Sumter County, Georgia

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1825 The The Creek Indians signed over their land to the United States with the Treaty of Indian Springs, which then was assigned to Georgia. By 1827 Georgia was removing the Creek Indians from this area. Lee county was divided into districts and lots. Land could be obtained in the 1827 lottery. Jacob W Cobb drew a lot in the 28th district. Soon other settlers were here on the side of the Flint River, such as Avery Wheeler, John Cowart, Thomas Key, Edmond Nunn, Isom West, and Augustus Nunn. All began clearing the lands after the Creek Indians moved across the Chattahoochee river into Alabama. ^[1][2][3][4]

http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/history.htm

Feb 12, 1825 The Indian Springs treaty with the Creek Indians, was signed, then ratified on April 22, 1825. Lee County was divided into districts and lots. Land could be obtained in the 1827 lottery. Soon other settlers were here on the side of the Flint River, such as Avery Wheeler, John Cowart, Thomas Key, Edmond Nunn, Isom West, and Augustus Nunn. All began clearing the lands after the Creek Indians moved across the Chattahoochee river into Alabama. ^[2]

1827 White settlers received their land through the 1827 Georgia land lottery. They began the cultivation of short staple cotton, which yielded the best cotton in the Black Belt of the South in the rich black soil. A Sumter County committee selected a site for Americus, Georgia, to be a county seat, and laid out the town. ^[1]

1829 More settlers came to the western part of the county on Kinchafoonee Creek. Jacob Little settled on Muckalee south of Americas where Little's bridge is located.^[2]

The commissioners chose the land lot No. 156, located in the 927th District) near the Muckalee Creek and south of Little Creek (now called Town Creek. Surveyors pitched a tent near the Central freight depot. They laid out the streets and courthouse square.. This is the reported story of how Americus, Georgia received its name, A Drawing-. It is reported that they "held a drawing from potential names in a hat. ^[2]

Dec 26, 1831, Georgia General assembly passed (Ga. Law 1831, p 76) to form its 80th County, Sumter County from Lee County. This occurred (4 years) after Georgia acquired the Indian land territory, following the 1826 Treaty of Indian Springs. ^[1] This county was named in honor of Gen. Thomas Sumter, (1734 - 1832 from South Carolina) was the last surviving French and Indian War and Revolutionary War veteran. ^{[1][3] [5] [1][6]}

Sumter county Map

1840's-1850's The black soil left by the rivers on each side of the county was ideal for growing cotton. The rivers provided the transportation for the cotton and staples. In early years Sumter County depended on slaves for cultivating the land and picking the cotton. The 1850 Census show (3,835 slaves and 18 free African Americans). The 1860 Census showed more slaves than white people (4,890 slaves, and 2 free African Amercans to 4,536 white people) ^[1]

Andersonville, Prisoner Camp

1863-65 Civil War Andersonville was (9 miles north) of Americus, Sumter County.. The Confederacy selected this to be the place for a prisoner of war camp. The actual Andersonville prison was built in nearby Macon County and was the largest Confederate prison in the South. The camp operated 14 months (holding 45,000 Union prisoners.) This camp caused many deaths due to water, poor food, just corn bread, and no medical supplies.^[7]

Andersonville

http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/military/ande_pri.htm THE REBEL PRISON PEN AT ANDERSONVILLE, GA THE WATER THE PRISONERS DRANK: Reflections of a Prisoner at Andersonville, Georgia and Pollution Prisoner Statement.

The creek providing water for the camp was large and fast moving, before Andersonville was moved to Millen, Georgia - Camp Lawton. Both the guards and prisoners as well as the bakeries used this water. This prisoner who wrote this said he did not believe bakeries or the guards would pollute the water, knowing all would be drinking it. There were orders not to pollute the stream water. The prisoners dug wells also with water that was pure, and cold water. The guards drank from the wells also. ^[8]

Andersonville camp

Why NO Barracks

The Confederacy was blamed for not providing barracks protection for the prisoners from sun and rain. There were two water powered rudimentary mills about (3) and (6) miles away. A steam mill was either (23) miles at Smithville or (50) miles at Reynolds. Lumber was available, but no transportation to haul the lumber to the prison. The Railways hauled supplies for the army and the prisons with none available to haul wood... Even the army of the Confederacy stayed in tents. Neighboring farm slaves were hired to cut down the nearby pine trees into lengths for planting in a (4 foot deep) ditch.^[8]

