Alto is home to a collection of whimsically painted schoolbuses. It was (is?) simply a dumping ground for old schoolbuses. Someone started painting them and others joined in.
The Rock Garden
Calhoun
The Rock Garden (also known as The Garden) in Calhoun, Georgia, is a garden filled with more than 50 miniature castles, churches, and other structures. The Garden, with its whimsical folk art, has become a local tourist attraction
New Echota was the capital of the Cherokee Nation in the Southeast United States from 1825 to their forced removal in the late 1830s. New Echota is located in present-day Gordon County, in northwest Georgia, 3.68 miles north of Calhoun. It is south of Resaca, next to present day New Town, known to the Cherokee as Ustanali. The site has been preserved as a state park and a historic site. It was designated in 1973 as a National Historic Landmark District.
Chatsworth
Notable People
Jody Ridley, NASCAR Driver
Crawfish Springs
was the site of the reunion in 1889 of soldiers, Northern and Southern, who fought in the Battle of Chickamauga. Called the Blue and Gray Barbecue, hundreds of soldiers and their families visited the sites of the bloody battle of over 30 years prior, smoking the pipe of peace, healing the wounds, and helping start the Chickamauga National Park, known as the Chickamauga Battlefield. The Chickamauga Battlefield, established in 1890, is located just north of the City of Chickamauga, and is a part of the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park, the first and largest in the country.
Lee and Gordon's Mills, one of the oldest mills in the state of Georgia, is located about two miles east of the center of town on the west bank of the Chickamauga Creek.
The Walker County Regional Heritage and Model Train Museum is housed in the stone train depot building. The museum exhibits War Between the States collectibles, Indian artifacts and Cherokee arrowheads, WWI artifacts, antique guns and furniture and a complete working display of Lionel Old Gauge model trains that date back to 1947.
The Chickamauga coke ovens are located just north of downtown Chickamauga on Highway 341. The beehive ovens of the Durham Iron and Coal Company were designed to turn coal into coke for use in the Iron and Steel Foundries in nearby Chattanooga Tennessee.
Clarkston
The city is home to the central campus of Georgia Perimeter College. Ron Blomberg, baseball player and manager Canibus aka Germaine Williams Mark David Chapman Valentino Achek Deng, the subject of Dave Eggers' novel, What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng Rozonda Thomas Song Wei Tan, rising star – pianist
Claxton
Claxton Fruit Cake - The city is known as the home of the Claxton Fruit Cake which is exported from the world-famous Claxton Bakery and The Georgia Fruitcake Company
Dacula
The city of Dacula has a storied and colorful history dating back to a shocking murder in the early 1920's of a father and son. From there, Dacula is now known as the home of a school stabbing incident and the infamous alligator in the pond.
Notable People
Auburn University star running back Kenny Irons.
Linebacker Michael Boley of the Atlanta Falcons lives in Dacula.
University of Georgia, Fullback Brannan Southerland
Universityof Georgia basketball player Billy Humphreys.
Dahlonega Gold Musuem
Dahlonega
The Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site sits in the exact middle of the town square, housed in the old Lumpkin County Courthouse built in 1836. From its steps in 1849, Dahlonega Mint assayor Dr. M. F. Stephenson tried to persuade miners to stay instead of joining the California Gold Rush. His oration gave rise to the phrases "thar's gold in them thar hills" and "there's millions in it." Dahlonega, Georgia was the site of the first gold Rush in the Nation. Dahlonega was a boom town in the Georgia Gold Rush and became the site of a United States Mint branch mint between 1838 and 1861, when the facility was turned over to the Confederate Treasury Department and operations continued until June 1, 1861. Numerous gold mines were scattered around the area, a major reason the Cherokee people were forced to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears.[1] Senator John Calhoun of South Carolina (7th Vice President of the United States) also owned the Calhoun Mine, just south of the City Square. The Dahlonega Mint, like the one established in 1838 in Charlotte, North Carolina, only minted gold coins, in denominations of $1.00, $2.50 (quarter eagle), $3.00 (1854 only) and $5.00 (half eagle). The Dahlonega Mint was a small operation, usually accounting for only a small fraction of the gold coinage minted annually, and it was deemed unnecessary to reestablish the facility after the Civil War. As a result, surviving Dahlonega coinage is today highly prized in American numismatics. The mint building burned in 1878 - but the North Georgia College campus built Price Memorial Hall on its foundation.[2] The building is clearly identifiable by the gold leaf steeple.
In recent years, Dahlonega and Lumpkin County have been recognized as "the heart of Georgia Wine Country." The county features three vineyards and wineries that are attracting many tourists.
The quaint Dahonega Square is a popular tourist destination and features gift shops, restaurants art galleries and artist's studios.
Dahlonega's local festivals also draw many tourists. Bear on the Square, which marks the day that a black bear wandered onto the square, is a large arts and crafts festival. Larger than that, Gold Rush Days attract over 200,000 people for the two day event every year on the third weekend in October.
Notable People
Amy Ray, Indigo Girls singer and song-writer
Max Burns, Former United States House of Representatives Member
Shawn Mullins (born March 8, 1968 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American singer-songwriter who specializes in folk rock, instrumental rock, and adult alternative music
Dallas Spencer Scott - Playboy Playmate October 2007
Travis Tritt - Country Music Star
Dalton = Carpet Everywhere
Dalton
Dalton is often referred to as the "Carpet Capital of the World," home to 150+ carpet plants and approximately 100 carpet outlet stores. The industry employs more than 30,000 people in the Whitfield County area.[citation needed] The agglomeration of the carpet industry in Dalton can be traced back to a wedding gift given in 1895 by a teenage girl, Catherine Evans Whitener, to her brother, Henry Alexander Evans, and his bride, Elizabeth Cramer. The gift was an unusual tufted bedspread. Copying a quilt pattern, she sewed thick cotton yarns with a running stitch into unbleached muslin, clipped the ends of the yarn so they would fluff out, and finally, washed the spread in hot water to hold the yarns by shrinking the fabric. Interest grew in young Catherine's bedspreads, and in 1900, she made the first sale of a spread for $2.50. Demand became so great for the spreads that by the 1930s, local women had "haulers," who would take the stamped sheeting and yarns to front porch workers. Often entire families worked to hand tuft the spreads for 10 to 25 cents per spread. Nearly 10,000 area cottage "tufters"--men, women, and children, were involved in the industry. Income generated by the bedspreads was instrumental in helping many area families survive the depression. Chenille bedspreads became amazingly popular all over the country and provided a new name for Dalton: the Bedspread Capital of the World.[2] When a form of mechanized carpet making was developed after World War II, Dalton became the center of the new industry due to the fact that specialized tufting skills were required and the city had a ready pool of workers with those skills.[citation needed]
Notable People
Morris Almond (Professional Basketball Player)
Deborah Norville (host on Inside Edition)
Marla Maples (former wife of Donald Trump)
Lane Davies (actor)
Mike Erwin (actor)
Andrea Brooke Ownbey (Miss Howard Stern)
Tammy Jo Kirk, NASCAR driver
Bryan M. Thomas (soldier) Ken Brown (famous donator to DHS)
Charlie Wilson (male model)
On March 6, 2007, a winning Mega Millions lottery ticket was sold in Dalton. The winning ticket, sold to Ed Nabors of Rocky Face, was one of two winning tickets sold for the record $390 million drawing, winning $195 million each. The other winner was Richard Wilson of Woodbine, New Jersey.
