Lamar County is the youngest of the McIntosh Trail Region’s five counties,
formed from the portions of other counties in 1920. Lamar is known mostly for the
county seat of Barnesville and its annual Buggy Days Festival, honoring Barnesville’s
history as the nation’s foremost producer of horse-drawn buggies during the
1800’s. The county relies heavily on manufacturing and services for its
economic base, with textile industries accounting for 35% of the total county
employment. However, other industries have begun to develop with the creation of a
modest industrial park, the growth of Gordon College, and the planned expansion of
Barnesville’s Edie Creek Reservoir. Additional State D.O.T. projects should
also enhance the county’s appeal to industry while helping to protect the number of
historic homes in Barnesville and the surrounding areas.
