Wilkinson

Formed May 11, 1803 (28^th county)

Wilkinson County (8,868), Irwinton (528), Gordon (1,777)

The small red brick courthouse was built in 1924.  The building was enlarged in 1974 and again in 2006.  It is at Main and Bacon streets.  Georgia State Highway 57 is Main Street in this small community.  Alexander Blair designed the structure in Colonial Revival style.  On the grounds is an eternal flame and a gazebo.  Wilkinson County was established on May 11, 1803 from the Creek Lands as the 28^th county with Irwinton as the only county seat.  Revolutionary War General James Marion Wilkinson is the source name for the county.  Governor Jared Irwin is the inspiration for the county seat’s name.  He is also the namesake of Irwin County.  The county center is in Irwinton .9 miles Southeast of the city center. 

Wilkinson County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, a coroner, a clerk, and a tax commissioner (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Fifteen Superior Court Judges serve Wilkinson, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Bleckley, Candler, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Emanuel, Greene, Hancock, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Montgomery, Morgan, Pulaski, Putnam, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Twiggs, Washington, Wheeler, and Wilcox counties and Five County Judges, court clerk, and county attorney serve Wilkinson County (judicial.) The county is in central Georgia immediately east of Macon, Georgia.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Baldwin, Washington, Johnson, Laurens, Twiggs, and Jones counties. 

The area of the county is 447 square miles.  It is 39 out of 159 counties in the state.  It ranks 133 out of 159 in population in the state.  It has a density of 19.8 persons per square mile making it 146 out of 159 in the state.  Wilkinson County has 50.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 441 crosses the county north to south from Baldwin County to Laurens County.  The county is diamond shaped.  Irwinton is located near the county’s center.  Gordon is located in the northwest quarter of the county.  Irwinton is the county seat and Gordon is the largest city.  Irwinton is 6.0% of the county population while Gordon is 20.0% of the county population.

Danville