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Welcome to Butts County, Georgia Project!
History/Timeline
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| Indian Springs Creek Exhibit
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- 1780's -1790's The mound builders and later Creek Indians inhabited the Indian Springs. Butts County hosts annual festivals and visitors may visit the area. The waters are sulfur springs, but claim to have healing purposes. [1]
- 1792 Douglas Watson, U.S. Indian Agent discovered the springs and named them "Gunpowder Springs due to the taste of the water (sulfury) [1]
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| Indian Springs State Park
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- 1812 William McIntosh joined Andrew Jackson's forces during the War of 1812-15 and rose to being a Brigadier General. [1]
- 1821-The Indian Springs Hotel, now a museum, was the site of the signing of the treaty that ceded all Native American land in Butts County to the government. Today it is operated as a museum and had been carefully preserved by generations of historical society members. Indian Springs State Park surrounds the Indian Springs hotel as the oldest State Park.[2]
- 1821 Varner house was in use was a hotel. [1] [3]
- Jan 8 1821 the First of 2 famous treaties were signed at Indian Springs. 2nd treaty was Feb 12 1825. As a result the state of Georgia received all of the land once owned by Creeks.. The Creeks received $400,000 payment and acre for acre of land further west of the Mississippi River. This treaty caused McIntosh to be murdered as the Creeks at first felt he had betrayed them.[1][3].[4]
[5]
- 1823 The McIntosh Inn was built in 1823 at Indian Springs in Butts County by Creek leader Chief William McIntosh was known as a resort until 1930's, thrived as a popular resort until the 1930s. Macintosh's Creek mother had married a Scots settler, Capt. William McIntosh.[1]
- 1825 Butts County was created 24 December 1825 from Henry and Monroe Counties.
- 1825 Macintosh was spokesman in a conference room of his Indian Springs Hotel during the land distribution. He signed the treaty for Creek lands in Georgia to go to the US Federal Government during the meeting. This left the Creek Indians feeling betrayed, and 3 months later, angry Creeks murdered McIntosh[1]
- 1825-1930's McIntosh's hotel, McIntosh Inn and the medicinal springs were a resort until the Great Depression. [1]
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| Indian Springs sign near Spring House.
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| Indian Springs SpringHouse
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- Dec 24, 1825 The 64th County of Georgia was created by the Georgia legislature from Henry County and Monroe County. This was in honor of Samuel Butts, Creek War officer killed in 1814. [2] [6]
- 1825 Butts County began. The Georgia legislature created the 187-sq. mi. county from part of Henry and Monroe counties and presented the new county to Gov. George Troup as a gift!This was named in honor of a Virginian, Capt. Samuel Butts killed in the Battle of Calabee in Alabama during the Creek Indian Wars, of 1811-15. Some people classify this small county as a "bedroom community", since it is near the metropolitan Atlanta and Macon areas. [1]
- 1826 - A court chose the site and bought land for the county seat of Jackson. creating Butts County, the inferior court selected a site and purchased land in 1826 for laying out of a county seat. [6]
- 1826 Jackson, Georgia was formed as Butts County seat and incorporated. By Dec 26 the General assembly ratified the selection of Jackson, Georgia It was named for U.S. president Andrew Jackson who spent weeks in the area prior to fighting the Seminoles in Florida in the First Seminole War and the Battle of New Orleans.[1][2] [6]
- Historic homes were Robert Grier's home. Today the First National Bank of Jackson is located there. [3]
- Dec 26, 1826 Ratification by the General Assembly occurred. With that, Jackson, Georgia began as the County Seat. It is named in honor of Andrew Jackson, hero in Georgia with his battles against the Creeks and the Battle of New Orleans
- Feb 1, 1828 The unoccupied and unfinished courthouse burned down, with no records lost.[7]
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| Butts co. 1830 map.
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- Other towns followed, including Indian Springs (1837); Flovilla (1883); Jenkinsburg (1889); and Pepperton (1897). Indian Springs later disincorporated and Pepperton was merged with Jackson in 1966, leaving 3 incorporated cities in Butts County.[2]
- Indian Springs became Indian Springs Park which boasts historic sites, eating places and the famous Indian Springs hotel.[2]
- 1840s Parker Lindsy but the first gristmill on Seven Islands. Other waterwheel-powered mills, including the Indian Springs Gristmill, began on the rivers of Butts county. Due to its easy access to water transportation as well as water mills, the county became an industrial community prior to some of the state of Georgia.[1]
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| Sherman's right, March to the Sea.
