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The county was created in 1858 from portions of Lowndes and Thomas counties by an act of the Georgia General Assembly and was named for pro-slavery U.S. Representative Preston S. Brooks after he severely beat abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner with a cane for delivering a speech attacking slavery. Many residents of Lowndes County were unhappy when the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad announced June...
The county is named for James Abijah Brooks, one of the “Four Captains” who modernized the Texas Rangers. He retired to Farfurrias, served two terms as state representative, lobbied successfully for the county’s creation, and served thirty years as county judge. Brooks County has several large ranches, including Mariposa Ranch and the King Ranch, both in the east. The county’s largest employer...