Telfair County was created from Wilkinson County by an act of the General Assembly approved Dec. 10, 1807 (Ga. Laws 1807, p. 37). Georgia's 35th county was named for former governor and congressman Edward Telfair (1735-1807).

In 1812, the legislature transferred the portion of Telfair County between the Oconee and Little Ocmulgee rivers to Montgomery County. In 1819 and 1825, the legislature transferred respectively land lots 1 and 6 in Appling County to Telfair County (Ga. Laws 1819, p. 45 and 1825, p. 61). These transfers (see map) gave Telfair a substantial area of land south of the Ocmulgee River. However, in 1854, the legislature transferred this area to newly created Coffee County (Ga. Laws 1854, p. 294).

The last loss of land came in 1870, when areas of northern Telfair County were used to form Dodge County (Ga.Laws 1870, p. 18 ). However in 1872 and 1875, areas of Dodge County were transferred back to Telfair County (Ga. Laws 1872, p. 408 and 1875, p. 275). The last boundary adjustment came in 1877, when the lands of Bradley Harralson (land lots 265, 266, 272, and 273 in the 10th district) in Montgomery County were shifted Telfair County (Ga. Laws 1877, p. 277).

Historical Maps

 

 

1807

 

1822

 

1823

 

1830

 

1834

 

1838

 

1839

 

1846

 

1855

 

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

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