Rockdale County was created by act of the legislature on October 18, 1870, and was named for Rockdale Church, itself so called for the fine underlying granite strata. Conyers, the county site, was incorporated in 1854 and named for a prominent physician. Smyrna Camp Ground, the first Presbyterian camp ground in Georgia, lies in this county. Among the first county officers were Sheriff I. W. Almand, Ordinary A. C. McCalla, Clerk of Superior Court F. J. Treadwell, Tax Receiver W. J. Green, Tax Collector F. W. Armistead, Treasurer M. F. Swan, Surveyor I. F. Albert, and Coroner George Rodgers.