Berrien County, Georgia

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History/Timeline

Old Coffee Road Marker.

1823 - The first post road began in Berrien County for residents to transport the locally grown troops to Florida. ^[1] Old Coffee Road was ab early car and postal route running southwest from Ocmulgee river to the Florida Line. This passes through Lax, Nashville, Cecil, Barwick and Thomasville. 1823 the thoughfare was opended and supervised by Gen. John Coffee and Thomas Swain. The regional products were carrried on this pioneer route to the coast for sale. Imported goods were brought back on the same road.. There are parts of the original road still in use today.^[2]

1850-June, 1853 Citizens were always complaining about distance to travel.. If it had not been distance it would have been about the county seat of a county not being n the center. Lowndes County and Irwin County citizens were complaining about the distance they had to travel to reach the county courthouse in Franklinville, Georgia. Citizens also complained about the distance to travel to reach Troupville, Georgia. Later others complained again regarding the distance to travel to the county seat of Irwinville, Georgia. The citizens of the area of Lowndes County and Irwin County that would become Berrien County had to travel long distances to get the county courthouse at Franklinville, Georgia and later Troupville, Georgia for those in Lowndes County, and Irwinville, Georgia for those in Irwin County. June 1853 Lowndes and Irwin county citizens filed a petition requesting the formation of a new county, which failed.^[3]

Feb 25, 1856 After another attempt was tried by citizens complaints, the Georgia General Assembly formed Berrien county from parts of Coffee, Irwin and Lowndes Counties with one of its acts to legally create a county. It is named after Georgia senator John M. Berrien, distinguished soldier of the American Revolution. ^[3]

1856 Berrien County is considered as one of the most progressive in the wire-grass sections. ^[4]It was formed from the combined lands from Coffee, Irwin and Lowndes counties. Just 20 years earlier, those same lands had witnessed the last skirmish with the Creek Indians. In naming the county, residents chose to honor John MacPherson Berrien, U.S. senator from Georgia and President Andrew Jackson's attorney general. Nashville is named for General Francis Nash, distinguished soldier of the Revolutionary War.^[5]

1863 map of Berrien County

Feb, 1856 Georgia created its 116th county, known as Berrien County, Georgia. This was formed from some of Coffee County, Irwin and Lowndes Counties. Berrien County was named in honor of John Macpherson Berrien, lawyer who was judge, Supreme Court of Georgia, state Senator, U. S. Senator and the attorney general under President Andrew Jackson. John Macpherson Berrien was a volunteer from Savannah during the War of 1812 (1812-1815) as captain of the Georgia Hussars. He also had been preserving Georgia history as president of the Georgia Historical Society. ^[1]

1863 -- A white settlement, began with the name "Rays Pond". By 1909, the settlement was incorporated as a town named Ray's Mill, Georgia. After 1915, Rays Mill became known as Ray City when the town was physically moved to the railroad junction.^[1]

William G Harrison house, Nashville

1881 - Alapaha, Georgia was incorporated on the site of a Seminole village with the same name. Alapaha, Georgia's City hall is in the old Alpha Station. Rumors say 'Alpha' was a Creek word for the other side. Other feel this was a word of the Timucuan Indians meaning "bear". Its city hall is located in the old Alapaha Station, the former depot for the now defunct Brunswick and Albany Railroad. Some believe that Alapaha was the Creek word for "other side"; others believe it was the word Timucuan Indians used for "bear." Allapaha, Georgia is located on the Brunswick and Western Railroad of the Plant System. Its 1900 population was 429 yet out in the district was 11,986. ^[1][4]

1892 - Nashville is the county seat of Berrien County was incorporated in 1892. The County Courthouse was built 1898. Nashville was named for Revolutionary War heroGen. Francis Nash (1742-1777), who was mortally wounded in the Battle of Germantown.^[1]The Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad connects Nashville, Georgia and Sparks, Georgia. This railway is only 11½ miles long.. The district of the same name has 1,821 inhabitants, of whom 293 live in the Nashville, Georgia.^[4]

1906 Enigma, Georgia was incorporated.. This town's historians are unsure where the name was derived. A Georgia writer used Enigma as setting for his first novel, "The Gospel Singer in 1968.^[1]

Sparks, Georgia (1900 population 683), Adel, Georgia (1900 population 721) and Cecil, Georgia 91900 population - 394) are towns also located on the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway. For each the district populations are higher indicating rural citizens are higher than the citizens in the towns. In Sparks Georgia, there are companies that manufacture brick and building materials, another operating gins, and another for planing-mills.. ^[4]

1918 World War I Berrien County lost an abnormally large amount of men in this war. Two months (8 weeks before Armistice Day 25 men died at sea when the ship, Otranto sank near the costive Scotland out of a total of 200 enlisted soldiers who also died at sea near Scotland. The war department returned the bodies to hometowns for burial. This was in addition to 27 other men who died during this war due to combat or disease.