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- 1864 Gen William T. Sherman made his infamous March to the Sea during the civil war.. The Union army destroyed a lot of Butts County and its cities.. [2]
- Nov 17, 1864 During the American Civil War the courthouse was destroyed on 17 November, but no records were lost. [1]
[8]
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| Butts Co. map.
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- 1867-1870's Butts County struggled for decades to regain its economy..[2]
- 1873 - the Old Mill was built[1] [3]
- 1881 - William Jenkins granted land for the Southern Railroad to build a track through Jenkinsburg, Georgia.[1]
- May 5 1882- the first railway and train helped jump-start the County.[2]
- 1882 -- Industries such as hat-making establishments, and candle-making factories were the earliest manufacturing ventures. Transportation on the early ferries on the rivers enabled a transition from agriculture to industry. These rivers could makes of the water power to run the mills. Railroads were built to cross the Butts county area. These railways could transport goods to market. [1]
- 1884 First telephones [2]
- 1885 Flovilla, Georgia was incorporated after changing its name from Indian Springs..A must see attraction is the Old Flotilla Schoolhouse which was used 1885-1932.Other incorporated towns in the county are Flovilla and Jenkinsburg. One of Butts County's attractions, the Old Flovilla Schoolhouse (used from 1885 to 1932), is located in the town. [1]
- 1889 Jenkinsburg, Georgia was incorporated. It was named for William Jenkins who granted land for the Southern Railroad to build a track through town. [1]
- Pepperton, Georgia began as an African American community, located near a field of red peppers. After this it developed into a mill town. [1]
- 1889 The Flovilla and Indian Springs Railroad in 1889. were constructed. Nearby the is the Indian Springs Chapel built 1890's. [1]
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| McIntosh Inn, later Butts County Historical Society
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- 1890-1992 - The Indian Springs Chapel was used as a Baptist church when it was given to Butts County Historical Society for preservation. Nearby can be seen the Indian museum, which is in a building built by Civilian Conservation Corps. Also nearby is the Rastello House, or (Idelewilde built 1907 ) on land bought by Robert Grier Bryans. Robert Grier Briens was great grandson of Robert Grier, astronomer who is thought to have founded Grier's almanac. Park offices are within a house built by Grier's sisters. [1]
- 1896 - Pepperon Cotton Mills was first built and began running.[1]
- 1898 The Butts County Courthouse in Jackson was built. This was the replacement for the one which Union general William Sherman and the soldiers burned during their March to the Sea in 1864. The courthouse was designed with elements of the High Victorian Eclectic and colonial revival styles. [1]
- 1905 First waterworks[2]
- Feb 19, 1907 - Electric lighting began and traffic lights began in 1926.[2]
- 1908 - Lloyd Shoals Dam on the Ocmulgee River began, and by 1910 began providing the electric power for Butts county. This brought more industrialization. Some large businesses include: several soft drink bottling plants, Jackson Ice Corporation (1920).[1]
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| McIntosh Lake.
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- 1910- Lloyd Shoals dam was constructed, which created Jackson Lake. This is mostly used as a recreational lake [2]
- 1911 A dam was built on the Ocmulgee River which created Jackson Lake. This provided the power for Georgia Power Company. It is also a recreational place from middle and North Georgia.[4][1]
- Robert Grier, creater of "Grier's Almanac"which farmer's use.[4]
- 1921 The Wigwam Hotel burned at Indian Springs.[1] [3]
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| State Park
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- 1927 - Indian Springs was established as Indian Springs State Park as the oldest state park in the USA. The medicinal properties were of the springs were used byt he Native Americans and still are today.. The park also offers camping, and fishing.[1]
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| Indian Springs museum.
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- 1930's Economic hardships occurred in the County due to hardships brought by the Great Depression .[1]
- 1933 Citizens gave to Georgia the 122 acres of land around the Springs for the Indian Springs State Park. The early Indians knew the Springs to be health giving. Tourists visit all year long. markers are posted visits Indian Springs; the Old Collier House and others. [1]
[6]
- Indian Springs State park has thousands of lovely trees, stone buildings, walks, drives,. Today, thanks to our citizens of Butts County, this area is known as Indian Springs State Park with thousands of lovely trees, stone buildings, drives, walks, is indeed a place of beauty. Appropriate markers may be seen. [6]
- 1939 - High Falls State Park and Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, were established and protects 35,000 acres of loblolly pine and hardwood forest as a habitat for the wild animals.[1]
- 1940s helped the county return to a healthy diversified industrial base.[1]>
- Jackson, Georgia is still a rural town, and has difficulty with competition from the malls and chain stores versus Jackson's mom and pop stores.[1]
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| Jackson city home
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| City of Jackson .
