When Georgia was founded in 1733, districts and towns were the designated civil divisions.  In 1758, Georgia, by then a royal colony, was divided into eight parishes for ecclesiastical and political purposes.   In 1765, four additional parishes were added.  After the American Revolution in 1777, the parishes formed Georgia's first counties.  Following is a list of the parishes, the year established, a brief geographic description, the original county (or counties) the parish formed and the present day counties.

St. Andrew's.  Established in 1758 from the following districts and towns:  Town of Darien, District of Darien, Sapelo Island, Eastwood Island, Sea Island between Great Ogeechee and Altamaha Rivers.  Became part of Liberty County.  Present day counties:   Evans, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Tattnall.

Christ Church.   Established in 1758 from the following districts and towns:  Town of Hardwick, Town of Savannah, District of Savannah, Sea Islands north of Great Ogeechee River.  Became part of Chatham County and has remained a part of Chatham County.

St. David's.  Established in 1765 from the land between the Altamaha and Turtle Rivers.  Became part of Glynn County.  Present day counties:  Brantley, Glynn, and Wayne.

St. George. Established in 1758 from the district of Halifax.  Became Burke County.  Present day counties:  Burke, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, and Screven.

St. James.   Established in 1758 from the following districts and towns:  Town of Frederica, District of Frederica, Great St. Simons Island, Little St. Simons Island.  Became part of Liberty County.  On 20 December 1789, this territory was transferred to Original Glynn County where it remains today.

St. John's.  Established in 1758 from the following districts and towns:  Town of Sunbury, District of Midway, District of Newport, St. Catherines Island, Bermuda Island.   Became part of Liberty County.  Present day counties formed from this area are:  Bulloch, Candler, Evans, Liberty, Long, and Tattnall.

St. Matthew.  Established in 1758 from the following districts:  Abercorn, Goshen, and Ebenezer.  Became part of Effingham County where it remains today.

Parish of St. Mary.  Established in 1765  from the land between the Great Satilla and St. Marys Rivers.  Became Camden County.  Present day counties:  Camden and Charlton.

Parish of St.  Patrick.  Established in 1765 from the land between the Turtle and Little Satilla Rivers.  Became part of Glynn County.  Present day counties:  Brantley and Glynn.

Parish of St.  Paul.  Established in 1758 from the district of Augusta.  Became Richmond County.  Present day:  Columbia, Glascock, Jefferson, McDuffie, Richmond, and Warren.

Parish of St.  Philip.  Established in 1758 from the land between the districts of the Ogeechee above and below the Canoochee River.  Became parts of Chatham and Effingham Counties.  Present day counties:  Bryan, Bulloch, Candler and Jenkins.

Parish of St. Thomas.  Established in 1765 from the land between the Little and Great Satilla Rivers.  Became part of Camden County.  Present day counties:  Brantley and Camden.

Ceded Lands.  Obtained as a result of the 1 June 1773 Treaty of Augusta.  The ceded lands were not organized into parishes, but in 1777 became Wilkes County.  Present day counties:  Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Hart, Lincoln, McDuffie, Madison, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes.