Charlton County was created by an act of February 18, 1854, from Camden County and was named for Judge Robert M. Charlton of Savannah. Trader's Hill, also known as Fort Alert, was the first county site and served as an important shipping point and the head of navigation on the St. Marys River. In 1901, Folkston became the county site after the Savannah, Florida & Western Railroad was in operation. The first county officers, elected in April 1854, were Daniel R. Dedge, sheriff; J.H. Oliver, clerk of both courts; Francis M. Smith, ordinary; John E. Gibson, tax receiver; J.H. Bessant, surveyor; James S. Bennett, coroner; and Louis N.G. Strickland, soon replaced by H. Roddenberry, tax collector.