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Other Information: The
first courthouse, in Albany (later renamed Clinton), was the
private residence of William Jones. A temporary structure housed the
court until 1816, when a third, more permanent, building was erected.
When the county seat moved to Gray the current courthouse was built
in 1905. It is noted for its arched clock tower, which was restored
in 2005-06 (see photo).
The courthouse was rehabilitated in 1992.
County Courthouse Historical
Marker: Click
here
County History:
Jones County was created from Baldwin County on Dec. 10, 1807
by an act of the General Assembly (Ga. Laws 1807, p. 3). Georgia's
32nd county was named for U.S. Representative James
Jones (? - 1801). Jones served in the U.S. House from 1799
until his death two years later. In 1822, part of Jones County was
used to help create Bibb County.
County Seat:
Clinton [originally named Albany but renamed for N.Y. Gov.
Dewitt Clinton] was designated county seat in 1808 and incorporated
in1816. Around 1890, when the Central of Georgia RR decided to build
a north-south route through Jones County, citizens of Clinton reportedly
protested having the railroad built through their town, so a route
was selected to bypass Clinton. A railroad station was built two miles
northeast of Clinton and quickly grew into a community known as Gray
[named for James M. Gray, a prominent local citizen in the mid-19th
century]. Clinton's importance declined, and county residents successfully
petitioned the legislature to designate Gray as county seat in 1905.
Gray was incorporated on Aug. 23, 1911.
Maps
Size of County (Total
Area): 395.4 square miles
County Rank in Total
Area: 61st out of 159
Population:
Jones County
City of Gray
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