After several thousand years of residing in what would become Fayette County,

the Creek Indian Nation found itself walking to what is now Oklahoma in 1821.

Fayette County was formed that year and was the 49th county to be created in Georgia.

We are an original county, that is, we were not created from other counties, but from

the land ceded by the Creeks.

Originally we went up to the other side of Atlanta and eastward to the other side

of Jonesboro. That lasted for exactly one year, and then the state began taking some of

it back. We are "mother" to four counties: a

part of DeKalb was taken from us in 1822; Campbell was formed in 1828 (that

was where Fairburn is); some of our southern border was given to form Spalding in

1951; and the last of our eastern part was given

to create Clayton County in 1858.

The official boundaries of Fayette County were described this way: All that

part of said territory which lies west of the last-mentioned line, and a line commencing at

the corner of Monroe County as above described, and running north to the Chattahoochee,

shall form one county, to be called "Fayette."

Well, if you actually work it all out,

you find that the state is describing our

eastern border as Line Creek, and it boggles your mind. Actually, that was our western border!

That was not the only error made. Fayette was created with six districts and it

technically ended at about Gingercake Road. The state gave Henry County 18 districts.

Within weeks the state realized its

error and proceeded to extend our eastern border

to the other side of Jonesboro. However, the land from approximately Gingercake Road

to the Flint River, which originally described as being Henry County (even though that was

in error) must always be described as Henry. If you live in the eastern side of Fayette, take

a look at your deed. It will say "in original Henry County." So think about this a minute

the Fayette County Courthouse, built in 1825, the oldest courthouse building

in Georgia, sits in what was original Henry County. Doesn't that frost ya!

Next time we'll talk about the first couple of years in our county.

Carolyn Cary is Fayette County's official historian and editor of "The History

of Fayette County," published by the Fayette County Historical Society.

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