Large proportions of settlers at this time included South Carolinians and others from Tattnall County, Georgia.

On December 8, 1828, Holmesville, Georgia was declared the county seat by the General Assembly,[6] following over ten years of disagreement by local judges.

On August 27, 1872, eastern sections of Appling land districts 3 and 4 were added to Wayne County.

The residents voted for removal and the town of Baxley, Georgia was selected as the new county seat after the election.

It amended the law a year later for the new courthouse location to read Baxley, as had originally been intended.

[11] The southern two-thirds of Appling County, south of a line from Graham to Baxley, then running due east from Baxley, is located in the Little Satilla River sub-basin of the St. Marys River-Satilla River basin.