Heard County - Georgia

County Courthhouse

County Seat: Franklin
Incorporated: December 22, 1830
Population: 11,012
Total Area: 296.1 Square miles

Heard County was created in 1830, by the Treaty of Indian Springs, from parts of Carroll, Coweta and Troup counties. It is named for Stephen Heard, a Revolutionary War hero and the first president of the Executive Council of Georgia.

The city of Franklin, incorporated in 1831, is on the site of a large Creek town. Centralhatchee is a Native American word for "fish stream," while Ephesus was named for the famous Greek city.

There are several interesting old gristmills and cotton gins scattered throughout the county, including the Armstrong Mill in the northeast section of the county.

The Chattahoochee River bisects Heard County from northeast to southwest. The West Point Reservoir is a popular recreation area.

Every Labor Day holiday weekend, the Powers Crossroads Festival is held on the line between Coweta and Heard counties. This is rated as one of the ten best arts and crafts festivals in the country.