Harris County - Georgia

County Courthhouse

County Seat: Hamilton
Incorporated: Incorporated: December 14, 1827
Population: 23,695
Total Area: 463.8 Square miles

Harris County was created in 1827 from portions of Muscogee and Troup counties. Georgia's 71st county was named for Charles Harris, a lawyer who served as mayor of Savannah.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park is located on Pine Mountain in Harris County. This 10,000-acre park features two lakes, hiking and backpacking trails, an FDR Museum, and warm springs famous for their curative powers.

The 500-acre Pine Mountain Animal Park allows visitors the opportunity to observe giraffes, camels, zebras, llamas, buffalo, elk and antelopes in natural habitats. Other attractions at the animal park include a monkey house, a serpentorium and an alligator pit.

The nationally known Callaway Gardens Resort is located in the county. The 12,000-acre resort features 63 holes of golf, a 1,000-acre hunting preserve and one of the largest botanical gardens in the world. The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, featuring more than 50 species of tropical butterflies, and the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center are located within the resort.

Several events occur annually in Harris County. Callaway Gardens hosts the Masters Water Ski Tournament in May, the Buick Southern Open PGA Golf Tournament in September and an Antique Show and Sale in November. Hamilton is the site of the Harris County Cattleman's Rodeo in September. Every October, Pine Mountain hosts the Pine Mountain Heritage Festival.