Danielsville
Surgeon Crawford Long was born in Danielsville in 1815.
Dawsonville
Bill Elliott "Awesome Bill From Dawsonville", stock car driver.
Bill Goldberg, Professional wrestler and actor (once resided in Dawsonville)
The city's community is known in auto racing circles for its long tradition of involvement in the sport (many racing skills originally developed as a consequence of moonshine activity in the area) and celebrates its involvement every October with the yearly festival aptly named by locals as the "Moonshine Festival."
Michael Stipe
Decatur
Michael Stipe - Lead singer of R.E.M.
Idrees Bashir - NFL football player
Frank Broyles - Football player & coach
Quincy Carter - Football player
Mark David Chapman - Murderer of John Lennon
The Brothers Chaps - Creators of web-cartoon Homestar Runner
Ciara, Singer
Kyle Davies - Major League Baseball Player
Agra Deedy-children's book author/storyteller
Amy Dumas- Wrestler, Former WWE Superstar under the name Lita
Rebecca Latimer Felton - first woman U.S. Senator
Jeff Foxworthy- comedian, star of Blue Collar Comedy Tour
Gale Harold – Actor
Jan Hooks, Actress
Lil Jon - Rapper and Producer
Deforest Kelly - Actor
Amy Lee - Musician, longtime saxophonist for Jimmy Buffett
Majesty – Rapper
China Anne McClain - Actress and singer
Lauryn McClain - Actress and singer
Sierra McClain - Actress and singer
Justin Moore - USL soccer player
Mark Mowers - NHL hockey player
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers - the music duo Indigo Girls
Clint Sammons - Major League Baseball Player
Sean P-rapper
Chris Tucker - Actor and comedian
Leila Ross Wilburn - Architect
Daniel Wilcox - NFL football player
Mr. Ball of Da Muzicianz – Rapper
Doraville
Astronaut John Casper lived in Doraville.
The 70s Southern rock/adult contemporary band The Atlanta Rhythm Section was formed in Doraville. [1] The band's first top 40 single was an uptempo song titled "Doraville" from the Third Annual Pipe Dream album. The town was described in the 1974 song as "a touch of country in the city." [2] Their 1980 album was titled "The Boys from Doraville."
Douglas
Jennifer Nettles, singer for Grammy-nominated country band Sugarland, is a native of Douglas
Maureen Tucker, drummer and occasional singer of Sixties and Seventies rock group The Velvet Underground
Greg Walker, former first baseman and current hitting coach for the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox, is a native of Douglas
Dr. Wayne Clough, president of Georgia Institute of Technology, spent his early years in Douglas
James Brown, singer, lived here for a short time working at a local saw mill.
Bobby Bowden, FSU football coach, 1st coaching job was with the football team at South Georgia College.
Dublin
Dublin is known for its St Patrick’s festival which takes place during all of March.[3] Also the Redneck Games take place in nearby East Dublin,Ga.
Dublin High School's football team tied Charlton County in the 2006 State Football Championships.
The town, along with a reference to the Oconee river and Laurens County, is mentioned in the opening paragraph of James Joyce's stankFinnegans Wake: "nor had topsawyer's rocks by the stream Oconee exaggerated themselse to Laurens County's gorgios while they went doublin their mumper all the time." (Joyce explained in a letter: "Dublin, Laurens Co, Georgia, founded by a Dubliner, Peter Sawyer, on r. Oconee.
Its motto: Doubling all the time.")
Duluth
The city made national headlines twice in 2005. In March, Fulton County Courthouse shooting suspect Brian Nichols was captured in a Duluth apartment after holding local resident Ashley Smith hostage.
In April, local resident Jennifer Wilbanks was reported missing a few days before her planned wedding to John Mason. She was found a few days later in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she admitted to having lied about being kidnapped.
Notable People
Jamal Anderson
Toni Braxton
Danny Buggs
Stewart Cink
DeAngelo Hall
Bob Hartley
Andruw Jones
Edward E. Kramer
Kevin Millwood
Jim Mora
Terry Pendleton
Mark Price
Ralph E. Reed, Jr.
George Rogers
Bryan Scott
Kinnik Sky
Chuck Smith
John Smoltz
Devon Werkheiser
Bow Wow
East Dublin
East Dublin is also home to the annual Redneck Games.
Eatonton
Eatonton's claims to fame are its status as "Dairy Capital of Georgia" (in honor of its major industry, dairy farming),
the birthplace of Alice Walker (author of The Color Purple),
Joel Chandler Harris (journalist and author of the Uncle Remus stories),
Henry Grady Weaver (author of The Mainspring of Human Progress) and
Truett Cathy (founder of Chick-Fil-A restaurants)
the Egyptian-styled Nuwaubian compound known as Tama-Re.
The Rock Eagle Effigy Mound, a Native American archaeological site, is located adjacent to Georgia 4-H's Camp Rock Eagle north of the city, while Rock Hawk Effigy Mound is located just to the east. They are the only such sites discovered east of the Mississippi River.
Ebenezer
Ebenezer was a known haven for religious refugees, such as the Moravians. This came out of a dream of Reverend Johann Martin Boltzius, to build "a religious utopia on the Georgia frontier". That idea was very successful, and the economy thrived.
Notable People
John Adam Treutlen, the first governor of Georgia.
Edge Hill
The population was 30 at the 2000 census.
It currently is the smallest town in Georgia
The Granite Bowl - Elberton
Elberton
Elberton claims the title "Granite Capital of the World," annually producing more granite products than any other city in the world.
Elberton's famed Granite Bowl has been recognized on multiple occasions as one of America's most unusual high school football stadiums. The venue seats 20,000 and features the former Sanford Stadium (University of Georgia) scoreboard. The size of the venue, combined with the historical success of the Elbert County football program, creates an atmosphere like few others in high school football.
