Toombs County

Toombs County, the 142nd county formed in Georgia, was created in 1905 from parts of Emanuel, Tattnall, and Montgomery counties. The county seat of Lyons was founded as a depot on the railroad connecting Macon and Savannah. The county was named for Robert Toombs, the Confederacy's Brigadier General and Secretary of State. Toombs had served in both houses of the U.S. Congress, but was a leading secession advocate at the Secession Convention at Milledgeville.

Toombs County is most famous for its sweet Vidalia onions, the state vegetable of Georgia, and Vidalia is known as the "Sweet Onion Capital of the World." Onion seeds planted in the sandy loam soil of Toombs County grow onions that are sweeter and juicier than any others.

The Altamaha River forms the county's southern border.

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 Evans, Tattnall, Toombs, and Montgomery Counties

January 27, 2010

This Saturday, January 30, 2010, Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) will be hosting "Congress on the Corner" in Evans, Tattnall, Toombs, and Montgomery Counties.  "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 $950,000 IN GRANTS TO ADD OFFICERS TO 12th DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENTS

July 29, 2009

Funds will go to hire law enforcement officers in Metter, Statesboro, Tennille, and Vidalia

Washington, D.C. - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced today that $950,243 in grants will be awarded to four communities in Georgia's 12th District to fund the hiring and rehiring of local law enforcement officers under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Congressman Barrow voted for the recovery Act, and President Obama signed it into law, in February of this year.

Barrow Announces $84.7 Million for 65-bed Hospital Construction in Vidalia

April 24, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has committed to insure an $84.7 million loan to Meadows Regional Medical Center for the construction of a new 65-bed hospital in Vidalia to replace the existing 45-year old facility.  The loan is made possible through the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) Section 242 Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program and is the first FHA-insured hospital loan in the state of Georgia.

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 to Host Health Fair in Vidalia

April 2, 2009

Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) has been all over the 12th District, and one thing everybody's worried about is health care.  He's working hard in Washington to fix health care, but he wants to do something here at home to help.

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 to Host “Congress on the Corner” in Reidsville, Vidalia, Mount Vernon, and Soperton

January 28, 2009

This Saturday, January 31, Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) will be in Reidsville, Vidalia, Mount Vernon, and Soperton hosting "Congress on the Corner."  "Congress on the Corner" is an opportunity for citizens to visit one-on-one with Congressman John Barrow and discuss the issues that matter most to them.