Jenkins County

Jenkins County was organized in 1905 from parts of Screven, Bulloch, Burke, and Emanuel counties and began its official operation January 1, 1906, making it the one hundred thirty-eighth county. Its territory had been part of two original headright counties: Effingham and Burke.

Jenkins County was named for Governor Charles J. Jenkins. The county seat, Millen, was named for a distinguished attorney, John Millen of Savannah. At its beginning, the town was called "Seventy-nine" because that was the distance in miles from Savannah, the center of all commerce and culture for that region.

Near Millen is the Jones House, built in 1762 and used as a stage coach stop called Birdsville. It was more than a century old when General Sherman's troops looted it and set the building afire during their march to the sea through Georgia. The same soldiers put the fire out when they learned that the mistress of the house refused to leave her sickbed.

The community of Scarboro is far older than the county itself. In 1839 it was designated Station Number Seven on the Central Railroad connecting growers of this area with the markets in Savannah.

Also pre-dating the county and all its towns was the Old Buckhead Church which was organized before the Revolution under the leadership of the Reverend Matthew Moore. It was one of the oldest Baptist congregations in the country. In 1864 the churchyard became the site of a skirmish between opposing cavalry forces, Kilpatrick's Union Cavalry and Wheeler's Confederate Corps. Moving south, the Union troops tore up the pews of the church to obtain lumber for a bridge across Buckhead Creek.

Nearby was a forty-two acre enclosure that was to have been used as a prisoner-of-war camp by the Confederates, intended to relieve the crowded Andersonville Prison. The Union advance was so rapid, however, that none of the prisoners had been transferred there and the facility was abandoned without ever having being used. The site was later made into a state park.

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 Jenkins, Bulloch, Screven, and Candler Counties

February 23, 2010

On Saturday, February 27, 2010, Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) will be hosting "Congress on the Corner" in Jenkins, Bulloch, Screven, and Candler 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 $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 to Host “Congress on the Corner” in Jenkins, Emanuel, and Candler Counties

February 23, 2009

This Saturday, February 28, Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) will be in Millen, Swainsboro, and Metter 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.