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- 1978 “The History of Butts County Georgia”was published. This covers history from 1825 to 1976. In 2012 the book was revised. [9]
- Butts County has gained attention in recent years as being a frequent backdrop for a number of movies and television shows.[2]
- 1996 Pepperon, Georgia was annexed by Jackson. It is now called East Jackson, Georgia. [1]
- 2016, 2017 Netflix Original Series Stranger Things made the Butts County city of Jackson, Georgia the backdrop of the show's fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, turning the downtown area into a 1980s Indiana small town. In addition to the many buildings of the downtown that are visible in various scenes, the exterior of the Butts County Courthouse is featured, standing in for the Hawkins library.[2]
- 2007 Georgia Dept. of Community of Affairs named Butts County and Flotilla, Georgia to be Georgia Signature communities as 2 of 12 communities in Georgia to receive the designation. [2]
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| Stanger things logo
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- Butts County is the location for the Stranger things has brought tourism to the county. The County is the location of other shows as well such as The Originals, TV show, and a remake of Endless Love by Universal Studios.[2]
- 2012 The 100th anniversary celebration of the Confederate Monument located on the Courthouse Square was celebrated in Butts County. [10]
- 2013 William McIntosh Chapter of DAR Award Members of William McIntosh Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution received an award for the 84 year old building’s newly renovated exterior. Funding was proceeds from the sale of the 2012 revised edition, “The History of Butts County Georgia” (history from 1825 to 1976). [11]The William McIntosh Chapter Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution received an award for the building’s newly renovated exterior. A husband arranged the landscaping. The Cedar shake siding was replaced with HardiePlank siding on the front sides. Two dormers were removed from the roof. Paint accents show as dark blue doors and awnings accent the siding.[12]
- Today Citizens have helped keep Indian Springs State Park alive with thousands of trees, stone buildings, and trails and walks. [1]
- History is all around in Butts County. Resources draw visitor to Indian Springs State Park (USA's State park), the Indian Springs Hotel (originally a stagecoach stop near Indian Springs State Park), and the Civil War Heritage trail to see the path of General Sherman's 'March to the Sea". The Union Army passed through Butts County in 1864. [4]
- Butts County has its natural resources such as many rivers, an abundant water supply. This is delivered countywide via a water system, which has capacity for more expansion. Another Resource is the timber, which is widely available and 2nd growths or 3rd can be done.[4]
- Points of interest, are listed on RESOURCES, in addition to Indian Springs, include the J. R. Carmichael House in Jackson and several recreational facilities: High Falls State Park; Lloyd Shoals Dam Reservoir, also called Jackson Lake; High Falls State Park, near Jackson in Butts County, is a popular destination along the Towaliga River for camping and boating. The town of High Falls, established in the early 1800s, became a ghost town during the 1880s, when the railroads gained prominence over waterways for commercial transportation.[1]
Government Offices
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. [6]
1826, the county's new inferior court purchased land for erecting public buildings and laying out a county seat. [6]
Dec. 1826, this site was incorporated as the town of Jackson, and a log courthouse was built. [6]
1827, construction began on a larger courthouse -- but this building burned before completion. Feb, 1828 A new courthouse was completed . [6]
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.[6]
1828 The unoccupied and unfinished courthouse burned down 1 February, with no records lost.[13]
1864 During the American Civil War the courthouse was destroyed on 17 November, but again no records were lost.[14]
1898 Courthouse, architecture is High Victorian eclectic with Colonial revival elements, and was designed by Bruce and Morgan. The Court House at Jackson houses the earliest marriage register and Will book. This courthouse was built in 1898 and there were two courthouses prior to this
.[1]
Geography
- Location - central part of Georgia.
- Population 2010 census, the population was 23,655.
- County seat -Jackson.
- Metropolitan Statistical Area -Butts County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Adjacent counties
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| Butts Co. map
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- Jasper County (east)
- Monroe County (south)
- Lamar County (southwest)
- Spalding County (west)
- Henry County (northwest)
Protected areas
- Indian Springs State Park
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| State Park
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Demographics
Ikn 2000, there were 19,522 people in the county with a population density of 105 people/sq. mi. The racial makeup of the county was 69.22% White, 28.82% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. By 2010 there were 23,655 people n the county with a population density of 128.3 people/sq. mi. The median income for a household in the county was $52,257 and the median income for a family was $59,511. The per capita income for the county was $20,963. About 9.0% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.[15]
- In 2010, the center of population of Georgia was located in the northeastern portion of the county
- three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
- Elementary schools
- Hampton L. Daughtry Elementary School
- Jackson Elementary School
- Stark Elementary School
- Middle school
- Henderson Middle School
- High school
- Jackson High School
- 1966-Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison, (formerly Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Center, and often shortened to Georgia Diagnostic Prison.), is the largest employer in Butts County. The prison is a maximum security prison that also houses the death row inmates. Until recent years, it was the location of the electric chair until this was replaced by lethal injection.