Several granite monuments, including the Georgia Guidestones, are located in or near Elberton. The Georgia Guidestones is a large granite monument in Elbert County, Georgia, USA. A message comprising ten guides is inscribed on the structure in eight modern languages, and a shorter message is inscribed at the top of the structure in four ancient languages' scripts: Babylonian, Classical Greek, Sanskrit, and Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Notable People
Paul Brown, 14-term U.S. Congressman from 1933-1961
Amos T. Akerman, Attorney General under Ulysses S. Grant, fought railroad corruption and Ku Klux Klan
Joseph Rucker Lamar, former United States Supreme Court justice
Stephen Heard, early governor of Georgia
Wiley Thompson, U.S. Congressman and Indian agent, oversaw removal of Seminoles from Florida (Second Seminole War)
Nancy Hart, Revolutionary War heroine
Corra Harris, early 20th century author, lived at Farm Hill
Daniel Tucker, preacher, subject of "Old Dan Tucker" song
Baby Tate (Charles Henry Tate), jazz musician [1]
Patsy Neal, women's basketball pioneer, USA team member, sports author, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
Clark Gaines, NFL running back for New York Jets
Derek Harper, University of Illinois and 16-year NBA point guard
Ellijay
The city holds an annual Apple Festival (http://www.georgiaapplefestival.org) and Gilmer County is known as the 'Apple Capital of Georgia'. The Apple Festival is held yearly in October
Notable People
Jonathan Stanley, a renowned herpetologist specializing in the reproductive biology of North American aquatic colubrids, was raised in this area beginning in the early 1980's. His most recent claim to fame is the coining of the biological term 'Neo-nature' referring to the type of 'nature' that modern humans belong to.
Fargo
Fargo is located near the Okefenokee Swamp and is the westwern gateway to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
The small city was under siege and highly threatened in April and May of 2007 by and during the largest wildfire in Georgia's history.
Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald is also home to the famous Dorminy-Massee Bed and Breakfast. Built in 1915 by J. J. (Captain Jack) Dorminy for his family, this two-story, colonial-style home is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Notable People
World War II hero Ray Davis,
1936 Olympics track star Forrest Towns,
authors Brainard Cheney and Frances Mayes,
recently inducted member of the Tap Dance Hall of Fame Charles Greene,
Miss Georgia 2007 Leah Massee.
Gerald Thompson, the city's mayor, currently holds the distinction as the longest serving mayor in the state of Georgia, in office since 1968.
Flovilla
Indian Springs State Park is a 528 acre (2.14 km²) Georgia state park located near Jackson and Flovilla. The park is named for its several springs, which the Creek Indians used for centuries to heal the sick. Indian Springs is thought to be the oldest state park in the nation.
Flowery Branch
The NFL team the Atlanta Falcons training camp has been located in Flowery Branch since the beginning of the 2001 season.[2]
Flowery Branch is listed as the home town of Johnny O'Connell, a team driver of the Pratt & Miller Corvette team in international sports car racing.
Viewing Platform - Folkston Tunnel
Folkston
For a number of years, the city of Folkston was the self-proclaimed "Marriage Capital of the world". The city embraced this nickname because Floridians who could not endure their state's waiting period before tying the knot would cross the state line to wed.
With virtually all rail traffic headed to Florida passing through Folkston, the rail lines through the city have acquired the nickname "The Folkston Funnel". As many as 60 trains a day pass through Folkston heading into and out of Florida, which some years draws ten times as many railfans as people who live in the city. To provide for a safe (and advantageous) viewing situation, the town has followed the example of another high-density rail town, Rochelle, Illinois, and has built a platform for visitors.
The Okefenokee Festival, Is an annual event that occurs the second Saturday of October.
state championship football team (1999,2004,2005,2006) and state championship track team(2005,2006).
Champ Bailey who currently plays for the Denver Broncos also played on the High School Football team and also ran track for Charlton County High School.
Forest Park
Hines Ward-NFL wide receiver
Fort Valley
Fort Valley is the corporate headquarters of the Blue Bird Corporation, a large manufacturer of buses.
The city is also home to Fort Valley State University, a Historically Black College and University.
Notable Alumni:
Lonnie Bartley 1983 Current Head Womens Basketball Coach at FVSU. Has 502 Wins (all at FVSU) entering the 2007 - 2008 Basketball season
John W. Blassingame 1960 Educator at Yale University for 30 Years
Tommy Dortch 1972 Founder of 100 Black Men of America, Inc.
Genevieve Madeline Knight 1961 Educator
Greg Lloyd Former Pittsburgh Steeler
Cornell McBride, Sr. Pioneeer in the African-American Hair Care Industry
Calvin Smyre 1970 State Representative
Peyton Williams, Jr. 1964 Department of Education
Rayfield Wright NFL Hall of Fame Inductee
Garden City
Most notably, the city hosts the Port of Savannah, which is the flagship operation of the Georgia Ports Authority.
Glennville
Notable People
Katelyn Tarver
Shannon Sharpe
Sterling Sharpe
Grayon
1929 Boys State Champs baseball 2007 8AAAAA Men’s 400 yard Freestyle Relay State Champs swimming 2007 Area 8AAAAA State Wrestling Champs, 171 lbs. / 285lbs.
Greensboro
Julius C. Alford, (1799-1863), born in Greensboro, United States Congressman from Georgia
William Crosby Dawson, former U.S. Representative and Senator from Georgia was born, died, and buried in Greensboro
Tim Simpson, professional golfer makes his home in Greensboro
Joshua Nesbitt, All-American High School Quarterback
Sonny Terry, noted blues harpist, was born in Greensboro
Griffin
Griffin is the birthplace of Olympian Wyomia Tyus
NFL players including St. Louis Rams tight end Randy McMichael, former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Jessie Tuggle,Dallas Cowboys Legend Rayfield Wright who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2006 and Jesse Tuggle's Uncle in law, New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, Washington Redskins linebacker Chris Clemons and lineman Nic Clemons, Houston Texans defensive end Charlie Clemons, former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Ben Talley, and former Chicago Bears wide receiver Willie Gault.
Western legend Doc Holliday who fought with Wyatt Earp at the OK Corral, was born and established his dental practice in Griffin before moving west for health reasons.
Edward Andrews, star of screen and television was born in Griffin.
Griffin has also been featured in several movies, including Driving Miss Daisy, and has been visited by many well known music stars and movie stars alike.
A book recently published "Alone in the Iris City" by Eve Thomas, tells about her life, growing up in Griffin.
Hall of Fame offensive tackle Rayfield Wright was born in Griffin.
Thomas Jefferson Byrd III A veteran actor of Screen and Stage. He starred in such movies as Set it off, Ray, He Got Game and countless others. Some of his stage credits include Spunk, Home, The Piano Lesson and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom were in 2006 he returned to the role of Toledo while making his Broadway debut along side Whoopi Goldberg and Charles Dutton. He also has appeared in numerous T.V shows and made for T.V movies.
Wyomia Tyus, an American athlete, and the first woman to retain the Olympic title in the 100 m was born in Griffin.
Josh Pace - Played guard for Syracuse University during the school's first National Championship in 2003.
Hahira
The city is mentioned in several songs by comedian/songwriter Ray Stevens, most notably the song Shriner's Convention [
J.D. Drew, professional baseball player, Atlanta Braves, L.A. Dodgers, and Boston Red Sox.
Tim Drew and Stephen Drew, Major League baseball players.
Jerry Manuel, Major League baseball manager
During the first week of October, the city holds the Honey Bee Festival, an arts, crafts, beauty pageant and parade event.
Hampton
The Atlanta Motor Speedway and the Tara Field airport 4A7 are located 3 miles or 5km west of Hampton.
Oliver Hardy
Harlem
Birthplace of comedian Oliver Hardy
The annual Harlem Oliver Hardy Festival is held each October on Main Street in his honor.
