BEN HILL COUNTY, GA HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
*None Listed
Ben Hill County, Georgia: A Genealogical Overview
Located in the Wiregrass region of South Central Georgia, Ben Hill County is an area with a unique post-Civil War history. For genealogists, its past is not defined by colonial settlement but by its creation in the early 20th century, its founding as a home for Civil War veterans, and its development through the turpentine, lumber, and railroad industries.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Ben Hill County’s relationship with its parent counties and its late formation are critical pieces of information for researchers, as most records will be found in other locations prior to 1906.
- Year of Creation: 1906.
- Parent County: It was formed entirely from the western portion of Irwin County and the eastern portion of Wilcox County. Researchers seeking records that pre-date 1906 must consult the records of these two parent counties.
- Original Territory & Daughter Counties: Ben Hill County has not had any daughter counties formed from its territory. Its boundaries have remained largely stable since its creation.
- Boundary Changes: There have been no significant boundary changes since the county was established in 1906.
- Bordering Counties:
- Wilcox County (north)
- Telfair County (east)
- Coffee County (southeast)
- Irwin County (south)
- Turner County (west)
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: Before European and American settlement, the area was the territory of the Creek (Muscogee) Nation. Following a series of treaties and land cessions in the early 1820s, the land was opened for settlement.
- First Pioneers and Settlement: The area remained sparsely populated with small farms until the late 19th century. The county’s major historical event is the founding of its county seat, Fitzgerald, in 1895. It was established as a planned “colony” by the American Tribune Soldiers’ Colony Company for Union Army veterans and their families, offering them a new start in the South. This created a unique community of Northerners and Southerners living and working together. The county itself is named for Benjamin Harvey Hill, a prominent Georgia statesman who served in both the U.S. Senate and the Confederate Senate.
- Civil War Significance: The county did not exist during the Civil War. Its most significant connection to the war is the post-war founding of Fitzgerald as a reconciliation community for Union veterans. The economy that developed was based on the naval stores (turpentine) industry, lumber, and agriculture, particularly cotton, driven by the arrival of the railroad.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides the practical information needed to locate ancestral records.
- County Seat: Fitzgerald, Georgia. This has been the only county seat since the county was formed.
- Record Loss & Preservation: As a 20th-century county, Ben Hill County is not a “burned” county. Its records are remarkably complete from its formation in 1907 (when the government was formally organized) to the present day.
- Location of Records:
- Ben Hill County Courthouse: Located at 401 E Central Ave, Fitzgerald, GA 31750. The Ben Hill County Clerk of Superior Court holds land and court records. The Judge of Probate Court holds marriage, estate, and vital records.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Georgia began in 1919. Records are held by the Probate Court and can also be obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records.
- Marriage Records: Marriage licenses are available from 1907 onward and are held by the Judge of Probate Court in Fitzgerald.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Ben Hill County Library: As part of the Ocmulgee Regional Library System, the Fitzgerald branch offers local history resources, including newspapers on microfilm and published family histories.
- Georgia Archives: Located in Morrow, this is the primary state archive and an essential resource. It holds a vast collection of materials that supplement county records, including state tax digests, land records, and military records.