Hart County was created from Franklin and Elbert counties on Dec. 7, 1853 by an act of the General Assembly (Ga. Laws 1853-54, p. 302). According to that act, Hart County's original boundaries were described as:

Beginning at Stower's ferry, on Savannah river, formerly known as Brown's ferry, and running in a straight line to the residence of Middleton G. Hickman, in Elberton County, including said residence in the new county, thence in a straight line to the corner of Madison County, nearest to the Little Holly Springs, thence along the boundary line of Madison County to the corner of Elbert, Franklin, and Madison Counties, near the residence of Anguish Johnson, thence in a straight line to the nearest cross roads to the residence of Job Bowers, not including the residence of Moses and Joseph Manley, in Franklin County, between said residence and Carnesville, on the road leading from Carnesville to Ruckersville, thence in a straight line to a place sometimes called the Negro's old store place, now owned by Leonard Bonds, of Franklin County, thence in a straight line to the mouth of Gum Log creek, on Tugalo river, thence along the eastern boundary of the State of Georgia to the beginning.