Georgia’s 89th county was named for John Paulding (1759-1818), who was a hero of the American Revolution. In 1780, Paulding assisted in the capture of Major John Andre, a British spy planning the seizure of West Point.

In 1851, part of Paulding County was used to help create Polk County. Also, between 1832 and 1874 — but particularly during the 1850s — portions of Paulding County were annexed to Bartow, Campbell, Carroll, Cobb, Douglas, Haralson, and Polk counties. Between 1850 and 1874, parts of Carroll, Cobb, Douglas, and Polk counties were annexed to Paulding County.