Eatonton

History

Early Years The first historically recognized society in Eatonton was a Creek Indian town, Cusseta, in 1790. During, this period, the chief of the Cusseta was Birdtail. In 1790, he signed the Treaty of New York on behalf of his people. The treaty aimed to establish peace and foster friendly relations between the Creek Nation and the United States. Following the American Revolutionary War, Eatonton was founded in 1807 as the seat of newly formed Putnam County. After the war, settlers were moving west and settling in the upland Piedmont region to develop cotton plantations. Eatonton was incorporated as a town in 1809 and as a city in 1879. Dairy Capital In the 21st century, Eatonton is known as the "Dairy Capital of Georgia" (in honor of its major industry, dairy farming). After the Civil War in 1864, Putnam County faced significant economic hardship as the wealth of its once thriving plantations declined or disappeared entirely. Throughout the 19th century, Putnam sought ways to rebuild its economy. In 1876, a former New York banker named Benjamin Hunt had relocated in Putnam and brought fifteen dairy cows establishing Panola Farm. Panola Farm was an experimental dairy facility that became a cornerstone in the development of Eatonton's dairy industry, helping to reshape Putnam agricultural future. By 1901 Putnam was the third leading dairy county in Georgia, shipping cream to Athens and butter to Atlanta. By 1909, The Eatonton Co-Operative Creamery was founded. Local farmers came together and produced various dairy products like milk, cream, butter etc. In 1946 Eatonton Co-Operative Creamery sold $1,406,000 worth of dairy products (over $23 million in 2025 dollars). In addition to the dairy industry flourishing the city of Eatonton holds a festival celebrating…

Geography

Eatonton is located at (33.326302, -83.387798). The city is located in the central part of the state along U.S. Routes 129 and 441, which meet in and form the western boundary of the city. Via U.S. 129/441, Madison is 22 mi (35 km) north. After leaving the city southward, U.S. 129 runs southwest 25 mi (40 km) to Gray and U.S. 441 runs southeast 21 mi (34 km) to Milledgeville. Georgia State Routes 16 and 44 are the main roads through the center of town, with GA-16 leading east 27 mi (43 km) to Sparta and west 18 mi (29 km) to Monticello, and GA-44 leading northeast 23 mi (37 km) to Greensboro. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.63%) is water.

Race & ethnicity