Thomas County, Georgia

Thomas County Education, Geography, and History

Thomas County is a county located in the state of Georgia. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 44,720. Thomas County was created on December 23, 1825. The county seat is Thomasville. The county is named in honor of General Jett Thomas (1776-1817), a hero of the War of 1812.

Thomas County comprises the Thomasville, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Thomas County Name

Georgia's 63rd county, and its county seat, Thomasville, were named for a hero of the War of 1812, General Jett Thomas. In addition to his military career, General Thomas built the first university building in Athens.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Thomas County History

Thomas County was created in 1825 from portions of Decatur and Irwin counties. Georgia's 63rd county, and its county seat, Thomasville, were named for a hero of the War of 1812, General Jett Thomas. In addition to his military career, General Thomas built the first university building in Athens.

Ochlocknee is named for the river flowing through Thomas County. Pavo, Latin for Peacock, was named after the first postmaster in the area.

Thomasville was a popular, turn-of-the-century, winter resort for wealthy northern families. Non-residents still maintain many large estates and hunting preserves. Many of these estates are listed on the National Register of Historic Places including the Susina Plantation Inn, the Lapham-Patterson House, Thomasville Cultural Center, Pebble Hill Plantation and Melhana Plantation. The Lapham-Patterson House is a large, Victorian house, that was built by a survivor of the great fire of Chicago. He designed the house with 45 doors, 26 of which were exterior. Every room had its own fire extinguisher.

Points of Interest

Limestone sinks are common in this section which was once part of the ocean floor. A great limestone aquifer in subterranean south Georgia offers a nearly limitless fresh water supply.

Thomasville is home to a "Big Oak," which has a limb spread of about 175 feet. Also, the McKinley Memorial Tree planted in 1896 as a salute to candidate William McKinley, who became the 25th President of the United States, is located in Thomasville.

Notable Citizens

Bailey White, a National Public Radio essayist and author of Mama Makes Up Her Mind, is from Thomas County.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 552 square miles (1,430 km²), of which 545 square miles (1,410 km²) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km²) (1.4%) is water.

Thomas county is located in south Georgia. The county is in the Ochlockonee River basin and the Suwannee River basin. The Aucilla River rises in Thomas County.

The Red Hills Region is centered on Thomas County

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Northeast: Colquitt County
• East: Brooks County
• South: Jefferson County, Fla.
• Southwest: Leon County, Fla.
• West: Grady County
• Northwest: Mitchell County

Education

Higher Education

Thomas University

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