Thomasville was founded as the county seat of Thomas County in 1826. The city was named for a hero of the War of 1812, General Jett Thomas, who built the first university building in Athens and also built the state capitol in Milledgeville.

Thomasville was a popular, turn of the century, winter resort for wealthy northern families. Non-residents still maintain many large estates and hunting preserves. Many of the estates are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Susina Plantation Inn and the Lapham-Patterson House.