The creation of Bleckley County was not an easy task. At the turn of the 20th century. the Georgia legislature had voted to limit the number of counties to 145, and had it already hit its limit. Forming a new county required an amendment to the state constitution.
In addition to the legal obstacle, many of citizens of Pulaski County were opposed to relinquishing any of their land for the new county. After one failed attempt in 1910, a bill was finally passed in 1912. Bleckley County was offically established when voters approved the referendum on Oct. 2, 1912. Named after a 19th-century Georgia Supreme Court justice, Logan Bleckley, the new county was carved out of portions of Pulaski and Laurens counties and became Georgia's 147th county.
The existing town of Cochran was designated the county seat. Incorporated in 1869 and originally named Dykesboro, it was later renamed in honor of Arthur Cochran, president of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad.
The main economy for Bleckley County during its formative years was agriculture, primary cotton, peanuts, soybeans and peaches.
Long before the creation of the county, an association of area Baptist churches opened New Ebenezer College in Cochran in 1884. From the beginning, the purpose of the college was two-fold, to prepare students for business or for the junior year college. This was a new concept at the time, and some sources state that Middle Georgia College is the first two-year school in America.
New Ebenzer closed in 1898 and the campus housed Cochran's high school until 1913. In 1917, the college reopened as a branch of Georgia State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts. In 1929, it was renamed Middle Georgia College, and in 1932 it became one of the orginal units of the University System of Georgia.
And Now...
Middle Georgia College has grown to nearly 2,700 students and a campus of 170 acres. The college offers a variety of certificate and associate-degree programs as well as bachelor's degrees in flight management and aviation management. The main campus in Cochran serves residental and commuting students while the Dublin branch offers for commuting students. MGC also has a strong athletic program. Competing in the National Junior College Athletic Association, the college fields teams in baseball, men's and women's basketball, and men's and women's soccer and softball. The baseball team has been particular successful with four national championships.
In addition to the influence of MGC, Bleckley County prides itself on a strong public educational system. Bleckley County Primary School of Distinction eight years in a row and Bleckley Elementary School was given the honor five years in a row.
Sportsman can enjoy the new Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area constructed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in Bleckley and Pulaski counties. The 106-acre lake is stocked with large-mouth bass, bluegill, shellcrackers and crappie. There's also a separate three-acre children's fishing pond. The Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area also allows fishing as well as hunting. The city-county recreation department offers a variety of athletic opportunities, and there are two golf courses in the county.
Race fans get their dirt-track thrills at the Cochran Motor Speedway. In March, the Southeastern Cushman Club meets in Cochran to compare their vintage Cushman Scotters. Manufactured in Lincoln, Neb. between 1936 and 1965, these scooters have a loyal base of collectors all over the United States.
Another two-wheeled event has become popular in Cochran: "Biking Bleckley." This bicycle race covers a large loop around Bleckley County and is ususally held in late February.
Every May and September, bluegrass and country music fans from all over the South gather at Hillside Bluegrass RV Park for a weekend of entertainment, musicians' workshops and craftshows.
The 89-acre park has more than 300 hook-ups plus campsites, bathhouses and a playground. The mild weather and gentle rolling hills of Bleckley County have attracted the attention of developers. Colonial Village, a new neighborhood designed with retirees in mind, broke ground in September 2006 in Cochran. It offers a small stocked fishing lake, walking trails, a putting green and a horseshoe pit. The economy in Bleckley County is largely based on the service sector with retail and construction also represented. The largest employers are the Bleckley County Hospital Authority, the Everett E. Dykes Grassing Co., Lithonia Lighting, Middle Georgia College and Pulaski Medical.
