Historical Markers in
Sumter County, Georgia

Always a Reckoning Americus Colored Hospital Andersonville / Father Peter Whelan Archery, Georgia Baby Row Billy Carter Service Station Blacksmith Shop Camp Sumter Confederate Prison Site Captain Henry Wirz Carter Warehouse Cash Crops Catch the Mules Charles A. Lindbergh Confederate Cemetery Confederate Hospitals Deadly Insects Early Days Federal Headquarters Founders Memorial Park Friendship Garden Georgia Southwestern State University How blocks are made Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Jimmy Carter Slept Here Jimmy Carter's Boyhood Farm / From Here To Plains Koinonia Farm Legacy of an Outdoor Childhood Lindbergh's Solo Flight Luther H. Story M and M Cash Store Never Far from Home Next-door Neighbors Old Bank Building Old Carter Peanut Warehouse Plains City Hall Plains Depot Plains High School Plains Honors Her Own Jimmy Carter Plains Inn and Antique Mall Plains Pharmacy Poverty Housing: A Global Epidemic President Jimmy Carter Rees Park Rosalynn Smith Carter Speaker Crisp Sumter County Sumter County Courthouse Bell Sumter County Courthouse Bell Sumter County in the Civil Rights Movement Tennis Court The Carter Family Garden The Earl and Lillian Carter Home The First Presbyterian Church of Americus The Home The Luther Story Bridge The Prather Clinic Walters Grocery Company Washington Elm Tree Welcome to Africa/Middle East Welcome to Asia/Pacific Welcome to Latin America/Caribbean Williams Warehouse Winds of Change Wirz Monument Wise Sanitarium
The Atlanta Braves baseball team was originally based in Boston and then Milwaukee before moving to Atlanta in 1966.
Georgia random facts
Sumter County, Georgia, has a rich and diverse history that spans several centuries. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Creek and Cherokee, who lived off the land and established thriving communities. European settlers began arriving in the 18th century, bringing with them agriculture and establishing plantations.

In the early 19th century, Sumter County played a significant role in Georgia's cotton industry. As cotton production boomed, so did the demand for enslaved laborers. Many large plantations were established in the county, relying heavily on the forced labor of enslaved African Americans. This dark period of the county's history left a lasting impact on its social and economic development.

During the Civil War, Sumter County experienced the effects of the conflict firsthand. Several battles were fought in the area, including the Battle of Andersonville in 1864, where the infamous Andersonville Prison was located. The prison held Union prisoners of war, and conditions were notoriously harsh, resulting in significant loss of life.

In the years following the war, Sumter County faced the challenges of Reconstruction. The county's economy shifted away from agriculture as industries like railroads and manufacturing emerged. Today, Sumter County is a vibrant community with a mix of rural and urban areas. It's home to educational institutions, businesses, and cultural attractions that celebrate its rich history while looking towards the future.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Sumter County, Georgia.

  • 1831 - Sumter County is established
  • 1836 - The county seat is moved to Americus
  • 1864 - The Battle of Andersonville takes place during the American Civil War
  • 1890 - The Americus Female College is founded
  • 1942 - Andersonville National Historic Site is established
  • 1964 - Martin Luther King Jr. speaks at a civil rights rally in Americus
  • 1994 - Habitat for Humanity International is founded in Americus