Spirit of the American Doughboy

1920 A postcard from the 1920's shows Ernest M Viquesney's sculpture, called the Spirit of the American Doughboy commemorating the 25 men who were killed near the end of World War I off the Coast of Scotland. The scul1920s postcard depicts Ernest M. Viquesney's sculpture, Spirit of the American Doughboy, which stands in downtown Waycross. (Viquesney produced more than 150 of these statues for towns across Georgia between 1921 and 1943.) ^[1]

1921 - Nashville erected a memorial which is on the courthouse grounds with the list of soldiers to honor 25 men killed near the end of World War I, when the ship Otranto sank near the coast of Scotland The statue caused a sensation when first dedicated. . This pressed copper sculpture by E. M. Viquesney is the first of a series called The Spirit of the American Doughboy. Many of the bodies were returned to the soldiers' hometowns for burial, and the names of the dead were engraved on a memorial located on the courthouse grounds in Nashville. The memorial was the first in a series of pressed copper sculptures by artist E. M. Viquesney called The Spirit of the American Doughboy.^[3][1]

Alapaha School for African Americans.

1924- 1953 - The Alapaha Colored School was the only school existing in the northern part of the county. It was large for rural Georgia as it included 4 classrooms (while most rural schools had one room). These classrooms held all 11 coeducational grades in the building.The 2-story building still stands today. The School closed in 1954 when all of Berrien County's African American schools were consolidated with Nashville schools. ^[1]

After 1954 the building became used as classroom space for World War II veterans who were studying to take the General Education Development (GED) classes. It also was a Masonic meeting place. ^[1]

Berrien County is east of I-75, there are 4 municipalities in the area, Alapaha, Enigma, Nashville, and Ray City. The county has good businesses and industries, with retail and dining. Of note Moody Air Force Base within 20 miles south of the county.^[6]

Berrien County citizens refer to the county as the "Bell Pepper Capital of the World.. This county is primarily an agriculture-based economy. Crops grown here are Bell Peppers, tobacco, corn, soybeans, peanuts, cotton, other vegetables, hogs, beef cattle, and forest products. ^[1]

HISTORICAL INTERESTS:

Nashville, Georegia is called the "City of Dogwoods" due to the large amount of "dogwoods in the area"^[7] A 50-acre industrial park is located just east of Nashville. Historical buildings include, the courthouse, the Old Berrien County Jail in Nashville, William G Harrison/Eulalie Taylor House in Nashville, and Alpha Colored School in Alapaha.The Old Berrien County Jail in Nashville is one of four buildings in the county that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also included on the register are the courthouse and the William G. Harrison/Eulalie Taylor House in Nashville, and the Alapaha Colored School in Alapaha.^[1]

Old Berrien County Jail, Nashville.

The Old Berrien County Jail, located in Nashville, is also known as the Berrien Historical Building and Agricultural Museum. ^[1]The last hanging in the state of Georgia was carried out at the Berrien County Jail in Nashville.^[8]

The William G. Harrison/Eulalie Taylor House on Bartow Street in Nashville was built in the early 1900's by the architect William G. Harrison and now holds law offices.^[1]

1856 The Georgia legislature act formed Berrien County and appointed 5 commissioners with the responsibility of buying land for the county Seat and holding an election for justices on the first Monday of April 1856. If they had not selected a county seat, then the new justices would do so. However, the law also directed that election of county officials be held on the first Monday of April 1856. Berrien County acted quickly and selected Nashville as its County Seat. authorized to make this decision. Shortly thereafter, the community of Nashville was named county seat. Like its Tennessee counterpart, Nashville was named for Revolutionary War heroGen. Francis Nash (1742-1777), who was mortally wounded in the Battle of Germantown. The General Assembly incorporated Nashville on Dec. 20, 1892 (Ga. Laws 1892, p. 162).^[9]

1856 a log schoolhouse served as the county's temporary courthouse until a two-story wooden structure was built in 1858. That building was used as courthouse until 1898, when the present 2-story courthouse was built. ^[9]

FOR non-Georgia READERS- Berrien county can be found in southern Georgia. The western part of the County, (north of US Rte-82 and west of US Rte 129) is located in the Withlacoochee River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. Eastern parts are within the Alapaha River sub-basin of the larger Suwannee River basin.^[10]

Government Offices

1856 Temporary courthouse 1856 a log schoolhouse served as the county's temporary courthouse.^[9]

1st Courthouse, 1858 - two-story wooden structure was built in 1858. That building was used as courthouse until 1898, when the present 2-story courthouse was built.^[9]

1898 Courthouse

2nd Courthouse, 1898 - The Berrien County Courthouse is located in Nashville, the county seat. This building is still used today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[9]

Geography

Size total area of 458 square miles (1,190 km2), of which 452 square miles (1,170 km2) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km2) (1.3%) is water

Climate - relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Nashville has a humid subtropical climate

Type area - western part of Berrien County,north of U.S. Rte 82, west of U.S. Rte 129, is within the Withlacoochee River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin.

Eastern portion of the county is within the Alapaha River sub-basin of the larger Suwannee River basin.

