Georgia

Native American History of Gwinnett County, Georgia

Gwinnett County located in northern Georgia and is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) It was named after Button Gwinnett, one of Georgia’s signers of the decoration of independence. Its county seat is Lawrenceville. With over 800,000 residents, it is Georgia’s second most populous county. Gwinnett County is bordered on the northwest by Forsythe County and the “Old Milton” County portion of Fulton County. It is bordered on the southwest by DeKalb County and the southeast by Rockdale and Walton Counties. Barrow County forms its eastern boundary, while Hall County forms its northeastern boundary. The Chattahoochee River … Read more

Native American History of Douglas County, Georgia

Douglas County is located in west central Georgia and is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) It was named after African-American civil rights leader Frederick Douglass, when the county was created by Georgia’s Reconstruction General Assembly in 1870. As soon as Federal occupation troops left the state in 1874, the new General Assembly dropped the last “s” and stated that it was named after Stephen Douglas, the Democratic candidate for President in the 1860 election. The county seat is Douglasville. Douglas County is bounded on the southwest by Carroll County, GA. On the east, it adjoins the … Read more

Native American History of Early County, Georgia

Early County is named after Peter Early, who was born in Madison, Virginia in 1773, but spent his adult life in Georgia. Early was a lawyer, judge, state representative, state senator, U.S. Congressman and governor of Georgia during the Creek Redstick War. He died in 1817, the year before Early County was created. The county seat of Early County is the town of Blakely. Early County is bounded on the north by Clay County, GA. On the south, it is bordered by Seminole County, GA, southeast by Miller County, GA and southwest by Houston County, Alabama. The county’s western boundaries … Read more

Native American History of Fayette County, Georgia

Fayette County is located in west central Georgia and is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) It is named after the French Revolutionary War hero, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette. Its county seat is Fayetteville. Fayette County is also home to one of the United States’ most successful planned cities, Peachtree City. Fayette is bounded on the north by Fulton County and on the northeast by Clayton County. Henry County forms a relative short segment of its eastern boundary. Spalding County is located to the south, while Coweta County forms its … Read more

Native American History of Floyd County, Georgia

Floyd County located in northwest Georgia. It is part of the Rome, GA Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) Its county seat is Rome. It is named after John Floyd, a member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing a district in Georgia. John Floyd was born in Beaufort, SC and was a carpenter when he moved to northeastern Georgia. Upon the outbreak of the CreekCivil War in 1813, Floyd was named a Brigadier General in command of the First Brigade of Georgia Militia, plus 400 Georgia Creeks. Floyd led his army to one victory at the Redstick village of … Read more

Native American History of Forsyth County, Georgia

Forsyth County located in northern Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) Its county seat is Cumming. It is named after John Forsyth, Governor of Georgia from 1827–1829 and Secretary of State under Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. Forsyth County is bordered on the north by Dawson County and the east by Hall County. Lake Lanier now covers the two counties boundary. Gwinnett County forms a short southwestern boundary of Forsyth. The section of Fulton County that was formerly Milton County adjoins Forsyth on the southwest. Cherokee County forms the northwestern border of … Read more

Native American History of Coweta County, Georgia

Coweta County is located in west central Georgia and is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) Its name is the English version of the Creek Indian town named Kowitv, which was formerly located on the Chattahoochee River, either in Coweta or adjacent Carroll County. Coweta’s county seat is Newnan. Coweta County is bounded on the northeast by Fulton County and on the northwest by the Chattahoochee River and Carroll County. Heard County forms its western boundary. Line Creek and Fayette County forms its eastern boundary. Meriwether County is to the south of Coweta. Spalding County forms a … Read more

Native American History of Dawson County, Georgia

Dawson County located in northern Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) Its county seat is Dawsonville. It is named after William Crosby Dawson, a U.S. Senator from Georgia. The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is located in Dawson County at Amicalola State Park. Up until the late 20th century, Dawson County was associated with the illegal moonshine industry and stock car racing, which the moonshine industry spawned. Dawson County is bordered on the north by Fannin County, the northeast by Lumpkin County and the east by Hall County. Forsyth County is located south … Read more

Native American History of Decatur County, Georgia

Decatur County is named after War of 1812 naval hero, Commodore Stephen Decatur. Its county seat is Bainbridge. It is located in the far southwestern corner of Georgia and adjoins Florida. Decatur County is bounded on the north by Miller County, GA. On the northeast, it is bounded by Mitchell and Baker Counties, GA.  Its western boundary is formed by the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers. On the east, it is bordered by Grady County, GA. On the west, it is bordered by Seminole County, GA. On the south, it is bordered by the Florida State Line and Gadsden County, FL. … Read more

Native American History of DeKalb County, Georgia

DeKalb County located in northern Georgia. It is named after Hans Kalb, a German adventurer, who falsified his name to be Baron Johann de Kalb, when volunteering to serve in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He died in the Battle of Camden, SC in 1781. All of DeKalb County is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) Its county seat is Decatur. Approximately, 10% of the City of Atlanta is located in DeKalb County. DeKalb in the location of Stone Mountain and the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC and adjacent Emory University compose one of … Read more

