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Stephens County was created by an act of the Georgia legislature on August 18, 1905 from Habersham and Franklin Counties, and named after Alexander H. Stephens. He was born in 1812 and died in 1883. Mr. Stephens was a great Georgia statesman and served as a State Legislator and United States Senator, both before and after the Civil War. He did not want the Southern States to secede but after they did he served as Vice-President of the Confederacy. Mr. Stephens was elected Governor of Georgia in 1883 and only served a short time before his death. The city of Toccoa was named the county seat. The following description and map excerpt appeared in The Atlanta Constitution on August 20, 1905:

"STEPHENS COUNTY - Composed of Franklin and Habersham counties, with Toccoa as the county seat, is in the ninth district. The election will be held on the first Wednesday in December."

Eight other counties were formed on the same day, and the Atlanta Constitution included descriptions of the bills for each county. The following excerpt describes Stephens County:

"The Stephens County bill was introduced by Mr. Perry, of (?), and it provides that the county be made up of parts of Habersham and Franklin counties. The county seat will be Toccoa, and it will be attached to the northeastern judicial court and ninth congressional district. Its superior court will meet on the first Monday in May and November of each year.

Many prominent citizens of Toccoa took part in the campaign for this county, and were ably assisted by citizens in the surrounding country. Yesterday at high noon, when Governor Terrell signed the bill creating this county, there were present Dr. Jeff Davis, chairman of the new county committee, Mrs. Jeff Davis, Colonel F. Barrett and Mrs. Barrett, and Mrs. R. W. Yow"

Map of present day Stephens County

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