- Butts County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
- 2010, the center of population of Georgia was located in the northeastern portion of the county
Cities
- Jackson county Seat, (population 5045)
- Jackson, Georgia
Towns/Census Des Places/Uninco Communities
- Flovilla Georgia
County Resources
- 1821-The Indian Springs Hotel, was the site of the signing of the treaty that ceded all Native American land in Butts County to the government. Today it is operated as a museum and had been carefully preserved by generations of historical society members.
- Indian Springs State Park surrounds the hotel and is the oldest State Park in the nation.
- 1911-Jackson Lake, created by the damming of the Ocmulgee River, is now a prime recreational venue that attracts many visitors from all over middle and North Georgia.
- 1929-Fresh Air Barbecue, the oldest functioning barbecue restaurant still in its original location in Georgia, was awarded the title of Georgia's Best Barbecue in 1984..
- Indian Springs,
- J. R. Carmichael House in Jackson and several recreational facilities:
- Lloyd Shoals Dam Reservoir, also called Jackson Lake, recreational facility as well
- High Falls State Park, near Jackson in Butts County, is a popular destination along the Towaliga River for camping and boating.
- High Falls, established in the early 1800s, became a ghost town during the 1880s, when the railroads gained prominence over waterways for commercial transportation.
- Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1939 and protects 35,000 acres of loblolly pine and hardwood forest habitat for the wild animals living there.
- Towaliga River for camping and boating.
- Butts County Historical Society is fundraisers for
- Dogwood Festival in April,
- Annual Invitational Fine Arts Festival in May
- Freedom Celebration in July
- Native American Festival in September
- Civil War Days
- "Home for the Holidays" celebration
- Scottish Festival.
Notables
*Clarence Lemar Burpee, a railway man b. 1894, Jackson in 1894, Brig Gen, Distinguished Service, Legion of Merit, early commanding officer in the 703rd Railway Grand Division of the Allies during World War II (1941-45). As assistant chief of transportation in the Military Railways Division of the European Theater of Operations in 1944-45, he achieved the rank of brigadier general and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Merit.
- John Head, journalist, newspaper editor, raised in Jackson. Penn Foundation chair, author 2 books, :We Were the Land's: The Biography of a Homeplace" (1999) and "Standing in the Shadows: Understanding and Overcoming Depression in Black Men"
- William Ferguson Smith, newspaper editor, author, and prime mover behind the development of Butts County,
Census
- 1830 --- 4,944 —
- 1840 --- 5,308 7.4%
- 1850 --- 6,488 22.2%
- 1860 --- 6,455 −0.5%
- 1870 --- 6,941 7.5%
- 1880 --- 8,311 19.7%
- 1890 --- 10,565 27.1%
- 1900 --- 12,805 21.2%
- 1910 --- 13,624 6.4%
- 1920 --- 12,327 −9.5%
- 1930 --- 9,345 −24.2%
- 1940 --- 9,182 −1.7%
- 1950 --- 9,079 −1.1%
- 1960 --- 8,976 −1.1%
- 1970 --- 10,560 17.6%
- 1980 --- 13,665 29.4%
- 1990 --- 15,326 12.2%
- 2000 --- 19,522 27.4%
- 2010 --- 23,655 21.2%
- Est. 2016 --- 23,817
Cemeteries
Sources
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/counties-cities-neighborhoods/butts-county
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butts_County,_Georgia
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/butts/history/other/buttscou608gms.txt
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 https://buttscountyga.com/history-and-natural-resources/
- ↑ https://georgia.gov/cities-counties/butts-county
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/counties/butts
- ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Butts_County,_Georgia_Genealogy
- ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Butts_County,_Georgia_Genealogy
- ↑ http://buttscountyga.com/history/
- ↑ http://buttscountyga.com/history/
- ↑ http://buttscountyga.com/history/
- ↑ http://www.jacksonprogress-argus.com/news/william-mcintosh-chapter-dar-receives-butts-county-chamber-golden-nail/article_91edd8f6-90e5-5599-8953-b270cc1e8b82.html
- ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Butts_County,_Georgia_Genealogy
- ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Butts_County,_Georgia_Genealogy
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butts_County,_Georgia
