From Nelson to Henry, Tift County gets a name change : News : MySouthwestGA.com

From Nelson to Henry, Tift County gets a name change

Posted: 03.15.2013 at 12:09 PM

Updated: 03.16.2013 at 12:15 PM

Back in 1905, when Tift was created its founding father, Henry Tift was still alive, which prevented them from naming it after him.
/ Sean Streicher

TIFT COUNTY, GA -- Tift County has officially changed its name to...Tift County.

While the name may be the same, the person the county is named after, isn't.

Back in 1905, when Tift was created its founding father, Henry Tift was still alive, which prevented them from naming it after him.

So instead they named it after his uncle, Nelson Tift, who never actually lived in the county.

Before the name could be changed it had to be approved by the state legislator, "February of this past session HB 281 was passed renaming Tift County after its original founding father," said Glynda Hemby, the Tift County Clerk.

While Nelson Tift may not have have lived in Tift County, he was no stranger to the area, as he was the founder of Albany.

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