On June 16, 1802, the Creek Indians and U.S. commissioners signed the Treaty of Fort Wilkinson, which ceded Creek lands in two different areas to Georgia. The northern cession involved land west of the Oconee River, which the legislature divided into two new counties -- Wilkinson and Baldwin -- on May 11, 1803 (Ga. Laws 1803 Extra. Ses., p. 3). [Click here for text of act defining Wilkinson County's original boundaries.]

In 1805, the Creeks signed the Treaty of Washington, which extended Georgia westward to the Ocmulgee River. An act of June 26, 1806 added lands ceded by the Creeks to Baldwin and Wilkinson counties (Ga. Laws 1806 Extra. Ses., p. 3).

In an act of Dec. 10, 1807, Laurens and Telfair counties were created entirely from Wilkinson County (Ga. Laws 1807, p. 3). In an act of Dec. 14, 1809, Twiggs County was created entirely from Wilkinson County (Ga. Laws 1809, p. 75).

Georgia's 28th county was named for Gen. James B. Wilkinson (1757-1825), one of the U.S. commissioners who negotiated the Treaty of Fort Wilkinson, in which the Creeks ceded the land that would be used to form Wilkinson County. Gen. Wilkinson, who served in the American Revolution and War of 1812, was the first governor of the Louisiana Territory (1805-1807). [Click here for more on Gen. Wilkinson.]

Historical Maps

 

 

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1895

 

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1915

 

1952

 

1952

 

1970a

 

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1999

 

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2001b

© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia

Go to Historical Atlas of Georgia Counties

Go to Wilkinson County Courthouse page