Dodge County was created on Oct. 26, 1870. Georgia's 136th county was named for former New York congressman and industrialist William Dodge (1805-1883). After the Civil War, Dodge served one term in Congress and then began purchasing large amounts of land in the area that would become Dodge County. Here, he established a number of lumber mills and is credited as one of the pioneers of Georgia's timber industry.
Formed from portions of Montgomery, Pulaski, and Telfair counties, Dodge County's original boundaries were defined as:
That there shall be a new county laid out and formed of the thirteenth, (13th) fourteenth, (14th) fifteenth, (15th) sixteenth, (16th) nineteenth (19th) and twentieth (20th) land districts of originally Wilkinson county, (except that portion of said land districts numbers thirteen, (13) sixteen (16) and nineteen (19) which now lie in and constitute a part of Laurens county) now forming parts of the counties of Pulaski, Telfair and Montgomery; that said new county shall be called the county of Dodge. . . .
Dodge County's borders with Pulaski and Telfair counties were adjusted in 1872, 1874, 1875, and 1876.