Hawkinsville
Exxon Valdez Captain Joseph Hazelwood was born in Hawkinsville.
Hawkinsville Footbal Team The Red Devils won 2 back to back state championships in Atlanta Georgia, 2003-2004. Which where leaded by Todd Coley of Hawkinsville Georgia , Kemuel Spivey of Hawkinsville, Georgia and Georgia Miltary College Brandon Perry of Eastmen, Georgia Hawkinsville and Middle Tenn. State University.
Rapstar Young Jeezy use to stay in Hawkinsville with Grandmother. Claiming Hawkinsville and Macon in 2005 song Stay Strapped.
Home to the Harness Festival.
Helen
Formerly a logging town, the city resurrected itself by becoming a replica of a Bavarian alpine town, in the Appalachians instead of the Alps.
Isle of Hope
Legend says that the island was used as a place of refuge for French Huguenots fleeing persecution. A revolutionary-era earthwork fort was built at the Skidaway Narrows end of the estate, and today can be visited as part of Wormsloe Historic Site State Park.
In the early 20th century, with better transportation options, the summer resort became the year-round home of many, and the terrapin farm at Barbee's Pavilion became world famous for the export of terrapins for stew, including to the major restaurants of New York City and even to the Czar of Russia.
It was also the destination of dashing race car drivers from around the world for the International Grand Prix races, and the old course can be picked out by the knowledgable observer.
The island's beauty and history has attracted a number of Hollywood movie productions, including the Oscar-winning Glory, the original Cape Fear, The Last of the Belles, and Forrest Gump.
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Clarence Thomas attended St. John Vianney's Minor Seminary on the Isle of Hope in the 1960s.
Jakin Isabelle Daniels Holston, 1956 Olympic bronze medal winner[5]
Jonesboro
During the American Civil War the final skirmish in the Atlanta Campaign was fought here
Many of the scenes from the 1977 hit Smokey and the Bandit were filmed in Jonesboro, GA.
Tara, the well-known fictional plantation from Margaret Mitchell's classic novel "Gone with the Wind" was supposed to be located approximately 5 miles outside of Jonesboro, the closest town.
Keller
It is near Fort McAllister Historic Park, an earthen Civil War installation captured by General William Sherman on his March to the Sea
Kings Bay
Since 1979, the adjacent Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay (initially named Naval Submarine Support Base Kings Bay) has served as the major East Coast operating, training and refit base for nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN). The base also hosts the Strategic Weapons Facility
Kingsland
The City of Kingsland hosts an annual Catfish Festival on Labor Day weekend each year.
Lawrenceville
Lawrenceville was one of many venues in the nation where Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt faced obscenity charges in the late 1970s. On March 6, 1978, during a lunch break in his Lawrenceville trial, he and his local attorney Gene Reeves were shot by a sniper near the courthouse. Both survived, though Flynt was seriously disabled. Imprisoned serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin claims to have been the shooter, but has never been charged in the case. A heavily fictionalized treatment of the shooting can be seen in the 1996 movie The People vs. Larry Flynt.
The two most famous people born in Lawrenceville gained their fame elsewhere. Charles Henry Smith, born in 1826, left as a young man and lived most of his life in other Georgia towns. Beginning during the Civil War, he wrote humorous pieces for Atlanta newspapers under the name Bill Arp. He has been described as the South's most popular writer of the late 19th century, though he is not much read today.
Ezzard Charles, born in Lawrenceville in 1921, grew up in Cincinnati, where opportunities for African-Americans were far better at the time. He eventually was heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
As a boy, Oliver Hardy lived in downtown Lawrenceville around 1900. But the future movie star's stay was brief. His family moved often within North Georgia.
Walking tours of the historic downtown area lead by professional storytellers--that recount town lore and legends including Lawrenceville's role in the trial of Larry Flynt and the kidnapping of Barbara Jane Mackle.
Notable People
Ezzard Charles
EJay Day
Darius Walker
Courtland Winn
Brian McCann
Jeff Francouer
Jonathan Babineaux
Jennifer Ferrin
Hamilton Jordan
Junior Samples
Trivia
Deion Sanders once bought land in Lawrenceville to build a mansion, but sold it to construction companies.
The film Road Trip was filmed in parts of Lawrenceville.
Leesburg
Notable People
Luke Bryan, country music artist
Lilburn
Notable People
Atlanta Braves right-fielder Jeff Francoeur.
NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins
Kate Michael, Miss District of Columbia 2006.
Lincolnton
Notable People
Garrison Hearst, former NFL football player
Barney Bussey, former NFL football player
Lithonia
Notable People
Bishop Eddie L. Long (Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church)
Max Cleland (former member of the United States Senate, b. 1942)
Brenda Lee (popular country music singer, b. 1944)
James Gregory (stand-up comedian, b. 1946)
Alton Brown (Food Network Host, "Iron Chef America" & "Good Eats", b. ~1965)
Fred Nix Jr. (technologist, b. 1970)
Rebecca Latimer Felton (First woman to serve in the US Senate, b. 1835)
Terrell Owens (NFL American football wide receiver, b. 1973)
Loni Anderson and Burt Reynolds
Loganville
Notable People
Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson
Kyle Chandler
Laura Mallory
Jordan Pruitt
Brandon Moss
John Mcleroy
Lookout Mountain
The city is located on Lookout Mountain, home to such attractions as Rock City and Ruby Falls.
The city is also home to Covenant College.
Notable alumni:
Michael Cromartie, chairman, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
Mark David Chapman, the man convicted of murdering former Beatle John Lennon on December 8, 1980. Chapman followed his fiancée to Covenant, but dropped out after one semester.[4]
Joel Belz, founder of God's World Publications and former editor of World (magazine).
Louisville
It served as the state capital of Georgia from 1796 to 1806.
Site of the Battle of Lovejoy's Station during the Atlanta Campaign of 1864.
Madison
It is known regionally as "The Town Sherman Refused to Burn."
Most of its nearly 100 Antebellum homes have been carefully restored, which led to Holiday Travel magazine's naming Madison "The Prettiest Small Town in America."
Madison is the birthplace of World War II naval hero Albert T. Harris.
In 2001, Madison was voted the #1 Small Town in America by Travel Holiday Magazine.
It is known as "The town Sherman refused to burn", as it was spared during General Sherman's march to the sea during the Civil War. While many believe that he spared the town because it was too beautiful to burn, the actual fact is that Madison was home to pro-Union Senator Joshua Hill. Hill had ties with General Sherman's brother at West Point, so his sparing the town was more political than appreciation of its beauty.
Currently, Madison has the second largest historic district in the state of Georgia (next to Macon), and tourists from all over the world come to marvel at the antebellum architecture of the homes.
Madison is home to numerous art galleries and museums, including the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum. Housing the largest collection of microcars in the world, the Microcar Museum features over 300 "bubble cars", which are tiny two-door vehicles with engines no greater than 300cc
Manchester
Home of: Bestselling author Stuart Woods, and was the inspiration for his first bestseller, Chiefs.
