Florence

Stewart County, Georgia has a rich history rooted in Native American tribes and European colonization. The area was originally inhabited by the Creek and Cherokee tribes, who lived off the land and engaged in trade with European settlers. In the late 1700s, European settlers began to establish themselves in the region, and in 1830, the Indian Removal Act led to the forced relocation of indigenous peoples, paving the way for white settlement.

The county itself was created in 1830 and named after General Daniel Stewart, a Revolutionary War hero. It quickly became a hub for agriculture, with farms and plantations springing up throughout the area. Cotton, in particular, became a major cash crop, and large plantations were worked by enslaved people.

During the Civil War, Stewart County was a center of Confederate support. The county sent hundreds of men to fight for the South and experienced devastation as Union troops moved through the area. After the war, the county struggled to recover economically, as the agricultural system dependent on enslaved labor collapsed.

In the 20th century, Stewart County saw significant social and economic change. The boll weevil infestation in the 1920s devastated the cotton industry, leading to a shift toward diversified agriculture. The county also experienced population decline, as younger generations left in search of better opportunities elsewhere. Today, Stewart County continues to be a rural community, with a focus on agriculture and small businesses.