Georgia has a total of 159 counties , which is the second-highest number of counties of any U.S. state, behind only Texas with 254 counties
. This large number of counties dates back to historical reasons, primarily to ensure that residents could travel to their county seat and return home in a single day by horse or carriage
. Additionally, six of these counties have consolidated their government functions with cities, forming unified or consolidated city-county governments, such as Athens-Clarke County and Augusta-Richmond County
. In summary:
- Total counties in Georgia: 159
- Second most counties in the U.S. after Texas
- Some counties have consolidated governments with cities
- Historical reason for many counties: travel convenience in the pre-automobile era
