History

Dooly County, the 48th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1821. It was one of the original land lot counties and was later divided to make Crisp and parts of Macon, Pulaski, Turner, Wilcox, and Worth counties.

The county was named for Colonel John Dooly, a revolutionary war hero who helped prosecute Tories in 1779 and was murdered by them the following year. Vienna (pronounced vye«-enna locally), the county seat, was named after the capital of Austria.

Historic sites in the county include the Dooly County Courthouse. Built in 1891 of granite, slate, and brick, the structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Dooly Campground, which was built in 1875, is an open-air tabernacle constructed with hand-hewn timbers that still hosts many community activities.

Points of Interest

Vienna is home to the Georgia State Cotton Museum and Dooly County Welcome Center.

Hunting is popular in Dooly County, with sportsmen bagging deer, dove, quail, duck, rabbit, squirrel, and turkey. The county participates in a pilot deer hunting program designed to increase the number of large bucks in the area.

Notable Citizens

Dooly County claims several notable Georgians past and present. Walter F. George was a member of the U.S. Senate from 1922-1957, served as President Pro Tem of the Senate and chaired the Finance and Foreign Relations Committees. A museum honoring George, located in his old law office, operates in Vienna. George Busbee, governor from 1975-1983, was born and raised in Dooly County. Roger Kingdom, gold medalist in the high hurdles at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, was born in Dooly County. Jody Powell, press secretary to President Jimmy Carter, also hails from the county.

Annual Events

Dooly County is home to two annual events that celebrate the area's fine cuisine. The Southern Wild Game & Fish Cookout, held every March, features a cooking competition with participants from throughout the Southeast, a flea market, entertainment, and a shooting competition. Held during October, the county's Big Pig Jig is Georgia's Official Barbecue Cooking Championship. The festival attracts over 30,000 spectators and sends the Grand Champion to compete in the "Memphis in May International Barbecue Cook-off."

Dooly County Courthouse, Vienna

Walter F. George Monument, Vienna