Voting districts
Having lived in Fayette County for 50 years, I have voted around Fayetteville in a number of different places.
Let’s see – I remember voting at the American Legion Log Cabin, a couple of the schools, the Masonic Lodge, the First Baptist Church and I think one time at the Administration Office.
When Fayette County was laid out in 1821, there were nine voting districts created. Each of the districts was given the name of a resident who lived in it, i.e. Captain Robinson’s District, for instance.
Interestingly, those original nine are still legally in the same place, it’s just that they now have names such as Aberdeen and Brooks.
Those nine districts were cut up into squares, each containing 202 and one half acres. Don’t ask me about the two and a half acre part – I have no idea.
These parcels were given out in a Land Lottery Draw. The draws were held on the eastern side of Georgia, which was already settled. If you were a Revolutionary veteran, you got 2 draws or if you were a widow with minor children, you also got two draws. Be aware, however, there were also blank pieces of paper in those bowls.
Each of these squares sat in Districts and Land Lots, each with its own number.
Those original settlers started showing up in 1822 to see if their lottery draw was really a good one.
Widows, however, were not picking up the children and the plow and traveling several hundred miles to plunk down on land the Indians had just left. I found the sale of the lands of the widows in our Courthouse records well up into the 1850s. They just sold it sight unseen.
Those nine districts have now been subdivided into 36 districts. Why? Population increase and here are the figures. Our first census was in 1830 and it was 5,550 people. The last census, in 2010, reflected 106,000 people. I believe this explains it.
As I’ve said, the original land lot numbering system has never changed from 1821. Those 202 and a half acre squares have each been chopped up into many small lots.
Take a look at your deed and the District Number and Land Lot Number are identical to the ones given 194 years ago, with a few more added to reflect a lot of smaller lots.
Let’s say you live on one acre and you know what you would have paid for that one acre in today’s world. Those original lottery drawers only paid a $19 filing fee for all 202 and a half-acres.
