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Other Information:
The 1825 act creating Butts County provided that county superior
and inferior courts meet at the house of Jacob Holly until a
courthouse could be built. In 1826, the county's new inferior
court purchased land for erecting public buildings and laying
out a county seat. In Dec. 1826, this site was incorporated as
the town of Jackson, and a log courthouse was built. In 1827,
construction began on a larger courthouse -- but this building
burned before completion. A new courthouse was completed and
in use prior to Feb. 1828. One report indicates that a fourth
courthouse was built in 1860, but whatever courthouse was in
use in 1864 was burned during Sherman's March to the Sea. In
1872, the legislature authorized Butts County to borrow up to
$5,000 to build a new courthouse (Ga. Laws 1872, p. 395). The
following year, the amount that could be borrowed was raised
to $9,000 (Ga. Laws 1873, p. 229). Whether this legislation resulted
in a new courthouse is unclear -- but it is known that the current
courthouse was completed in 1898 (see
photo).
County Courthouse Historical
Marker: Click
here
County History: Butts County was created by the General
Assembly on Dec. 24, 1825 from portions of Henry and Monroe counties
(Ga. Laws 1825, p. 63). Georgia's 70th county was named for Capt.
Samuel Butts, a member of the Georgia Militia killed in battle
against the Creek Indians during the War of 1812.
County Seat:
Pursuant to the act Dec. 24, 1825 act creating Butts County,
the inferior court selected a site and purchased land in 1826
for laying out of a county seat. That site was ratified by the
General Assembly by an act of Dec. 26, 1826, with the legislature
incorporating the land purchased by the inferior court as the
new town of Jackson (Ga. Laws 1826, p. 177). The town was named
in honor of Andrew Jackson, who was a hero in Georgia because of his campaigns
against the Creeks, and his victory over British forces at the
Battle of New Orleans.
Maps
Size of County (Total
Area): 190.0 square miles
County Rank in Total
Area: 144th out of 159
Population:
Butts County
City of Jackson
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