Wilkinson County, dating to 1803, is an original county whose territory was acquired by cessions of the Creek Indians. It is named for General James Wilkinson, officer of the Revolutionary War and native of Maryland. He had been a party to the treaty that obtained the land for this county. Irwinton, the county seat, was built on the site of an English trading post dating to 1715. It is named for Governor Jared Irwin.