The GaGenWeb Project - Rockdale County, Georgia

Rockdale County, Georgia History

The following information was compiled from the website for Rockdale County Courthouse at:
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/courthouses/rockdaleCH.htm

and the 1996-1997 edition of the Conyers Southern Directory Phonebook

The land of Rockdale County was first populated by Native Americans. In fact, Hightower Trail is rumored to have been the boundary line between the Creek and Cherokee nations. It certainly was a main passageway to the trading post in Augusta. The early to mid 1800's brought many changes to the territory. The Native Americans left, leaving a burial ground off Hi Roc Road behind them. In 1816, the area was opened to white settlers. The first was said to be a blacksmith, John Holcombe, who built a log cabin where the Main Street Courthouse now stands.

Rockdale County, Georgia's 135th county, was created by the Georgia General Assembly on October 18, 1870. It was carved out of Henry and Newton Counties. The new county was named for Rockdale Church which had been named for rock, mostly granite, that ran throughout the county. Conyers, the county seat so designated in 1870 when the county was formed, was originally known as Rockdale and is shown on maps of the area as early as the 1830's.

In the 1840's, the Georgia Railroad planned for their trains to run through Rockdale, but the land owner would not sell the land. Dr. Conyers, a Covington banker, bought the needed land and gave the right-of -way to the railroad. By 1845 there were trains between Marthasville, now Atlanta, and Augusta., and the railroad named the rail stop Conyers' Station. During this time there was much development of the community. A settlement including the Salem Baptist Church grew up around Costley's Mill on Big Haynes Creek. Today, Rock Store is what is left. By Feb. 16, 1854, the area had developed enough for the General Assembly to incorporate the community, naming it Conyers. The population at the time was about 400. By 1890, Rockdale had its own public school system.

Rockdale today is the second smallest county in Georgia. It is surrounded by the counties of DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton and Walton. Its size is only 132 square miles and has over 65,000 residents. Even though Rockdale is small, it is becoming a leader among Georgia counties. There are 90 manufacturers and three dozen Fortune 500 firms that call Rockdale County home. In 1996, Rockdale County was the host of the Equestrian events of the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Rockdale County, Georgia History

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