Early County, designated in 1818 directly from Creek Indian land, later divided to create Clay, Calhoun, Dougherty, Mitchell, Gray, Decatur, Miller and Seminole counties. Residents named the county for Peter Early, governor of Georgia, member of Congress and judge of the Ocmulgee Circuit. Blakely, the county seat, is named for Captain Johnston Blakely, commander of the sloop Wasp during the War of 1812.
