Wayne County was created on May 11, 1803, by an act of the General Assembly (Ga. Laws 1803, Extra. Session, p. 3). Formed from land ceded to Georgia the previous year by the Creek Indians in the Treaty of Fort Wilkinson. Georgia's 27th county was named for American Revolutionary War hero General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. The new county was located in a region of the state known as the Pine Barrens (so-called because the land was barren of most large plants except pine trees), and the lack of fertile soil attracted few settlers. Wayne County was not organized until two years after its creation, and settlement of the county proceeded slowly. For example, an 1822 map of Georgia showed only two named settlements in the county -- Tuckersville and an abandoned Fort James on the Altamaha River.

In 1920, part of Wayne County was used to create Brantley County.

Historical Maps

 

 

1822

 

1823

 

1830

 

1834

 

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

Go to Historical Atlas of Georgia Counties

Go to Wayne County Courthouse page