Tift County, Georgia Genealogy

United States Georgia  Tift County

Guide to Tift County Georgia genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
Tift County Courthouse 225 N Tift Avenue Tifton, GA 31794-4463 Phone: 229.386.7810 Probate Court has marriage and probate records; Clerk Superior Court has divorce, court and land records from 1905

Parent County
1905--Tift County was created 17 August 1905 from Berrien, Irwin and Worth Counties. County seat: Tifton

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Georgia county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Georgia County Boundary Maps" (1758-1932) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Organization of Tift County, Georgia

The Creek Indians in 1814 and 1818 ceded their lands in the Southern portion of what is now the State of Georgia to the United States government. This extended the boundaries of the State of Georgia to the Chattahoochee River on the West and to what is now the State of Florida in the South.

This land was originally divided into three counties:” Early in the West; Irwin in the middle; and Appling in the East. In 1818, 1819, and 1820 survey parties were sent into these counties. There was a land lottery held in 1820. The lands of Early, Irwin, and Appling then became available to be purchased for a small fee by those eligible. These three counties then began to be settled.

As the population of original Irwin County began to increase other counties were formed. There are currently all or part of seventeen counties within original Irwin. Tift County on Aug. 17, 1905 was chartered from parts of Irwin, Worth, and Berrien Counties. (Worth became a county in 1853 and Berrien in 1856.) All of Tift County is in the 6th Land District of original Irwin except for four land lots West of Ty Ty which are in the 7th Land District. These land lots are number 207, 208, 253, and 254. When Tift County was formed the residents of these four desired to be a part of Tift and their wish was granted.

The land surveyed in 1818, 1819, and 1820 which became Irwin County was organized into land lots. A land lot is 490 acres. When the lottery was held in 1820, those who were fortunate to have their number drawn had the opportunity to purchase the designated land lot for $18. There were sixteen Land Districts in original Irwin County. A full size land district is 20 miles and 660 feet squared. Land lots make up a Land District.

Record Loss
For a list of record loss in Georgia counties see: Georgia Counties with Burned Courthouses

Neighboring Counties

 * Berrien
 * Colquitt
 * Cook
 * Irwin
 * Turner
 * Worth

Local Histories

 * Williams, Ida Belle. History of Tift County. Macon, Ga.: Printed by the J.W. Burke Co., c1948. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Maps

 * Maps of Georgia (1758-1932)



Vital Records
See also How to order Georgia Vital Records

Genealogy Societies and Libraries

 * List of Georgia Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Websites

 * Tift County, GA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Georgia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Georgia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Tift County, Georgia Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Tift County, Georgia Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)