Former University of Georgia and New York Jets football player, Bill Mathis.
Auburn Tiger's Basketball player Korvotney Barber.
Also the Home of J Platinum Records C.E.O, Ronald Jackson, Who also was Meriweather Co. First Black Police Officer to make the Chief Rank which he serverd for 9 years at the Manchester Police Department.
McDonough
Movies Many scenes from the 1977 movie "Smokey and the Bandit" where filmed in McDonough.
Music The members of the Christian Band Casting Crowns are currently ministers at Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church, where the band plays during youth service.
McRae
Located in downtown McRae is Liberty Square, home of a Statue of Liberty replica that is one-twelfth the original's actual size. Also in Liberty Square is their version of the Liberty Bell and a marble memorial to Telfair County residents who died in service.
On the outskirts of McRae is the Talmadge Home. This historic site was the home of two former Georgia Governors, Eugene Talmadge and Herman Eugene Talmadge.
Metter
Metter may be best known as the home of "The Sower", Michael Guido, who has delivered short evangelical PSAs on late-night television nationwide for decades.
Flannery O'Connor
Milledgeville
It was the capital of Georgia for some time, notably during the Civil War.
Milledgeville is the location of the Central State Hospital (Georgia's first public psychiatric hospital).
Notable People
Author Flannery O'Connor spent her adolescence and parts of her later life in Milledgeville (at Andalusia) and is buried in Milledgeville's Memory Hill Cemetery.
Blind Willie McTell, one of the most influential blues guitarists of the last century was born in Milledgeville.
Professional baseball players Kevin Brown (baseball), Willie Greene, and Rondell White were born in Milledgeville.
Vaudeville actor and motion picture comedian Oliver Hardy began his career in Milledgeville.
Professional football player Earnest Byner was born and raised in Milledgeville.
Congressman Carl Vinson was from Milledgeville.
Author Barry Reese was born and raised in Milledgeville.
Southern author/humorist Ed Williams and the Brotherhood's (Hugh Foskey and Ray Pippin) famous lake retreat, the IHOP, is located in Milledgeville.
Joel Goddard, the popular and comicly creepy announcer for Late Night with Conan O'Brian, was born and raised in Milledgville.
New Echota
New Echota was the capital of the Cherokee Nation in the Southeast United States from 1825 to their forced removal in the late 1830s. New Echota is located in present-day Gordon County, in northwest Georgia, 3.68 miles north of Calhoun. It is south of Resaca, next to present day New Town, known to the Cherokee as Ustanali. The site has been preserved as a state park and a historic site. It was designated in 1973 as a National Historic Landmark District.
Newnan
Newnan was host to the trial in 1948 of wealthy landowner John Wallace, the first white man in the south to be condemned to death by the testimony of African Americans, These events were portrayed in the novel Murder in Coweta County. The film version starred Johnny Cash, Andy Griffith, and June Carter.
Newnan was largely untouched by the American Civil War due to its status as a hospital city (for Confederate troops), and as a result is still home to much antebellum architecture. For this reason, Newnan is known as "The City of Homes."
During the Atlanta Campaign, Confederate cavalry badly defeated Union forces at the nearby Battle of Brown's Mill.
Newnan is also home of Atlanta Falcon Keith Brooking.
Notable People
Ellis Arnall, governor of Georgia (1943-1947)
Hamilton Bohannon
Keith Brooking, Atlanta Falcon
Lewis Grizzard Author
Alan Jackson, CMA award winner.
Joe M. Jackson
Stephen W. Pless
Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith II, (1860-1898), lived in Newnan. Infamous 19th century gambler, confidence man and crime boss.
Doug Stone
Nate Novarro, drummer in alternative rock band Cobra Starship
Television and movie
The ABC television series October Road is filmed in Newnan,[1] though it is actually set in the fictional town of Knights Ridge, Massachusetts.
In the 1978 feature film The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid (original Italian title: Uno Sceriffo extraterrestre - poco extra e molto terrestre) featuring Bud Spencer his character is depicted as being the Sheriff of Newnan and the plot to take place in said city.
Norcross
Notable People
Jodie Meeks, Kentucky Wildcats basketball player
Oxford
The entire town is also designated as a shrine of the United Methodist Church.
Additionally, The Dukes of Hazzard filmed its tv series opening credits jump on the grounds of the college.
Patterson
In November 2007, Patterson was named the 50th best place in the United States to raise kids by Business Week Magazine.
Pavo
Notable People
Cleve Dean - World Arm Wrestling Champion featured in Sylvester Stallone's 1987 movie, Over the Top.
Pembroke
Notable People
Pembroke was the birthplace of jazz musician Jabbo Smith.
Pendergrass
R.E.M.'s song "Wendell Gee", from their 1986 album Fables of the Reconstruction, is connected to the city. "There's a whole town, and everyone's last name in it is Gee, apparently," explained Peter Buck. "It's right near the train station - we always go there to drop friends off. There's a Wendell Gee Used Cars, Gwen Gee's pool hall, and Roy Gee's bail bonds. You just know they must be some kind of family."[citation needed] Wendell Gee died in 1995.[1]
One of the police officers of the town was Richard Jewell who was, at one time, thought to be the bomber of the 1996 bombings of Centennial Park, built for the Olympic Games. Sources implied guilt pointing out that Mr. Jewell was a loner and fit the profile. It was not until several years later that the real bomber, Eric Rudolph, was found. Mr. Jewell was, in fact, innocent of the bombing.
In 2006, Pendergrass collected the most fines, fees, and forfeitures per capita than any other community in Georgia, pulling in the equivalent of $1,012 for every member of their population. It was the third year this community had received this distinction.
Perry
Notable People
ABC News correspondent, Deborah Roberts,
former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn
Mildred Warren Evans, the Home Journal columnist, 1969 book, The Art of Southern Cooking
Philomath
Philomath is mentioned in the 1985 R.E.M song "Cant Get There from Here" where Michael Stipe sings the line "If you're needing inspiration, Philomath is where I go".
Philomath was the location of the final breaking up of the Confederate government east of the Mississippi. President Davis and his cabinet separated in Washington, Georgia, because they thought it was best for him to travel inconspicuously. His cabinet met at the home of the Captain John J. Daniel. General Breckinridge and General Duke, who were body guards to President Davis in his flight from Richmond were in command. It was decided that it was a "needless expenditure of blood to continue the struggle, and the Stars and Bars of the late Confederacy were forever furled."[5] The last counsel of war took place in the parlor of the Globe and the generals and other officers dined with Captain Daniel. The parting addresses were delivered from the porch after the soldiers received their small pay checks and departed for their homes.[6]
President Jimmy Carter
Plains
President Jimmy Carter, his younger brother Billy Carter, and wife Rosalynn Carter were born in Plains.
Port Wentworth
On Thursday, February 7, 2008, an explosion at the historic Dixie Crystals sugar plant, established in 1916, on Oxnard Drive, killed at least 8 people and injured at least 42 others. The victims ranged in age from 26 to 56. This horrific blast could be heard as far away as Levy, South Carolina where it shook house walls. This horrendous incident has made Port Wentworth nationally famous, how be it unfavorably.
