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Welcome to Southwest GA
Southwest, Georgia
Southwest Georgia Southwest, GA
Your complete guide to the merchants,
activities & services of
Southwest, Georgia
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Upson County, Georgia
| County Formed |
December 15, 1824 |
| County
Seat |
Thomaston |
| Incorporated Cities |
Thomaston and Yatesville
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| Total
Area |
325.5 square miles |
| History |
Upson County was created from
parts of Pike and Crawford counties in 1824. Georgia's 59th county was named
for Stephen Upson, a well-known lawyer and legislator of the time.
Until losing its charter in 1995
due to its inactive status, The Rock was the county's third municipality. The
Rock is located on a rock, hence the name. It is said that the mail used to be
deposited in a secret hole in the rock, and that stage drivers were told to
"take the mail to the rock."
Thomaston was named for General
Jett Thomas, the leader of the state militia in 1812 and the builder of the
state capitol in Milledgeville.
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| Points
of Interest |
Upson County is home to the
Thundering Springs, which once made a sounds like rolling thunder. The sound
ceased after vandals threw rocks into it. The spring, located 20 miles from
Thomaston, was once a boiling column of water and sand, but is now only 12
inches in diameter and merely warm. No bottom to the spring has ever been
found.
Some other tourist attractions
include Auchumpkee Covered Bridge and the Pettigrew-White-Stamps House. The
Auchumpkee Covered Bridge was originally built in 1892 and was destroyed by the
floods of 1994. The bridge was later rebuilt by Arnold Graton and Son Bridge
builders.
"Fairy Stone," a world
famous good luck charm, can be found near Thomaston. This is actually the
mineral Staurolite which is made of two individual crystals that intersect and
form geometric angles.
The Sprewell Bluff State Park,
located in Upson County, is an 1,500 acre facility featuring hiking trails,
picnic areas, and river access for canoers and kayakers. Other facilities
geared toward outdoor activities include the Thunder Scout Reservation and the
Gerald I. Lawhorn Canoe Base and Training Center.
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| Notable Citizens |
One famous citizen of Upson County
was John Brown Gordon, a U.S. Senator and Major General of the Confederate
Army. He was one of Robert E. Lee's most trusted generals, and later served two
terms as Georgia's governor. |
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Cities and Towns In Upson County
(County Seat)
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