The county is named after John Paulding (October 16, 1758 – February 18, 1818), who was famous for the capture of the British spy Major John André in 1780 during the American Revolution.

[4] André was on a mission carrying secret papers from Benedict Arnold when he was captured.

The highest point in Paulding county is a small, unnamed hill located in Yorkville with an elevation of 1,410 ft (430 m) above sea level, However it is located on already elevated base and therefore cannot be considered a true mountain.

The southeastern portion of Paulding County, from just north of Hiram to north of Villa Rica, is located in the Middle Chattahoochee River-Lake Harding sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin).

[7] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 168,661 people, 56,476 households, and 44,021 families residing in the county.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 142,324 people, 48,105 households, and 38,103 families living in the county.

[22] As of the census[23] of 2000, there were 81,678 people, 28,089 households, and 22,892 families living in the county.

14.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

[24] Paulding County is governed by a five-member board of commissioners, including a chairman and four post members.

For federal elections, it is located in Georgia's 14th congressional district.