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Baldwin County, Alabama, has the unique distinction of being one of the
largest counties East of the Mississippi River and ten (10) year older
than the State of Alabama. First organized as a county in 1809, Baldwin
County found itself situated within the confines of the Mississippi
Territory until December 10, 1817, when the State of Mississippi entered
the United States of America as the Twentieth (20th) State in the Federal
Union. Thereafter, Baldwin County was absorbed into the Alabama Territory
until December 14, 1819, when the State of Alabama entered the United
States of America as the Twenty-second (22nd) State in the Federal Union.
Ironically, Baldwin County takes her name from a native of Guilford,
Connecticut who had never been to the county, mush less the entire State
of Alabama. Somewhat of a prodigy, Abraham Baldwin graduated from Yale
University after studying both theology and law at the young age of 17
years. In 1784, after serving as an educator and chaplain in the American
Revolution, Abraham Baldwin moved to the State of Georgia to take up the
practice of law where, later that same year, he was elected to the Georgia
State Legislature.
Considered one of Georgia's earliest progressive leaders, Abraham Baldwin
is credited with assisting in the authorship of the Georgia State Charter
and with the concept of a complete state educational system which directly
led to the founding of the University of Georgia - the first of the state
universities. Abraham Baldwin served as the University of Georgia's first
president.
During the Twenty (20) years Abraham Baldwin Spent in Georgia before his
death, he had signed the United States Constitution at the Constitutional
Convention which formed the United States of America and served in the
United States House of Representatives & United States Senate during
the Presidential Administrations of George Washington, John Adams &
Thomas Jefferson.
When Alabama was still considered the Alabama Territory, before Statehood
on December 14, 1819, many of the county's settlers, who migrated from the
State of Georgia, suggested the county be named after Abraham Baldwin to
honor his life and accomplishments.
-from the Baldwin County, Alabama
Website |
Official County Web
Site
County Seat: Bay Minette
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