–99), the firstPresident of the United States, although named after him as a general | 29.17/sq mi (11.26/km2) | 19,834 | 680 sq mi (1,761 km2) |  |
| Wayne County | 305 | Jesup | 1803 | Creek Cession of 1802 | GeneralAnthony Wayne (1745–96), known as "Mad Anthony Wayne"; U.S. Congressman; a hero of the Revolutionary War and theNorthwest Indian War | 49.82/sq mi (19.24/km2) | 32,132 | 645 sq mi (1,671 km2) |  |
| Webster County | 307 | Preston | 1853 | Stewart County (Formally Kinchafoonee) | Daniel Webster (1782–1852),U.S. Secretary of State; supportedHenry Clay'sCompromise of 1850 | 11.02/sq mi (4.25/km2) | 2,315 | 210 sq mi (544 km2) |  |
| Wheeler County | 309 | Alamo | 1912 | Montgomery County | GeneralJoseph Wheeler (1836–1906), U.S. Congressman; a hero of the American Civil War and theSpanish–American War | 23.74/sq mi (9.17/km2) | 7,076 | 298 sq mi (772 km2) |  |
| White County | 311 | Cleveland | 1857 | Habersham County | Colonel John White, a hero of the Revolutionary War | 122.60/sq mi (47.34/km2) | 29,668 | 242 sq mi (627 km2) |  |
| Whitfield County | 313 | Dalton | 1851 | Murray County | George Whitefield (1714–70), pastor; established theBethesda Orphanage nearSavannah | 362.31/sq mi (139.89/km2) | 105,070 | 290 sq mi (751 km2) |  |
| Wilcox County | 315 | Abbeville | 1857 | Dooly, Irwin, and Pulaski counties | General Mark Wilcox (1800–50), a noted soldier andstate legislator | 23.43/sq mi (9.05/km2) | 8,904 | 380 sq mi (984 km2) |  |
| Wilkes County | 317 | Washington | 1777 | Cherokee and Creek Cessions of 1773 | John Wilkes (1727–97), a BritishMember of Parliament who sympathized with the cause of American independence | 20.31/sq mi (7.84/km2) | 9,567 | 471 sq mi (1,220 km2) |  |
| Wilkinson County | 319 | Irwinton | 1803 | Creek Cessions of 1802 and 1805 | GeneralJames Wilkinson (1757–1825), a hero of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812;Senior Officer of the U.S. Army; turned out to be an agent of the Spanish government | 19.39/sq mi (7.49/km2) | 8,667 | 447 sq mi (1,158 km2) |  |
| Worth County | 321 | Sylvester | 1853 | Dooly and Irwin counties | GeneralWilliam J. Worth (1794–1849), a hero of the Mexican–American War | 35.55/sq mi (13.73/km2) | 20,262 | 570 sq mi (1,476 km2) |  |
