Native American History of Polk County, Georgia
Polk County, Georgia, has a rich Native American history, primarily associated with the Creek Confederacy and later the Cherokee Nation. Archaeological evidence indicates human habitation for over 12,000 years, beginning with the Clovis culture. The Woodland and Muskogean periods saw the development of permanent villages and advanced social structures. European exploration brought devastating diseases, drastically reducing indigenous populations. The area became part of the Cherokee Nation after a contentious land cession in 1793, leading to the forced removal of most Cherokees in 1838 during the Trail of Tears.