Location - Located just east of Interstate 75.

Municipalities - 4 municipalities are within the 450 sq mi.: Alapaha, Enigma, Nashville, and Ray City each play host to unique retail and dining establishments as well as business and industry.

Population - 19,000 and growing

With a population of more than 19,000 and growing, Berrien County offers a unique atmosphere, with all the convenience and technology of larger communities but loaded with southern hospitality and charm.

Military -Moody Air Force Base is conveniently located just 20 miles south of Berrien County.

Location for non-Georgians- Berrien county can be found in southern Georgia. The western part of the County, (north of US Rte-82 and west of US Rte 129) is located in the Withlacoochee River sub-basin of the Suwannee River basin. Eastern parts are within the Alapaha River sub-basin of the larger Suwannee River basin.^[11]

Adjacent counties

• Irwin County - north
• Coffee County - northeast
• Atkinson County - east
• Lanier County - southeast
• Lowndes County - south
• Cook County - west
• Tift County - northwest

Protected areas

• A state-supported park, the Paradise Public Fishing Area, is also located in the county. Its 1,060 acres include numerous lakes and ponds, making it attractive for outdoor recreation of all kinds, including fishing and picnicking.

Demographics

In 2000 16,235 people were in the county with a population density of 36 people/sq. mi. The racial makeup of the county was 85.48% White, 11.43% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.53% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 2.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2010 there were 19,286 people in the county with a population density of 42.7 people/sq. mi. The median income for a household in the county was $32,202 and the median income for a family was $40,869. The per capita income for the county was $16,049. About 18.2% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.8% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over. ^[12]

Education

Berrien Primary School

Berrien Elementary School

Berrien Middle School

Berrien High School

Berrien Academy

• The city of Nashville is served by a public library, the Carrie Dorsey Perry Memorial Library, a part of the Coastal Plain Regional Library network.

• Berrien County is home to the Rebels and Rebelettes. The High School band is known as the Rebel Regiment

• Berrien County Historical Marker in front of the county courthouse

• The Career, Technical and Agricultural Education Department has a website for you to read about CTAE in Berrien County. www.berrienctae.org

Highways -

• U.S. Route 82
• U.S. Route 129
• Georgia State Route 11
• Georgia State Route 37
• Georgia State Route 64
• Georgia State Route 76
• Georgia State Route 125
• Georgia State Route 135
• Georgia State Route 158
• Georgia State Route 168
• Georgia State Route 520

• Moody Air Force Base is conveniently located just 20 miles south of Berrien County.

Cities

Nashville

• Ray City

Towns

• Alapaha

• Enigma

County Resources

• Lake Patrick
• Paradise Public Fishing Area - Fishing piers and picnic areas provide recreational opportunities along Lake Patrick, one of the many lakes to be found at the Paradise Public Fishing Area in Berrien County.
• Paradise Public Fishing Area lodge
• 2002 it has housed the Alapaha Library and Museum.
• A state-supported park, the Paradise Public Fishing Area, is also located in the county. Its 1,060 acres include numerous lakes and ponds, making it attractive for outdoor recreation of all kinds, including fishing and picnicking.
• The Alapaha Station Celebration occurs the second weekend of each November.

Census

1860 --- 3,475 —

1870 --- 4,518 30.0%

1880 --- 6,619 46.5%

1890 --- 10,694 61.6%

1900 --- 19,440 81.8%

1910 --- 22,722 16.9%

1920 --- 15,573 −31.5%

1930 --- 14,646 −6.0%

1940 --- 15,370 4.9%

1950 --- 13,966 −9.1%

1960 --- 12,038 −13.8%

1970 --- 11,556 −4.0%

1980 --- 13,525 17.0%

1990 --- 14,153 4.6%

2000 --- 16,235 14.7%

2010 --- 19,286 18.8%

Est. 2016 --- 18,993

Cemeteries

• FindaGrave Cemeteries
• Brogdon Cemetery

• Fletcher Cemetery

• Metts Cemetery

• Mount Paron Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13} http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/counties-cities-neighborhoods/berrien-county
2. ↑ WordPress.com
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berrien_County,_Georgia
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} http://genealogytrails.com/geo/berrien/
5. ↑ https://georgia.gov/cities-counties/berrien-county
6. ↑ https://berrienchamber.com
7. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville,_Georgia
8. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville,_Georgia
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4} http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/counties/berrien
10. ↑ http://www.ereferencedesk.com/resources/counties/georgia/berrien.html
11. ↑ http://www.ereferencedesk.com/resources/counties/georgia/berrien.html
12. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berrien_County,_Georgia

• "Georgia, Historical and Industrial", By Obediah B. Stevens, Robert F. Wright, Georgia. Dept. of Agriculture, 1901.
• http://www.dca.state.ga.us/CountySnapshotsNet/countysnapshot.aspx?cicoid=1010010
• https://berrienchamber.com
• http://www.berriencountygeorgia.com
• https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Berrien_County,_Georgia_Genealogy