On Aug. 14, 1920, the General Assembly proposed a constitutional amendment to create Long County from Liberty County (Ga. Laws 1920, p. 48). In that year's general election, Georgia voters ratified the proposed amendment on Nov. 2, 1920, which marks the date of Long County's creation (although a state historical marker on the Long County courthouse grounds incorrectly cites the county's creation as the day the legislative act proposing the constitutional amendment was approved).

According to the 1920 constitutional amendment, Long County's boundaries (see map) were defined as:

"Beginning at a point on the Altamaha River where the same is intersected by the county line between Liberty and McIntosh Counties; thence northeast and north along the aforesaid county line between McIntosh and Liberty to intersection thereof with South Newport River; and to the northwest corner of McIntosh County, at the point where said Liberty and McIntosh line is nearest the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's main line; thence a straight line northwestward to the main line of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad at a point one-half mile southwest of said railroad's depot at Lambert, Georgia (Post Office) and Walthourville Station; thence due north a straight line to the Walthourville and Smiley public road, north of Lambert, Georgia; thence northwestward a straight line to a point in the Ludowici and Hinesville public road three hundred (300) yards north of the residence of W. H. Devereaux in the 1756th G. M. District of Liberty County; thence northwestward a straight line to a point on the Roderick and Hinesville public road where same is intersected by the Walthourville public road from the southeast; thence west along the center of said Roderick and Hinesville public road a short distance to where the Walthourville public road leaves same towards the northwest; thence northwestwards along the center of said Walthourville public road past Gum Branch Post Office, old site to intersection thereof, with the Savannah public road or Beards Bluff public road about one and one-eighth (1 1-8) miles east of the Cross Roads School House; thence west along the center of said Savannah public road or Beards Bluff public road to where said Walthourville public road leaves same going northwest; thence along the center of said Walthourville public road to intersection of same with the Moody Bridge public road; thence northwards along the center of said Moody Bridge public road to the point where same crosses the Savannah and Southern Railroad right of way at Strain on said railroad and to the north line of said right of way; thence westward along the north line of the Savannah and Southern Railroad right of way to the first public road crossing at Lida depot on said railroad; thence westward along center of public road from Lida past Bear Branch School House to forks of said public road; and thence along the center of the northwest fork thereof, in a northwesterly direction to where said public road crosses the Liberty and Tattnall County line nearby and east of Hampton School House; thence southwards and south along the county line between Liberty and Tattnall to the Altamaha River and to the line between Liberty and Wayne Counties; thence southeast along the channel of said Altamaha River and along the county line between Liberty and Wayne to point of beginning."

Why was Long County created by constitutional amendment instead of an act of the General Assembly? In 1904, Georgia voters had approved a constitutional amendment limiting the number of counties in the state to 145. The next year, the General Assembly created eight new counties, bringing the total number to 145 -- the constitutional limit. Nevertheless, there was continuing pressure to create more counties. Beginning in 1906, lawmakers got around the 145-county limitation by creating new counties through constitutional amendments that were not subject to the limitation. By 1924, Georgia had 161 counties -- 16 of which had been created by constitutional amendment. On Jan. 1, 1932, Milton and Campbell counties merged with Fulton, leaving 159 counties. In 1945, Georgia voters ratified a new constitution -- one which provided an absolute limit of 159 counties, with an additional provision (see text) that no new country could be created except through consolidation of existing counties.

Georgia's 159th county was named for Dr. Crawford Long, who in 1842 pioneered the use of anesthesia during surgery.

Historical Maps

 

 

1915

 

1952

 

1955

 

1970a

 

1970b

 

1999

 

2001a

 

2001b

© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia

Go to Historical Atlas of Georgia Counties

Go to Long County Courthouse page