Towns County was created Rabun and Union counties on March 6, 1856, by an act of the General Assembly (Ga. Laws 1855-56, p. 121). According to that act, Towns County's original boundaries were specified as:

"Beginning at the North Carolina line at the north-west corner of Rabun county, and thence running east with said line to the north-east corner of lot of land number ninety-four in the first district of Rabun county, thence running south to the south-east corner of lot number sixty-seven in the said first district, thence running a straight line to the south-east corner of lot of land number one hundred and seventy-two in the eighteenth district and first section of Union county, thence along the top of the Blue Ridge south-westerly to the corner of Habersham county, thence along the top of said Blue Ridge to the main Ridge that divides the waters of Notley and Hiwassee rivers, thence along the top of said Ridge, westerly, to the Brass town, Bald mountain, thence in the same direction to the Double Knobbs, thence to the highest point of a Ridge on lot number one hundred and ninety-one, (191) in the seventeenth district and first section, thence a straight line to the Gap of the Mountain at the head of Langham's Creek, thence with the main leading Ridge in a north-western direction to the highest peak of the mountain, at the head of Gum Log Creek, thence down said Gum Log Creek to the North Carolina line, thence along the dividing line between North Carolina and Georgia to the beginning point."

Georgia's 118th county was named for Gov. George Washington Towns (1801-1854), who had died two years earlier.

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 Towns County Courthouse page