Candler

Formed November 13, 1914 (149^th county)

Candler County (10,990), Metter (4,003)                

The light tan brick structure was built in 1921 in Neo-Classical Revival style.  It sits at Broad, Rountree, Vertia, and Kennedy streets.  Georgia State Highway 23 is Broad Street.  J. J. Baldwin provided the designs for the courthouse.  The facility features columns and a tower with working clock.  Veteran memorials and a small Liberty Bell are on the grounds.  The county was organized on November 13, 1914 from Bulloch, Emanuel, and Tattnall counties as the 149^th county.  Metter has always been the county seat.  It was named for Governor Allen Daniel Candler.  Metter was named supposedly by a railroad officer who met his wife there (met her).  The county center is 2.5 miles Northwest of Metter. 

Candler 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 Candler, Bleckley, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Emanuel, Greene, Hancock, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Montgomery, Morgan, Pulaski, Putnam, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Twiggs, Washington, Wheeler, Wilcox, and Wilkinson counties and a State Judge and three County Judges, court clerk, and county attorney serve Candler County (judicial.) The county is in southeast Georgia northwest of Savannah, Georgia and south of Augusta, Georgia.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Bulloch, Evans, Tattnall, and Emanuel counties. 

The area of the county is 247 square miles.  It is 121 of 159 in size in the state.  It ranks 120 out of 159 in population in the state.  It has a density of 44.5 persons per square mile making it 99 out of 159 in the state.  Candler County has 38.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 16 crosses east to west in the county from Bulloch County to Emanuel County.  The county’s overall shape is triangular with Metter being located near the center.  Metter is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 36.4% of the county population.  The county is pronounced CAND-LUR.