Poulan
Howell T. Heflin, who became a U.S. Senator from Alabama, was born in Poulan in 1921. At that time Heflin's father was serving as a Methodist minister in Poulan. The Heflin family remained there for only a short time before returning to their native Alabama.
Chase Osborn, was Governor of Michigan from 1911-1913. He resided at Possum Poke in Poulan. He died there in 1949.
Quitman
Quitman was the final home of James Pierpont, author of "Jingle Bells". He was organist for the First Presbyterian Church. [4]
A local Quitman ordinance prohibits chickens from crossing the road.[5]
Resaca
The Civil War Battle of Resaca was fought in and around Resaca in May 1864. Each year a reenactment of the Battle of Resaca, the first battle on Atlanta Campaign, is held on the third weekend of May.
Resaca is also the location of the first Confederate Cemetery in the state of Georgia Since 1977,
the Monastery of the Glorious Ascension
The Resaca Beach Poster Girl Contest [4], a swimsuit pageant at one time known throughout the South, was founded in the nearby city of Dalton in 1983 as a marketing gimmick of Conquest Carpet Mills, Inc. The name is tongue-in-cheek, since there is no ocean for hundreds of miles, although it draws reference to a once popular bathing spot on the Oostanaula riverbank commonly deemed Resaca Beach. Local boosterism proclaims: "Resaca Beach - North Georgia's Gateway to the Gulf." The pageant, which launched the career of Gordon County native Marla Maples, former spouse of real estate magnate Donald Trump, has been held intermittently since the mid-1980s, most recently in 2005. Married in 1993, Maples and Trump have one child, Tiffany, (born October 13, 1993). They divorced on June 8, 1999.
Riceboro
Notable People
Actor Ben Affleck
Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill has a strong historical connection to industrialist Henry Ford. Ford used the town, formerly known as Ways Station, as a summer home, building the complex now known as the Ford Plantation along the Ogeechee River in the 1930s. After just one visit they chose this area as their Winter Home... Clara's dream house was built on the site of Richmond Plantation, which was burned by General Sherman just as he ended his March to the Sea at nearby Fort McAllister
Rincon
One famous Rinconite is country singer Billy Currington
Ringold
Ringgold is where the locomotive General stopped during the great locomotive chase on April 12, 1862.
On March 14, 2002, a sudden heavy fog played havoc with morning traffic and contributed to one of the worst traffic pileups in history; 125 vehicles crashed on Interstate 75 and 4 people died.
The city also gained some notoriety for erecting a display that included the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and a third blank frame. The stated purpose of the third frame was to include alternate beliefs, but the city agreed to remove the display as part of a settlement of complaints.
Country-western singer Dolly Parton's husband, Carl Dean, is from Ringgold, and the couple was married at the Ringgold 1st Baptist Church.
George Jones and Tammy Wynette were also married in Ringgold.
The city has traditionally been a "marriage center" because of the short waiting time after blood tests; one testing laboratory in the community offers a combination test/wedding package and sells clocks with the inscription "I got married in Ringgold, Ga."
Rising Fawn
Silent film actress May Allison was born here in 1890.
Bobby Bowden, Florida State's famed football coach, and his wife Ann Estock were married here in 1949.
Norman Blake, famed for his folk music, some of which includes "You are my Sunshine" on the Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, resides in Rising Fawn with his wife, Nancy, also a folk musician.
Dan Reeves
Rome
A replica of the statue of Romulus and Remus nursing from a mother wolf, a symbol of the original Rome, which was a 1929 gift from the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
Notable People
Dan Reeves, American football player and head coach
Arn Anderson, professional wrestler
Bill Arp, Rome mayor and 19th century writer
Martha Berry, educator
Ray Donaldson, American football player
Charles H. Fahy, U.S. Solicitor General and Navy Cross recipient
Homer V. M. Miller, U.S. Senator, senior Confederate medical officer
Major Ridge Cherokee Indian leader who signed the Treaty of New Echota
John H. Towers, U.S. Navy admiral and pioneer naval aviator
Stand Watie, Cherokee leader and Confederate general
Calder Willingham, screenplay writer and novelist
Ellen Axson Wilson, First Lady of the United States and first wife of President Woodrow Wilson
Ty(rus) Cobb
Royston
Notable People
Tyrus Raymond Cobb - baseball player
Spud Chandler
Dee Dowis Tony Jones (football player)
St. Marys
St. Marys, reputed by some sources[attribution needed] to be the second oldest city in the United States after St. Augustine, Florida, is a city in Camden County, Georgia, United States.
Sandersville
Sandersville is the birthplace of Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes,
Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad.
Two Major League Baseball players were born in Sandersville: Shortstop Coot Veal (1932) and outfielder Marvin Lane (1950).
Santa Claus
The city has several Christmas and reindeer-themed street names: Candy Cane Rd, December Dr, Rudolph Way, Dancer St, Prancer St, and Sleigh St.
Jerry Scott Heidler was convicted of murder of four Santa Claus family members in December, 1997, was tried and given the death penalty for these and other offenses. As of November, 2006 he is on death row in Georgia.
Screven
Railroad history was made on Screven’s tracks in March 1901 in an event that still holds forth in railroad lore. The Spanish-American War had ended, but occupation troops were to remain in Cuba until 1902. Post Office Department officials, realizing the need for faster mail service, had begun drawing up a contract to award to either the Plant System (then known as the Savannah, Florida and Western) or the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, both of which operated south of the ACL termination point of Charleston, South Carolina. The Havana mail would depart from Jacksonville. Actually, Seaboard was favored because of her more direct route. The Plant Road detoured over 30 miles from Savannah to Waycross then to Jacksonville. And it was Jacksonville where the steam packet to Havana waited to load the mail. Both trains left Union Station in Savannah at 3:00 a.m. The SF&W’s route was a longer one since it traveled through Jesup, Screven, and Waycross before cutting over southwest to Folkston to travel on to Jacksonville. Twelve miles out of Savannah, the SF&W’s engines ran hot. After one attempt at repairing the engine failed, Engineer Albert Lodge made the decision to switch engines and start again making it from Fleming to Jesup in less than 33 minutes. Knowing he must make up an hour of time if they were to have a shot at the mail contract, Lodge ripped out of Jesup on Number 111 and made 11 miles in 9 minutes. More speed was added and the train traveled five miles in two and a half minutes – she was traveling at 120 miles per hour when she passed through the town of Screven and approached the Little Satilla Bridge. Dispatcher D. S. McClellan is quoted as saying, “I shall never forget the things that passed through my mind as this train reached the top of a little hill just south of Screven and started slowing down for the fill for the Satilla River. There is a little curve just after passing over the river, and I wondered if the engine were going to take that curve or if it were going to take to the woods." When the train came into Waycross, the crew figured they had come the 40 miles from Jesup in 28 minutes. The stop in Waycross completed, the train headed south to Racepond and arrived in Folkston in 25 minutes. Engine 111 arrived in Jacksonville at 6:31. The men had traveled faster than any other and their record would stay unequalled until 1934; to date, it has never been beaten.
