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City Of Baxley
History:
Baxley, the seat of Appling County, is located in the wiregrass region of southeastern Georgia, at the crossroad of Highways #1 and #341. Most of the town's early economic development stemmed from the timber rafting and naval stores industries that dominated southeast Georgia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Baxley was named for Wilson Baxley, a prosperous local farmer, cattle owner and businessman who owned extensive acreage in the area and operated the community's first store. Baxley sold the right of way near his store to the Macon and Brunswick Railroad which was completed in 1870. This area was originally known as Station Number 7, because of its location on the railroad, but quickly became know as "Baxley" by the railroad hands due to the location of the small store. Baxley replaced Holmesville as the county seat in 1874 and the Georgia legislature officially granted incorporation during the next year. The present day courthouse, located in downtown Baxley, was built from 1907 to 1908 and is the fourth courthouse to serve the county.
The new designation did not automatically induce settlement. The 1900 census recorded only 700 town residents. Most inhabitants operated small subsistence farms in the surrounding countryside, which produced such staples as corn, wheat, sugar cane and livestock. Cotton became a major economic factor between 1880 and the 1920's, until the boll weevil, foreign competition and synthetic fabrics hurt cultivation. A revival of the crop took place during the 1980's and continues to be a major farm staple for this area.
Residents also turned the large number of pine trees to their advantage. They tied cut logs into broad, flat-bottomed rafts 25 feet wide and 175 feet long and poled the crafts down the Altamaha River to sawmills. Baxley also profited from the large amount of turpentine and resin production in the area. Adrian Van Bokkelyn began a turpentine operation which was one of the largest outfits in Georgia, producing 100,000 casks of turpentine in its ten years of business.
Baxley, the seat of Appling County, is located in the wiregrass region of southeastern Georgia, at the crossroad of Highways #1 and #341. Most of the town's early economic development stemmed from the timber rafting and naval stores industries that dominated southeast Georgia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Baxley was named for Wilson Baxley, a prosperous local farmer, cattle owner and businessman who owned extensive acreage in the area and operated the community's first store. Baxley sold the right of way near his store to the Macon and Brunswick Railroad which was completed in 1870. This area was originally known as Station Number 7, because of its location on the railroad, but quickly became know as "Baxley" by the railroad hands due to the location of the small store. Baxley replaced Holmesville as the county seat in 1874 and the Georgia legislature officially granted incorporation during the next year. The present day courthouse, located in downtown Baxley, was built from 1907 to 1908 and is the fourth courthouse to serve the county.
The new designation did not automatically induce settlement. The 1900 census recorded only 700 town residents. Most inhabitants operated small subsistence farms in the surrounding countryside, which produced such staples as corn, wheat, sugar cane and livestock. Cotton became a major economic factor between 1880 and the 1920's, until the boll weevil, foreign competition and synthetic fabrics hurt cultivation. A revival of the crop took place during the 1980's and continues to be a major farm staple for this area.
Residents also turned the large number of pine trees to their advantage. They tied cut logs into broad, flat-bottomed rafts 25 feet wide and 175 feet long and poled the crafts down the Altamaha River to sawmills. Baxley also profited from the large amount of turpentine and resin production in the area. Adrian Van Bokkelyn began a turpentine operation which was one of the largest outfits in Georgia, producing 100,000 casks of turpentine in its ten years of business.