Long County & the City of Ludowici
On Aug. 14, 1920, the General Assembly proposed a constitutional amendment to create Long County from Liberty County (Ga. Laws 1920, p. 48). In that year's general election, Georgia voters ratified the proposed amendment on Nov. 2, 1920, which marks the date of Long County's creation (although a state historical marker on the Long County courthouse grounds incorrectly cites the county's creation as the day the legislative act proposing the constitutional amendment was approved).
According to the 1920 constitutional amendment, Long County's boundaries were defined as: “Beginning at a point on the Altamaha River where the same is intersected by the county line between Liberty and McIntosh Counties; thence northeast and north along the aforesaid county line between McIntosh and Liberty to intersection thereof with South Newport River; and to the northwest corner of McIntosh County, at the point where said Liberty and McIntosh line is nearest the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's main line; thence a straight line northwestward to the main line of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad at a point one-half mile southwest of said railroad's depot at Lambert, Georgia (Post Office) and Walthourville Station; thence due north a straight line to the Walthourville and Smiley public road, north of Lambert, Georgia; thence northwestward a straight line to a point in the Ludowici and Hinesville public road three hundred (300) yards north of the residence of W. H. Devereaux in the 1756th G. M. District of Liberty County; thence northwestward a straight line to a point on the Roderick and Hinesville public road where same is intersected by the Walthourville public road from the southeast; thence west along the center of said Roderick and Hinesville public road a short distance to where the Walthourville public road leaves same towards the northwest; thence northwestwards along the center of said Walthourville public road past Gum Branch Post Office, old site to intersection thereof, with the Savannah public road or Beards Bluff public road about one and one-eighth (1 1-8) miles east of the Cross Roads School House; thence west along the center of said Savannah public road or Beards Bluff public road to where said Walthourville public road leaves same going northwest; thence along the center of said Walthourville public road to intersection of same with the Moody Bridge public road; thence northwards along the center of said Moody Bridge public road to the point where same crosses the Savannah and Southern Railroad right of way at Strain on said railroad and to the north line of said right of way; thence westward along the north line of the Savannah and Southern Railroad right of way to the first public road crossing at Lida depot on said railroad; thence westward along center of public road from Lida past Bear Branch School House to forks of said public road; and thence along the center of the northwest fork thereof, in a northwesterly direction to where said public road crosses the Liberty and Tattnall County line nearby and east of Hampton School House; thence southwards and south along the county line between Liberty and Tattnall to the Altamaha River and to the line between Liberty and Wayne Counties; thence southeast along the channel of said Altamaha River and along the county line between Liberty and Wayne to point of beginning.”
Why was Long County created by constitutional amendment instead of an act of the General Assembly? In 1904, Georgia voters had approved a constitutional amendment limiting the number of counties in the state to 145. The next year, the General Assembly created eight new counties, bringing the total number to 145 -- the constitutional limit. Nevertheless, there was continuing pressure to create more counties.
Beginning in 1906, lawmakers got around the 145-county limitation by creating new counties through constitutional amendments that were not subject to the limitation. By 1924, Georgia had 161 counties -- 16 of which had been created by constitutional amendment. On Jan. 1, 1932, Milton and Campbell counties merged with Fulton, leaving 159 counties. In 1945, Georgia voters ratified a new constitution -- one which provided an absolute limit of 159 counties, with an additional provision that no new country could be created except through consolidation of existing counties.
Long County was named for Dr. Crawford Long, who in 1842 pioneered the use of anesthesia during surgery. County Seat: Ludowici. The proposed constitutional amendment to create Long County provided that Ludowici serve as county seat. Incorporated in 1905, Ludowici was named for a German businessman who settled there and became successful manufacturing red clay roofing tiles.
Brief History and Public Resources
Long County
Located in southeast Georgia, Long County occupies 400 square miles of the Atlantic Coast Flatwoods. The county is bordered by Liberty, McIntosh, Tattnall, and Wayne counties, and its entire southwestern boundary runs along the Altamaha River.
Long County, designated in 1920 from lands in Liberty County, honors Dr. Crawford W. Long, a Georgian who introduced anesthesia for surgery. Ludowici is named for a German tile manufacturer who settled there and made red clay roofing tiles that became popular through south Georgia.
