On Feb. 12, 1825, a group of Creek Indians led by William McIntosh signed the Treaty of Indian Springs, in which they ceded all of their remaining lands in present-day Georgia. Subsequently, in an act of June 9, 1825, the General Assembly provided that the land ceded by the treaty be divided into five sections, surveyed into districts and land lots, and distributed by land lottery. On Dec. 14, 1826, the legislature redesignated the five land sections as the counties of Lee, Muscogee, Troup, Coweta, and Carroll.

Despite the fact that the five counties were not named until Dec. 14, 1826, June 9, 1825 is generally accepted as the date of their creation, for that was the date of the act establishing their respective boundaries.

Later, Randolph County (1828) and Sumter County (1831) were created entirely from Lee County. Also, parts of Lee County were used to help form Marion County (1827) and Terrell County (1856).

Census

Pop. 

2000

 24,757

1990

16,250

1980

 11,684

1970

7,044

1960

6,204

1950

6,674

1940

 7,837

1930

 8,328

1920

10,904

1910

11,679

1900

10,344

1890

9,074

1880

10,577

1870

9,567

1860

7,196

1850

6,660

1840

4,520

1830

1,680

1820

1810

1800

1790