Berrien County was created on Feb. 25, 1856 by an act of the General Assembly (Ga. Laws 1855-56, p. 112). Georgia's 116th county was created from portions of Coffee, Irwin, and Lowndes counties. [Click here for legal description of Berrien County's original boundaries.] Cook County was created from Berrien County in 1918. Also, portions of Berrien County were used to create Tift County (1905) and Lanier County (1920). Berrien County was named for former U.S. Senator, U.S. Attorney General, and Georgia politician John Macpherson Berrien (1781-1856).

Historical Maps

 

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© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia

Go to Historical Atlas of Georgia Counties

Go to Berrien County Courthouse page