Smyrna
Notable People
Julia Roberts - Actress
Snellville
On August 1, 2002, a 35,000-pound billboard collapsed during its installation at the corner of Dogwood Road and GA SR 124. The collapse killed brothers Josh and Anthony Fowler and Lance Stofiel. Clyde Elrod was the only survivor. The collapse also destroyed two unoccupied vehicles and the side of the building it was above. This is the only time in the United States that a billboard has collapsed from design flaws.
Sparta
George Darden - United States Representative from Georgia who went to High School here.
Tommy Hurricane Jackson - Professional boxer born here.
Harvey Grant - Professional Basketball Player
Horace Grant - Professional Basketball Player
Jean Toomer - Harlem Renaissance Writer and Poet (Once served as principal here)
Statesboro
Statesboro may be familiar to music-listeners through the blues song "Statesboro Blues," written by Blind Willie McTell in the 1920s and covered by many other musicians, including Taj Mahal and The Allman Brothers Band.
Downtown Statesboro has been featured in several motion pictures including Now and Then as well as 1969.
Statesboro is located in a semi-dry county. Because of this, hard liquor cannot be sold by the bottle, but can be sold by the drink in bars.
Statesboro is the only town in the world with that name.
Statesboro is the home of the world's largest Primitive Baptist Church.
The Zaxby's restaurant chain was begun in Statesboro in 1990.
Notable People
Erk Russell - (1926 -2006) Legendary College Football Coach
William James - Noted African American Educator
Sutton Foster - (1975 - ) Broadway star
Emma Thompson Kelly - (1918 - 2001) Singer, "Lady of 6,000 songs"
Blind Willie McTell - (1901–1959) Blues Musician, "Statesboro Blues"
Marty Pevey - (1961 - ) current first base coach of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.
Adrian Peterson - (1979 - ) Running back for the Chicago Bears. Walter Payton award winner who earned his degree from Georgia Southern University in 2001 and helped win the 1999 and 2000 National Championships.
Brandon Wallace - (1985 - ) professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics.
Jason Childers - (1975 - ) Major League Baseball relief pitcher
Stockbridge
It is the hometown of the multi-platinum selling alternative rock/post-grunge band Collective Soul
One of the youngest starting pitchers ever to play for the Atlanta Braves, Kyle Davies who also graduated from Stockbridge High School.
In late 2005 the City of Stockbridge engaged in a highly controversial preemptive use of eminent domain to buy over 16 acres of land near the current city hall running along East Atlanta Road. The City reportedly wanted to build a new city hall, park/square, and a small tract of land for new and more desirable business to incorporate a new image for the city. Stockbridge became the focus of national news and was also one of the largest issues in the 2006 Georgia General Assembly and their efforts to prevent abuse of eminent domain.
Stone Mountain
The town is named for Stone Mountain, the largest exposed granite dome in North America. Stone Mountain harbors plant and animal life found no other place in the world. The mountain has contributed to the city's economy both through its continuing status as a tourist attraction, and its former use as a granite quarry. It is also the site of a famous giant carving commemorating the military leaders of the Confederacy as well as a state park and museum, including a tourist railroad. The Ku Klux Klan was revived in Stone Mountain in 1915, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech consequently includes the line "let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia". The 1996 Summer Olympic Games tennis, archery and track cycling tournaments were held in Stone Mountain Park.
Jake "The Snake" Roberts, wrestler (storyline-only; in real life Jake was born and raised in Texas).
Nivea Hamilton, singer.
Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, singer from the R&B group TLC.
Cynthia McKinney, Democratic U.S. Congresswoman
Kristie Krabe, American Theater Actress
Kevin Cassels, drummer for rock group Mother Vinegar
Josh Wolff, USA National Soccer Team Striker
Brittany Murphy, American actress, dancer and recording artist
Brandon Phillips, American professional baseball player, Cincinnati Reds.
Suwanee
Suwanee was the practicing home of the Atlanta Falcons football team from 1979 to 2001
Suwanee was voted in the Top 10 Best Places to Live by Money Magazine in 2007.
Swainsboro
Swainsboro, GA is the only city in the United States of America that holds a Pine Tree Festival yearly. The Festival usually consists of a parade and other family oriented events. For many of the residents of the city, the event marks the start of summer.
Swainsboro is also where "Main streets meet", containing the only intersection between US 1 and US 80.
Sycamore
On April 9, 1988, David Prater of the legendary music group Sam and Dave died in a car crash in Sycamore, Georgia while driving to his mother's house.
Sylvania
Lee "Rod" Berger, National Geographic Explorer and Paleoanthropologist was born in Shawnee Mission, Kansas but grew up in Sylvania and graduated from Screven County High School
Bucky Dent, major league baseball star who played as shortstop for the New York Yankees was born in Savannah, Georgia but spent his early years in Sylvania
Eva Marie Everson, award-winning author and international speaker
Clyde Dixon Hollingsworth, author of The History of Screven County, Georgia
Rick Kittles, geneticist known for his pioneering work in determining the ancestry of African Americans via DNA testing
John R. McKinney, Medal of Honor winner and Georgia's most decorated World War II hero.
Cuyler Young, Poet who named Sylvania
Macay McBride, Detroit Tigers baseball player was born in Augusta, Georgia, but resides in Sylvania
Jonna Wilson, Miss Georgia Forestry 2006 was born in Statesboro, Georgia and is currently a student at Georgia Southern University.
Dr. Francys Johnson, Senior NAACP official
Sylvester
Sylvester claimed to be the Peanut Capital of the World due to its ability to produce more peanuts per acre than anywhere else in the world.
Notable People
Marion Butts - NFL Running Back from 1989 to 1995 who played for the San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, and Houston Oilers. Born in Sylvester.
Rickey Claitt - NFL Running Back that played for the Washington Redskins. Born in Sylvester.
James Andrew Dixon Jr, Also known as Dru is a recording artist who recorded with Rollover Records from 2001-2004. He is currently signed to the Sekal Muzik Group. Dru recorded what some consider to be a classic album alongside partner Darkbrown. The album was titled "Kuntryversy", which featured Grammy Award winner Killer Mike on the albums first single "Ridin Chevys". The album has sold 35,000 copies to date.
Sue Monk Kidd - Author of the New York Times bestseller, The Secret Life of Bees and The Mermaid Chair. Born in Sylvester.
Robert L. F. Sikes - U.S. Representative for Florida. Born in Isabella.
Tate
Tate includes the main quarries of the Georgia Marble Company, a new division of the second largest stone company in North America, Polycor. The quarries are internationally known for their marble quality
Temple
In 2005 Neo-Nazis held their annual Hammerfest outside of Temple, Georgia
Thomaston
In 1986 Thomaston was chosen to be one of the Top 100 Small Towns in America Towns. Thomaston was once again chosen among 120 towns across the nation to be listed in Norman Crampton's new book, "Making Your Move to One of America's Best Small Towns." According to an article in the The Thomaston Times, dated November 4, 2002, the new book described Thomaston as "a perfect place for people looking to leave the fast-paced city life for a more relaxing environment". A press release says the book is for those "looking to raise a family in a storybook American town."
