Pierce County was created from Appling and Ware counties on Dec. 18, 1857 by an act of the General Assembly (Ga. Laws 1857, p. 40). According to that act, the county's original boundaries were specified as:

"Commencing at the south-west corner of the ninth district of Ware, thence the line between the 8th and 9th district to the line of the 4th and 5th district, thence the line between the 4th and 5th to the Appling county line; thence a direct line to Lightsey's Ford, on Big Creek, in Appling county; thence the creek down to the Little Satilla River; thence down the river to the Wayne county line; thence the Wayne line to the line of Charlton county; thence the line of Charlton to the south-east corner of the 9th district of Ware; thence the district line to the south-west corner of the 9th district."

Georgia's 120th county was named for Pres. Franklin Pierce (1804-1869), whose term as fourteenth president had ended earlier that year.

Portions of Pierce County were used to create Bacon County (1914) and Brantley County (1920).

Historical Maps

 

1863

 

1864

 

1865

 

1874

 

1883

 

1885a

 

1885b

 

1895

 

1899

 

 

1904

 

1910

 

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 Pierce County Courthouse page