Located in central Cobb County, Georgia, Marietta is the county’s seat and biggest city. The origin of the name is not certain, though it is believed that the name could be in reference to Mary Cobb, the spouse of U.S. Senator and Superior Court judge Thomas Willis Cobb. This belief is particularly believable because Judge Cobb is the namesake of the county.
Homes had been constructed with the aid of early settlers close to the Cherokee town of Big Shanty (now Kennesaw) as early as. The first plot of land in the city was laid out in 1833. Like most other towns, Marietta had a square inside the center with a courthouse. The Georgia General Assembly legally identified the community on December 19, 1834.
Built-in 1838, Oakton House is the oldest continuously occupied residence in Marietta. The unique barn, milk residence, smokehouse, and well house continue to be at the property. The awesome gardens comprise the boxwood parterre from the 1870s. Oakton served as Major General Loring’s headquarters during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in 1864.
Marietta was originally selected as a major stop for the new Western and Atlantic Railroad, helping local businesses thrive. By 1838, roadbed and trestles had been built north of the town. However, in 1840, political disputes greatly slowed down construction. Under new management in 1842, the railroad company determined to change the hub from Marietta to what would go on to become Atlanta. Regardless, when the railroad began operation in 1850, Marietta saw its fair share of prosperity.
