SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. – Look at a map, and take notice of the names. Almost anywhere you look, you’re bound to find one or two interesting names.
Sometimes the origin of a town’s name is obvious – perhaps it’s a tribute to someone who played a vital role in its founding. But, other times, they’re downright peculiar. And sometimes, a town’s name isn’t even the town’s original name.
Take, the growing city of Winder, for example. The town’s original name was Snodon, a name that the Creek and Cherokee Indians gave to the area. Later, the town was renamed Jug Tavern, perhaps taking its name from a popular tavern. Then, the city’s name was changed to Brandon before reverting back to Jug Tavern. Finally, the name of Winder was chosen in honor a railroad man – John L. Winder – who is credited with bringing the Georgia, Carolina & Northern Railway to town.
Nearby Jefferson, once named Thomoccoggan, was named in honor of President Thomas Jefferson. But picking something as simple as Jefferson wasn’t so simple. The city was first named Jeffersonville, then Jeffersonton. On June 30, 1824, it was changed one last time to its current incarnation: Jefferson.
But Jefferson, Ga., isn’t the only city named for the nation’s third president. There are at least 25 cities, towns, counties or parishes named in honor of Jefferson, according to Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia. There is also a proposed state of Jefferson that would include portions of southern Oregon and northern California. Furthermore, there are more than a dozen other locations named Jefferson, but “not necessarily named for” the former president, according to Wikipedia.
But other times, the origin of a town’s name isn’t quite so easy to determine. To me, Social Circle was one of those names.