DOUGHERTY COUNTY

population: 85,790

• Albany, Georgia

Dougherty County is part of the Albany, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located in the Black Belt region of the South. The area was primarily used for cotton plantation agriculture in the 19th century. The county was established by the Georgia General Assembly on December 15, 1853, and was named in honor of Charles Dougherty, a well-respected judge and lawyer from Athens, Georgia. Additional small areas were added from Worth County in 1854 and 1856.