During the Civil War, Irwinville to the northeast of Ocilla was the county seat, and the location where Union soldiers captured Jefferson Davis. The site is now the Jefferson Davis Park and Museum.
Ocilla is a version of an old Indian name, Osceola. The county's first courthouse was constructed in 1848-1849, and the one currently in use was built in 1905.
There are two entries on the National Register from Irwin County: the Irwin County Courthouse and the Jefferson Davis Capture Site. The state has also identified 27 archaeological sites worth exploring in the county. These are being kept secret to avoid contamination problems.
There are several endangered species found in the county, including the Florida Panther, the Peregrine Falcon and the Southern Bald Eagle.
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