Baldwin County

Baldwin County was created in 1803 from Creek Indian lands, the twenty-seventh county in Georgia to be designated. From its original territory were made the counties of Jasper, Jones, Morgan, Putnam, and a small portion of Twiggs. The county was named for Abraham Baldwin, a member of the Continental Congress and the author of the bill that created the first state university, now the University of Georgia.

Milledgeville, the county seat, was the state capital for sixty-one years, from 1807 until 1868. The city had been named for John Milledge, a Revolutionary leader, a member of Congress, Georgia governor, and the man that donated most of the land for the university at the site of present day Athens. 

Among Baldwin County's early settlers were at least thirty-eight Revolutionary War veterans, including Jim Thomas, and James Barrow, Congressman Barrow’s great-, great-, great-grandfather, who served with General George Washington at Valley Forge. Beneficiaries of an early land lottery for veterans and their widows included an "Old Mrs. Clarke" who wore a silver plate on her skull as a result of being scalped by Indians.

In 1789 Pres. George Washington sent Gen. Benjamin Lincoln to the junction of the trading paths on the Oconee River in what was to become Baldwin County, there to settle a land dispute with the Creek Indians. The country's first agent to the Creek Nation, James Seagrove, set up residence there in 1791. The following year he distributed $13,000 worth of government food to Indians who were suffering from crop failure.

During the Civil War, in 1864, Union forces led by Gen. Sherman captured Milledgeville, which was the state capital at the time. Secretary of State Nathan C. Barnett hid the Great Seal of Georgia and the legislative minutes in a pig pen near the Capitol.

Source: Foundations of Government - The Georgia Counties, Association County Commissioners of Georgia, 1976.

Latest News in this County:

Barrow to Host “Congress on the Corner” in Sandersville, Sparta, and Milledgeville

July 27, 2009

This Saturday, August 1, Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) will be hosting “Congress on the Corner” in Sandersville, Sparta, and Milledgeville. “Congress on the Corner” is an opportunity for citizens to meet one-on-one with Congressman Barrow and to talk about what’s going on in Washington. 

Barrow Announces 2009 Veterans Town Hall Tour Schedule

June 25, 2009

Meetings will be held in Savannah, Glennville, Statesboro, Augusta, and Milledgeville.

Washington, D.C. - It's time again for Congressman Barrow's annual Veterans Town Hall Tour. This is an opportunity for Congressman Barrow to meet with veterans and their families, thank them for their service, and listen to their concerns. He'll be hosting five meetings on July 1, July 2, and July 3 throughout Georgia's 12th District:

BARROW VOTES TO BOOST CRIME PREVENTION, SPUR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

June 18, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) voted in favor of bipartisan legislation that invests in two of our nation's top priorities - protecting Americans at home and spurring scientific research and innovation. The Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill invests in programs that help local and state governments keep their citizens safe. It also funds research and development programs that facilitate scientific innovation and discovery. In order to save money and fund higher-priority programs, the bill eliminates 11 programs and cuts funding for another 13 programs below the 2009 level.

Barrow Announces $32,375,000 in Direct Allocations of Recovery Zone Bonds for Communities in Georgia’s 12th District

June 12, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced today that the U.S. Treasury Department has made $25 billion in bond authority available under the Recovery Zone Bonds program.  Of that money, $32,375,000 will be available to communities in Georgia's 12th District.  Recovery Zone Bonds were created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Congress passed and President Obama signed into law earlier this year.  Recovery Zone Bonds are targeted to areas particularly affected by job loss.  They will help local governments obtain financing for much needed economic development projects, such as public infrastructure development, at lower borrowing costs. 

GEORGIA’S 12TH DISTRICT AWARDED $266,319 IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM

April 9, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced today that $266,319 has been awarded to the 12th District of Georgia by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).  Federal funds totaling $100 million were made available to the EFSP, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to bring immediate relief to communities to address unemployment, poverty, and other needs during the economic crisis.

Barrow Announces 12th District Schools to Receive an Estimated $70.9 Million

April 1, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced today that an estimated $70,969,000 in emergency education funding has been released for schools in Georgia's 12th District to help save education-related jobs and maintain programs for low-income students and students with disabilities. Schools in the 12th District will receive an estimated $42,376,000 in Title I funds and $28,593,000 in IDEA funds. 

Barrow Announces $2.3 million in Recovery Act Funds for Crime Prevention Efforts

March 12, 2009

Washington, DC - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced that Georgia's 12th Congressional District will receive close to $2.3 million in Recovery Act 2009 funding for law enforcement assistance through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.

Barrow Nominates 12th District Students for U.S. Service Academies 

December 31, 2008

Washington, DC - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) today announced the names of the ten high school students from Georgia's 12th  District he has nominated for admission to the service academies for the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Merchant Marine.