Native American History of Dodge County, Georgia

Dodge County is located in south-central Georgia. It is named after William E. Dodge (1805– 1883) – a New York capitalist, congressman, abolitionist, carpetbagger, philanthropist and Native American advocate. Its county seat is Eastman. The existence of Dodge County is the direct result of a group of investors, led by Dodge, accumulating over 300,000 acres in south central Georgia during the early days of Reconstruction. Deeds to the properties were often obtained through illegalities made possible by martial law in a defeated land. After Dodge’s death, law suits pertaining to the land acquisitions, continued for over fifty years. Dodge used … Read more

Native American History of Cobb County, Georgia

Cobb County located in northwestern Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) Its county seat is Marietta. Located at the southern tip of the Appalachians, the county contains several isolated mountains. Kennesaw Mountain, in particular, is visible from much of the northwest Atlanta suburbs. Cobb County is bounded on the northeast by Cherokee County and on the northwest by Bartow County. The section of Fulton County that was formerly Milton County forms its eastern boundary. Paulding County forms its western boundary, while Douglas County forms is southwestern boundary. In 1932 Milton County (on the north) … Read more

Native American History of Clayton County, Georgia

Clayton County is located in west central Georgia and is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) It is named after Augustin Smith Clayton (1783-1839) who represented a section of Georgia in the United States House of Representatives between 1832 and 1835. Its county seat is Jonesboro. Clayton is bounded on the northeast by DeKalb County and on the northwest by Fulton County. Henry County forms a short segment of its eastern boundary. Spalding County is located to the south, while Fayette County forms its southwestern boundary. Geology and hydrology The western 2/3 of Clayton County drains into … Read more

Native American History of Clay County, Georgia

Clay County is named after United States Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky/ Clay was also a Secretary of State and Speaker of the House three times, while a Representative. The county seat of Clay County is the town of Fort Gaines. Clay County is bounded on the north by Quitman County, GA. On the south, it is bordered by Early County, GA. The county’s western boundaries are formed by the Chattahoochee River, the Alabama State Line, Henry County, AL and, Barbour County, AL. On the east, it is bordered by Calhoun County, GA. On the northeast, it is bordered by … Read more

Native American History of Cherokee County, Georgia

Cherokee County located in northern Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) Its county seat is Canton. It is named after the Cherokee Indians. Cherokee County is bordered on the north by Pickens County and the northeast by Dawson County. Forsyth County adjoins Cherokee on its eastern side. The section of Fulton County that was formerly Milton County forms its southeastern boundary, while Cobb County forms its southern boundary. Bartow County forms most of its western boundary, while Gordon County forms a short section of Cherokee’s Geology and hydrology Cherokee County is located in the … Read more

Native American History of Chattahoochee County, Georgia

Chattahoochee County is located in west central Georgia and is part of the Columbus, GA Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was named after the Chattahoochee River. Most of Chattahoochee County is occupied by Fort Benning, one of the U. S. Army’s largest facilities. The county seat of Chattahoochee County is the town of Cusseta. Cusseta is the anglicized version of the name of an important division of the Creek Indian Confederacy, the Kvse-te; pronounced Ka(u-jzhe(-te-. Kvse-te is an Itza Maya word, written as Kaax’i-te in Mexico, which means “People of the Forested Mountains.” When Savannah was settled in 1732, the … Read more

Native American History of Campbell County, Georgia

Old Campbell County was located in west central Georgia. The county was named for Duncan G. Campbell, one of the state commissioners present at the signing of the Treaty of Indians Springs in 1825. In 1870 Douglass County was cut off from Campbell, but later renamed Douglas. The original county seat was Campbellton on the Chattahoochee River. However, shortly after the Atlanta & West Point Railroad was laid through the village of Fairburn, Fairburn became the county seat. Campbell was annexed by Fulton County in 1931. All of Fulton County is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) … Read more

Native American History of Carroll County, Georgia

Carroll County is located in west central Georgia and is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) It was named after Charles Carroll of Maryland, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. It is the home of the State University of West Georgia. Much of the plantation, owned by Creek mekko, William McIntosh is now a public park known as the McIntosh Reserve. The park includes McIntosh’s grave and a reproduction of his two story, dog-trot style log house. Carroll County is bounded on the northeast by Douglas County, GA. On the east, it adjoins a … Read more

Native American History of Butts County, Georgia

Butts County is located in central Georgia and is part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) It is named after Captain Samuel Butts, who was killed in action during the Creek Civil War (Redstick War.) Its county seat is Jackson. Captain Butts commanded a militia company in the First Brigade of the Georgia Militia, under the command of Brig. Gen. John Floyd. The army consisted of 1,200 Caucasians and 400 Georgia Yuchi. It was attacked at night at Calebee Creek on January 27. 1814. The English word comes from the Creek word Kvlvpe, which means White Oak. The Georgians … Read more

Native American History of Bleckley County, Georgia

Bleckley County is located in central Georgia.  It is named after Edward Logan Bleckley (1827 – 1907) – a lawyer and Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.  Its county seat is Cochran.  Bleckley is the location of the nation’s oldest two year public college, Middle Georgia College. Bleckley County is bordered on the north by both Wilkinson and Twiggs Counties. Laurens County forms its eastern boundary. Dodge County forms its southwestern boundary while Pulaski County forms its southwestern boundary. It is bordered to the west by Houston County.  The Ocmulgee River forms a relatively short section of the county’s … Read more