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Other Information:
Hart County's first courthouse was a two-story, wooden structure
built in 1854. On Mar. 6, 1856, the legislature authorized Hart
County to levy a special tax to fund construction of a new courthouse
in Hartwell (Ga. Laws 1855-56, p. 541). The new courthouse was
used until 1900, when it was destroyed by fire. A third courthouse
was built in 1902 (see photo
1 and photo
2) and served until it burned in 1967. The present courthouse
was completed in 1971.
County Courthouse Historical
Marker: Click
here
County History:
Hart County was created from Franklin and Elbert counties on
Dec. 7, 1853 by an act of the General Assembly (Ga. Laws 1853-54,
p. 302). According to that act, Hart County's original boundaries
were described as:
Beginning at Stower's ferry, on Savannah river, formerly known
as Brown's ferry, and running in a straight line to the residence
of Middleton G. Hickman, in Elberton County, including said residence
in the new county, thence in a straight line to the corner of
Madison County, nearest to the Little Holly Springs, thence along
the boundary line of Madison County to the corner of Elbert,
Franklin, and Madison Counties, near the residence of Anguish
Johnson, thence in a straight line to the nearest cross roads
to the residence of Job Bowers, not including the residence of
Moses and Joseph Manley, in Franklin County, between said residence
and Carnesville, on the road leading from Carnesville to Ruckersville,
thence in a straight line to a place sometimes called the Negro's
old store place, now owned by Leonard Bonds, of Franklin County,
thence in a straight line to the mouth of Gum Log creek, on Tugalo
river, thence along the eastern boundary of the State of Georgia
to the beginning.
Georgia's 102nd county was named for Revolutionary War heroine
Nancy
Hart. It is the only county in Georgia -- and possibly in
the United States -- named for a woman.
County Seat:
The act creating Hart County provided that the initial election
of county officials take place on the first Monday in Feb. 1854.
The first justices of the county's inferior court were authorized
to select a site for the county seat, to purchase land, and to
arrange for construction of a courthouse. Until a courthouse
was built, the act directed that elections and county business
be conducted at the Line Meeting House. At some point in 1854
or 1855, the inferior court selected the town of Hartwell as
county seat. The legislature incorporated Hartwell on Feb. 26,
1856 (Ga. Laws 1855-56, p. 382)
Maps
Size of County (Total
Area): 256.4 square miles
County Rank in Total
Area: 120th out of 159
Population:
Hart County
City of Hartwell
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