Decatur County was created in 1823 from portions of Early County. It is named for Commodore Stephen Decatur who defeated Barbary Coast pirates at Tripoli in 1815. Bainbridge, the county seat, is named for Commodore William Bainbridge, commander of the U. S. Constitution, "Old Ironsides." This region was crossed by Hernando DeSoto in 1540 during his trek through Georgia. He found the Flint River a barrier which was eventually crossed by a hastily built ferry.