Long County, historically and currently, is a rural, agricultural area. The principal farm crop was once cotton, but by the 1970s it had been replaced by tobacco, corn, soybeans, and cattle. The pine forests of the region have always played an important role in the economy. CSX railroad runs through the center of the county with a double track. The railroad played an important role in the early development of Ludowici.
Frontiersmen settling along the Altamaha River fastened logs together to form rafts that were floated downstream to the port of Darien for export, a practice that continued through the nineteenth century. During the twentieth century, five large paper mills opened within a fifty-mile radius of Ludowici, and Long County's economy was dramatically improved by new employment opportunities and a new demand for timber lands.
The northern tip of the county is occupied by Fort Stewart, the largest military installation east of the Mississippi River. Covering 280,000 acres (spread over several counties), the post, which includes forest lands and hunting preserves, provides many civil service jobs to local residents. Altamaha Technical College, which offers workforce training, operates a satellite campus in Ludowici.
City of Ludowici
Ludowici (pronounced "Loo'duh-wee'-see") is the Long County seat. Incorporated on August 23, 1905. Ludowici is named for a German tile manufacturer who settled there and made red clay roofing tiles that became popular through south Georgia. William Ludowici, a German immigrant, contributed substantially to the establishment of the City, and also constructed a high school for the County’s youth.The Ludowici Brick and Tile Company employed hundreds of people in the early 20th century. The company produced the Ludowici tile, a distinctive clay roofing material that was popular among contractors in Florida at that time. A number of homes in the city still feature these distinctive roofs.
The Long County courthouse in Ludowici, constructed in 1926, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also on the National Registry is the Ludowici Well Pavilion. Built in 1907, the well provided public drinking water for many years.
Development Authority of Long County
Reorganized in 1989, the Mission of the Development Authority of Long County is to facilitate the link between government, citizens and the business community by developing marketable product, promoting organic growth and the recruiting business and industry into Long County. With an Executive Director and offices co-located with the County Administration, the Authority seeks to find businesses compatible with the character of the community within the 50 acre Long County Industrial Park located just east of Lucowici on U.S. Highway 84.
Long County School System
The Long County School System has a Pre-Kindergarten Program, Smiley Elementary School serving grades K-2, McClelland Elementary School serving grades 3-5, Long County Middle School serving grades 6-8, Long County High School serving grades 9-12, and an Alternative School Program serving grades 6-12. Long County is one of the fastest growing counties in Southeast Georgia. The Long County School System currently serves approximately 3400 students. Long County Schools boast a graduation rate in excess of 92%.
Long County Library
The mission of the Three Rivers Regional Library System is to provide constituents, through its member libraries, access to print and non-print informational, educational, and recreational resources to empower an informed citizenry and enable lifelong learning. For this reason, we shall make available a wide variety of learning tools to our patrons, including current technology.
Chamber of Commerce
The Long County Chamber of Commerce is a great source for getting your new business connected with the local community. The Chamber is on the front-lines of travel and business in the area and provides a number of services for members and the community alike. The Chamber works closely with the Development Authority of Long County,
Long County Government
A five member board operates the County as the Long County Board of Commissioners in day to day matters. The Board annually election a Chair from within. The County Citizens elect all five Board of Commissioners by district, and four constitutional officers at large; a Sheriff, Tax Commissioner, Clerk of the Court and a Probate/Magistrate Judge.
Additional administrative departments include County Clerk, Tax Assessor, Finance, Elections, Emergency Management Administration, Emergency Medical Services, Planning and Zoning, Fire Department, Recreation, Road Department, Refuse Collection, Animal Control and Code Enforcement. Additionally the County provides for the Development Authority, Library, Health Department, Head Start Program, and Senior Citizens Center and transportation. Long County’s population is approximately 20,000.
City of Ludowici Government
The City of Ludowici operates the City with four commissioners and a mayor. The commissioners are elected by district and the Mayor is elected at large. The city provides and operates services including, City Clerk, Water & Sewer Department, Finance, Police Department, Roads Department and Refuse Collection. Ludowici’s population is approximately 2,200.
The County and City Share the services of Fire Protection, Planning and Zoning, Animal Control, EMS, EMA, Recreation, tax assessment, Development Authority, Health Department, Head Start and Senior Citizen programs, as agreed upon in their Service Delivery Strategy and 20 year Joint Comprehensive Plan.