Blackshear was founded in 1858 to serve as the seat of the newly formed Pierce County.

[6] The city was named after General David Blackshear,[7] who authorized the construction of roads, bridges and 11 forts for defense.

He also served in the Georgia state legislature as Senator of Laurens County.

During the American Civil War, the city became a temporary prisoner-of-war camp for more than 5,000 Union prisoners.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,506 people, 1,355 households, and 898 families residing in the city.