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Welcome to Southwest GA
Southwest, Georgia
Southwest Georgia Southwest, GA
Your complete guide to the merchants,
activities & services of
Southwest, Georgia
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Irwin County, Georgia
| County Formed |
December 15, 1818 |
| County Seat |
Ocilla |
| Incorporated Cities |
Ocilla |
| Total Area |
356.8 square miles |
| History |
Irwin County, the 45th county
created, retains only a small portion of the territory given to it when it was
formed from Creek Indian lands in 1818. It once encompassed all of south
central Georgia, but now contains the upper reaches of the Alapaha,
Willacoochee and Satilla rivers. Irwin County was named for
Governor Jared Irwin, a North Carolina native. Irwin was famous for his
opposition to the Yazoo Law of 1795, by which the state of Georgia sold a vast
tract of land at one and a half cents per acre to several companies, including
one owned in part by a U.S. Senator. Irwin rescinded the law in 1796 during his
term as governor.
During the
Civil War, Irwinville to the northeast of Ocilla was the county seat, and the
location where Union soldiers captured Jefferson Davis. The site is now the
Jefferson Davis Park and Museum.
Ocilla is a
version of an old Indian name, Osceola. The county's first courthouse was
constructed in 1848-1849, and the one currently in use was built in
1905.
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| Points of Interest |
There are two entries on the
National Register from Irwin County: the Irwin County Courthouse and the
Jefferson Davis Capture Site. The state has also identified 27 archaeological
sites worth exploring in the county. These are being kept secret to avoid
contamination problems. There are several endangered
species found in the county, including the Florida Panther, the Peregrine
Falcon and the Southern Bald Eagle.
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| Notable Citizens |
Dave Prater of the soul group, Sam
and Dave, was from Ocilla. This soul duo was responsible for hits like
"You Don't Know" Like I Know" during the 1960s. |
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Cities and Towns In Irwin County
(County Seat)
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