Discover Terrell County

Terrell County lies within two subbasins of the ACF River Basin, the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. The western and southern two-thirds are in the Ichawaynochaway Creek subbasin; the northeastern third lies in the Kinchafoonee-Muckalee subbasin. Those interested in Georgia's geographic divisions will find a clear division here within the same larger river basin.

History in Dawson and Fosterville

The settlement of Fosterville was founded in Terrell County during the American Civil War as a place of refuge. Civilians who had to flee the city after Union troops captured Atlanta sought shelter there. Fosterville was named after Ira Roe Foster, Georgia's quartermaster general. The settlement's founding and name connect the place to two specific aspects of that time: the flight from Atlanta and a figure in the state's administration.

In Dawson, the Dawson Historic District includes commercial, residential, industrial, community, and transportation-related buildings in downtown. They were built from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. The district meets Criterion A for the National Register of Historic Places because of its significance in the agricultural, commercial, industrial, developmental, governmental, and transportation history of Dawson and Terrell County. This range makes the district a multifaceted view of the town's development, rather than limiting it to a single type of building.

The Terrell County Courthouse forms the center of downtown Dawson and is designed in the High Victorian style. A historic marker at the courthouse commemorates the Battle of Echo-wa-noth-away Swamp during the Creek War of 1836. The Dawson Carnegie Library, also known as the Dawson Library, was completed in 1914. The Terrell County Historic Preservation Society rents it out for community events. The Garden Club House is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

At the annual Tour of Homes, the public can visit the interiors of antebellum and Victorian homes in Dawson. If you want to plan your trip around it, check the event dates in advance. Another cultural venue is the Main Street Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, which has a theater auditorium with seating.

Parrott and Bronwood: Other Historical Perspectives

Parrott is a small rural town in northern Terrell County, surrounded by farmland. The Parrott Historic District features intact historic homes with outbuildings and associated fields alongside commercial buildings, community buildings, and landmarks. The district also includes three cemeteries and industrial resources dating from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. Georgia Highway 520, also known as Highway 55, runs north to south through the district. Here, a rural setting meets a historic district with a variety of buildings and resources; by contrast, Dawson has a downtown historic district.

The Bronwood Calaboose is a small wooden jail dating to around the turn of the century, with two cells. It is the only remaining evidence of historic municipal law enforcement in Bronwood. Chickasawhatchee Primitive Baptist Church was built in 1858 and is the oldest church in Terrell County still standing at its original location. Together, these places draw attention to both public institutions and the county's religious history.

Events and Activities

The Terrell County Historic Preservation Society's Fall Festival features local vendors and entertainment. The Terrell County Recreation Department offers a variety of sports activities. If you are planning a trip around an event, check the dates in advance; the Tour of Homes is explicitly an annual event.

Discover more destinations: Dawson, Spalding, Wayne County, Bulloch, Barrow County, Gwinnett, Polk County, Haralson County.

For the broader travel overview: Georgia.