Wilkes County, Georgia
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Location: Wilkes County, Georgia
Surnames/tags: Wilkes_County_Georgia Georgia US_History
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Wilkes County, Georgia was founded on February 5, 1777 and was one of the eight original Georgia counties established in the first state constitution. It was named for John Wilkes, a British politician and supporter of American independence. The earliest settlers in Wilkes County came from North Carolina and Virginia.
The size of Wilkes County was reduced between 1790 and 1854 with the creation of the counties of Elbert, Oglethorpe, and Lincoln. Wilkes County also contributed to land to form the counties of Madison, Warren, Taliaferro, Hart, McDuffie, and Greene.
During the American Revolution, Wilkes County was called "The Hornet's Nest" by the Tories due to the patriotism and bravery of the people living in the area. The Battle of Kettle Creek, one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War, took place in Wilkes County in 1779.
Communities in Wilkes County include Rayle, Tignall, and Washington . Washington is the county seat.
Notable Residents
Stephen Heard 12th Governor of Georgia & established Heard's Fort (now the city of Washington)
Robert Toombs 1st Secretary of State of the Confederacy
Notable Landmarks
Arnold-Callaway Plantation
Washington Presbyterian Church
Washington-Wilkes Historical Museum
Resources
- Bowen, Eliza A. The Story of Wilkes County, Georgia. Continental Book Company, Marietta, Georgia, 1950.
- Wilkes County, Its Place in Georgia History An article written for the Georgia Historical Quarterly
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkes_County,_Georgia
- http://giddeon.com/wilkes/index.html
- http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gawilkes/
- http://georgia.gov/cities-counties/wilkes-county
- http://www.hiddenancestors.com/wilkesga/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Wilkes_County,_Georgia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kettle_Creek
- http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/counties-cities-neighborhoods/wilkes-county
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