John Brown Gordon – One of Robert E. Lee's most trusted Confederate generals during the American Civil War, and was the governor of Georgia from 1886 to 1890.
Thomasville
The city deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival
Notable People
William Andrews - NFL player Atlanta Falcons
Lieutenant General Lloyd J. Austin, U.S. Army, Commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps
Camille Bentley - Miss Georgia 1984
Stephanie Bentley - Country Music Artist
Danny Copeland - NFL player (safety for Washington Redskins Super Bowl XXVII championship team)
Mary Lena Faulk - Professional Golfer and 1953 Winner of US Women's Amateur Championship; one of the founders of the LPGA
Henry Ossian Flipper or Henry O. Flipper - First African American Graduate of West Point in 1877
Charlton Griffin - Narrator
Raymond Hughes - Metropolitan Opera Conductor and Chorus Master
Sam Madison - NFL player defensive back Miami Dolphins, cornerback New York Giants
Guy McIntyre - NFL player San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles Julie Moran - TV Personality
William Fred Scott - Orchestral and Opera Conductor
Marcus Stroud - NFL player; defensive tackle
Charlie Ward Jr. - College Football Quarterback Florida State (Heisman winner); NBA Player New York Knicks; Assistant Coach Houston Rockets
Bailey White – Author
Joanne Woodward - Actress
Joe Burns - Award winning running back for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Buffalo Bills
Levale Speigner - Pitcher for Washington Nationals
Myron Guyton - Former New York Giants and New England Patriots safety
Thomson
Thomson's nickname is "The Camellia City of the South", in honor of the thousands of camellia plants throughout the city.
Notable People
Zebedee Armstrong - outsider artist
Bill Bales - Internet entrepreneur and founding member Napster
Alberta Davis - claimant to "oldest living American" title since 2001; claimed to have lived to be "...around 125"; however, this claim could never be confirmed.
Ray Guy - NFL punter for the Oakland Raiders and namesake of the Ray Guy Award, presented each year to college football's top punter.
Admiral Richard E. Hawes - WWII naval hero and namesake of guided missile frigate USS Hawes.
Eddie Lee Ivery - Running back for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Green Bay Packers.
Millie Jackson - R & B singer
Franklin Langham - PGA Tour golfer (1992-present)
Blind Willie McTell - Noted singer and blues musician, wrote "Statesboro Blues". Thomson sponsors an annual blues festival in his honor.
Chris Mohr - NFL punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons (1989-2004); published songwriter.
Ken Roberson - Broadway choreographer noted for his work in the 2004 Tony Award winning "Avenue Q" and "All Shook Up." Movie credits as choreographer include: HBO's "Lackawanna Blues" and Independent film "Preaching to the Choir."
Tom Watson - U.S. Senator and renowned orator of the late 19th century. Noted for establishing Rural Free Delivery, which set up rural mail service for the nation.
Tifton
In 2000, Tifton officially became the Reading Capital of the World, a distinction based on amassing over 2 million points in the Accelerated Reader program and achieving other goals such as increasing library circulation and reducing illiteracy rates. This distinction was celebrated on Nov. 15, 2000, when a packed high school stadium read aloud from Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, as a 30-foot Cat in the Hat balloon swayed overhead. The crowd then read silently from books of their own, earning the city dual entries in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people reading together in one place[citation needed] as well as the most reading together silently
The city has previously been recognized as a Top 100 Small Town and as the Cleanest City in America.[
Until recently, Tifton was the home of the world's second largest magnolia tree, which was located in Magnolia Tree Park. According to an article published in the Tifton Gazette in March of 2006, the magnolia somehow caught fire and was burned down in August of 2004 and the gates around it remain locked to this day.[6] Although it no longer grows, the tree still stands. It is not known where the new second largest magnolia tree resides.
classical singer Adriana Zabala,
country singer Cyndi Thomson,
LPGA major winner Nanci Bowen,
and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dennis Dove.
Clay Shiver, an All-American American football player and a member of Florida State University's all-time football team[7]. Shiver continued his career by playing for the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL.
Nick Green, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, attended high school in Tifton[8].
Toccoa
Toccoa is the famous the birthplace of singer Ida Cox
strongman/philanthropist Paul Edward Anderson.
hometown of former Clemson and NBA basketball player Dale Davis,
former Georgia Tech and NFL football player Pat Swilling,
and All-American (Georgia Tech) football player Ken Swilling.
James Brown, the king of soul, lived in Toccoa a short time before his big break as a singer, and worked as a janitor at Toccoa High School.
Bobby Byrd (August 15, 1934 – September 12, 2007) was an African American funk/soul/R&B/gospel musician and songwriter, and a sideman to James Brown.
On November 6, 1977 the Kelly Barnes Dam, located above the college, failed. The resulting flood killed 39 [1].
Camp Toccoa, a World War II paratrooper training base, was located near here. It was the main training base for "Easy Company", 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, of the Army's 101st Airborne Division, whose experiences in the Second World War were the basis for the book and subsequent HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers".
Toccoa is also home to the Travelers Rest.
On May 7, 2000 Mary Ann Stephens of Toccoa was shot to death outside a Ramada Inn in Jacksonville, Florida while on vacation with her husband. The incident received national attention and resulted in an Academy Award-winning French documentary, Murder on a Sunday Morning, on the arrest and acquittal of the original suspect [2].
Tunnel Hill
The original Chetoogeta Mountain Tunnel is now paved for tourists to walk through, and has even more historic value as the Great Locomotive Chase passed through it in 1862.
Throughout the American Civil War, the area homes around Tunnel Hill were used as part of a major hospital system. Wounded Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood was brought to the Clisby Austin House after the Battle of Chickamauga. His leg was buried in a family cemetery near the house. The Clisby Austin House also acted as the Headquarters of Union Gen. William T. Sherman while he made his plans for his famous Atlanta Campaign.
The general area of Tunnel Hill hosted many engagements and camps throughout the course of the war. All that is remembered today through an annual Battle Reenactment that is held in September each year
Tybee Island may be best known outside of Georgia as the home of the Tybee Bomb, a nuclear weapon that was lost offshore on February 5, 1958.
Tybee Island is also the site of the first of what became the Days Inn chain of hotels.
The Tybee Island Light Station is one of just a handful of 18th century lighthouses still in operation in North America. First built in the year 1736, the lighthouse was made of brick and wood,and was standing 90 feet tall, making it the highest structure in America at that time. Today the Tybee Lighthouse is a popular tourist destination, having all of its support buildings on the five-acre site historically preserved. The current black and white tower markings is a reversion to its fourth day mark, first used in 1916
Vidalia
Most people know Vidalia because of its Onions. The vidalia onion was first produced about 1931 when a farmer's crop contained some particularly sweet onions. Other farmers started producing the same onion, and in the 1940's the Vidalia onion became an item sold to tourists
