BUTTS COUNTY GEORGIA

HISTORICAL HERITAGE

More History

History abounds in Butts County and our citizens take pride in that history. Butts County was established in 1825 There are three cities located within the county. Jackson, our largest city and the county seat of Butts County is home to the Carmichael House and the historic courthouse, both pictured at right as they appear today. Jenkinsburg is our fastest growing city in northwest Butts County and Flovilla to the southeast of Jackson is our most historically preserved city. There are also three unincorporated communities of Worthville, McKibben and Indian Springs.  Butts County is home to  Indian Springs State Park, the oldest state park in the United States, as well as portions of High Falls State Park, Dauset Trails Nature Center and Lake Jackson. Recent restoration and revitalization efforts have transformed the Village at Indian Springs, a small village of stores, shops and boutiques that invite tourism to come and spend some quality family time browsing the stores, walking the historical gardens or dining at Pinky's Parlor. Famous Dining Establishments include Fresh Air Barbecue (1929), which was voted best barbecue in Georgia (see picture at right) and Buckners (1980), voted as having the best fried chicken in Georgia. The Civil War Heritage Trail goes through parts of Butts County and is designated by memorial markers. Butts County is also the location of Georgia's Center of Population, with a surveyor's marker located near Lake Jackson placed by the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia.

The 1897 Carmichael House (Today)

1929 Fresh Air Barbecue

The 1898 Courthouse (Today)

HISTORICAL SITES The Carmichael House-an 1897 Victorian Mansion located just west of the square. It was built at the then-astronomical sum of $16,000.00 by a local buggy builder. The Carmichael House is pictured at the top right of this page. The Butts County Courthouse-an 1898 Victorian courthouse, it is still in use today for the courts and judiciary functions. The Courthouse is located on the square in downtown Jackson and is pictured at right, second from the top. The Indian Springs Hotel-a circa 1821 hotel located in Indian Springs. It was owned by the Creek Indian Chief William McIntosh, who was murdered for his part in sighing over the Indian lands to the government. It's building predates the founding of the county in 1825. Today it is a museum rich with heritage and displays about its past and that of the area. A county rich with history, natural beauty and recreational activities, Butts County offers country living with big city ammenities less than an hour away. It was incorporated into the Atlanta Metropolitan Area in 2002 and has seen rapid growth in recent years due to its proximity to Atlanta and Macon. Other nearby larger cities include Griffin and Covington. Area colleges include Gordon College (25m), Griffin Technical College (20m), Clayton College & State University (35m). A satellite campus of Griffin Technical College for Butts County is under constructionat this time and Gordon College classes are offered in the evenings at the Jackson High School campus.

1821 Indian Springs Hotel

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Thank you Butts County Historical Society-the magnificently restored Indian Springs Hotel of 1821 reopened in April 2006 at the rededication of Indian Springs State Park, the Nation's Oldest State Park. It is open for tours seasonally

This historical photograph was taken in September of 1964 at the opening of the new McIntosh State Bank on South Oak Street. Pictured left to right are the original Officers and Directors of the bank, made up of mostly local businessmen and include: Wayne Barnes, Board Chairman (Owner, Barnes Lumber Company), Rufus Adams, Director (Owner, Adams Briscoe Seed), Doyle Jones, Director (Publisher of the Jackson Progress Argus), George W. "Toots" Caston, Director (Owner, Fresh Air Barbecue), Ezra M. "Brerr" McCord, Director (Owner, State Supply Company), Bank President William Shapard, Bank Vice President Henry Asbury, Maurice W. Carmichael, Director (Owner, Carmichael Insurance Company) and L. Chandler Webb, Director (Owner, Webb's Grocery). McIntosh State Bank is now the largest banking company in Butts County and has additional offices in Monticello, Locust Grove, McDonough and Lake Oconee. Photograph courtesy of Michael Brewer

This view of Oak Street was taken in the horse and buggy days. The store with the white awning is now Big D's Discount Drugs. The large store building further down houses Olympia Pizza and beyond that, the virtually unchanged Garland Building which now houses the Butts County Water Authority. The street was dirt at the time and electricity was still in the future. Some stores did have telephones though, as evidenced by the telephone poles in front of the stores. This photograph is a colorized black and white post card. Photograph courtesy of Candace Carmichael