PAULDING COUNTY HISTORY

Paulding County has a rich historical heritage and an active historical society.

Paulding County was named for John Paulding, one of the men that captured Major Andre, who was a British spy that tried to capture West Point Fort in upper New York during the American Revolution by collaborating with its leader, Benedict Arnold.  Paulding County was established on December 3, 1832 by an Act passed by the Georgia General Assembly.  Van Wert was the first county seat until the City of Dallas replaced it in 1851.  Dallas was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States under President James K. Polk.

Prior to the establishment of the County, Creek and Cherokee Native Americans roamed the area. 

In May, 1864 the Civil War brought great destruction and devastation to Paulding county.  Three significant battles were fought at New Hope, Dallas, and Pickett's Mill.  However, subsequent history books did not carry much information about these battles since most were Southern victories.  Several sites can be visited with pristine battlefield trenches still intact, most notably the site at Pickett's Mill Historic Site which hosts authentic battle reenactments.  The Historic Henderson House, located at 200 East Memorial Drive which now houses offices, was the headquarters of General James B. McPherson between May 26 and June 1 1864 and was visited by General Sherman on May 30 1864.  Local legend says that General Sherman addressed his troops from the original balcony.  Interesting copies of an article with an interview of the lady of the house during the Civil War are displayed in the main hallway.  Contact the Paulding County Historical Society Museum at (770) 505-3485 or The Friends of Civil War at (770) 443-1459 for more Civil War information.

The first known Paulding county newspaper, "The Dallas Gazette", was founded about 1858 as a weekly.  The paper was suspended for a few months in 1865, on account of the lack of printing materials.  No files of the war period have been found. "The Dallas New Era", Paulding county's legal organ,  is the longest running newspaper in the county and has been run by the Parker family for generations.  "The Paulding Neighbor" and "The Paulding Sentinel", along with "The Atlanta Journal and Constitution" and "Southern Historical News" now help service the area with news.     

The first government-sanctioned school was the Dallas Male and Female Academy, passed by an Act of the annual session of the Georgia General Assembly and was chartered on December 17, 1860.  Originally located behind the First United Methodist Church in Dallas, it was later moved to Johnston Street and now serves as the Paulding County Historical Society Museum.