Georgia County Map

Georgia County Maps

Georgia, the Peach State, is carved up into a whopping 159 counties. Yep, you heard that right – 159.  It’s like they took the idea of local government and went nuts with it. It’s second only to Texas in county count.

Georgia Counties

Georgia’s 159 counties are pretty wild when you think about it. It’s kinda funny because Georgia isn’t even close to being the biggest state. But all these counties make sense when you look at the state’s diverse landscape. From the Appalachian Mountains in the north to the coastal plains in the south, Georgia is a big mixed bag of terrain.

For the most populous, Fulton County takes the crown and it’s no surprise why. Atlanta, the state capital sits right in the middle of it. You’ve got other big cities there too, like Sandy Springs and Roswell. On the flip side, there’s Taliaferro County, with barely 1,500 people calling it home. It’s mostly rural, without any big cities or attractions to draw people in.

When it comes to size though, Ware County is the biggest. It extends over 902 square miles in southeast Georgia. It has the northern part of the Okefenokee Swamp, which is pretty cool. The smallest? That’d be Clarke County, home to Athens and the University of Georgia. It’s only 121 square miles.

Now, here’s a fun fact: Georgia’s counties have some interesting origins. Many are named after Revolutionary War heroes or important political figures. The first county, Richmond County, was established way back in 1777 – older than the country itself! And get this: Georgia was the last of the original 13 colonies to set up a county system. They took their sweet time, but they sure made up for it with quantity.

From the mountains to the coast, Georgia’s counties are like a big ol’ family reunion. Some you love, some you tolerate, and some you pretend aren’t related to you. But somehow, it all works out in the end, usually over a plate of barbecue and sweet tea.