1864 Andersonville Prisoner Camp was overcrowded with scarce food or medical supplies. Its prisoners were disease-ridden, with a lack of medicine. Andersonville was built here due to its security from the Union cavalry raids, abundance of water and timber. The 350 guards were from the ragged 26th of Alabama, and the 55th of Georgia. During1864, the prison did not have a tree or bush showing. The ill men from Andersonville were turned over to the Union armies. According to a clerk in the commissary, who rationed the food, guards and prisoners received the same quantity and quality of food. All southerners ate cornbread, including prisoners and guards. Reason: Wheat bread had been supplied by Ohio and bacon usually came from the west. The scant flour available was rationed for use in the hospital, Everyone in the south ate corn bread, including the Confederate armies. Mortality of the prisoners was mostly due to lack of medicine. ^{[9][8][6][10]}

1917-18 Souther Field was a training base for both American and British pilots in Americus, Georgia.. It is said Charles Lindbergh learned to fly at Souther Field.

Windsor Hotel

Americus, Georgia has two colleges, a World War I airfield, known as Souther Field, and businesses such as Habitat for Humanity, the Windsor Hotel (built in 1892), and Rylander Theater (opened 1921). Colleges are Georgia Southwestern State University, (a public 4 year school) and South Georgia Technical College. Millard Fuller founded the Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit organization with the mission to reduce or eliminate homelessness in Americus.^[1][4]

City Hall

1976 The Presidential election elected Jimmy Carter, a native son of Sumter County, who lived on a peanut farm in Plains, Georgia near the western edge. After President Carter was elected, Plains, Georgia received attention from tourists and reporters. The Carters and family continue to live there. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter coauthored a book, 1987 "Everything to Gain:Making the Most off the Rest of your Life". In this they discuss working with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center. Carter's birthplace and childhood home is a National Historic Site which receives tours. ^[1][6]

Mar 21, 2007 a Tornado struck the Sumter County Regional Hospital in Americus with two deaths, Sumter County, Georgia. ^[4]

Today Andersonville National Historic Site is a memorial to all prisoners of war. The 495 acre park is positioned in both Macon and Sumter Counties. It consists of the prison site and the National Cemetery originally reserved for the Union deaths. This is the only remaining part of the prison and the National Cemetery.^{[1] [5][4] [6]}

Buildings in Americus, Georgia

Pat Brady built the first house, a pine log house on the Artesian corner lot. His goods were a box of tobacco, barrel of whiskey, box of tobacco, box of chalk, gun flints and a keg of powder.^[2]The first church was in the African American Cemetery and had Allison Cullpepper as the teacher.

Map of Sumter and showing sumter county in GA

Schools

The first school began on Town Creek at the north end of Lee Street. This was past the Elbert head fish pond on north with Thomas Harvey as the Teacher. The 2nd school used W.H.C. Dudley's lot where a sycamore tree stands. Harris Dickson, a teacher planted the young sycamore tree. ^[2]

Old Danville, Georgia After Martin Miller settled on a Flint River bluff, he began Old Danville, Georgia. He also built a steamboat to transport goods to the town for a country store, where he traded hides and tallow for salt, sugar, coffee, tobacco and other dry goods. Soon other stores, houses began. He built a warehouse to store the cotton and store goods.^[11]

City Hall

Americus, Georgia

At first citizens of Americus went to Danville, Georgia for their supplies. The railroad was installed to go through Americus, Georgia, bypassing Danville, Georgia. For a while Danville had (300 people), reaching its peak 1850. Danville, Georgia began to lose people until soon there was just the plantation of C.S.S. Home. It seemed the railroad helped added the population off Americus. ^[11]

Old Pineville, Georgia

1833 Twelve families lived between Flint River and Line Creek. Mr. Horton built a store across the river in Hawkinsville He had a variety of dry goods and groceries. Near here Neighbors built a school house. Jacob W cobb was the teacher. Mr Horton squatted on land first two miles from Shelby's Ferry. Other teachers were Mr. Phil Forsythe, Thomas Harvey and John M Smith..^[12]

1835, Martin Miller and Royal Jenkins laid the town on the river banks. This was first called Horton's Store, renamed "Horton", then "Pineville". This was due to farming country surrounding the town, with plantations up and down the river sending their children to the Pineville school. After a while, Pineville began to fade.^[13]

Drayton, Georgia began across the river with a history of earlier dates than Danville. At one time It was the county seat of Dooly County. The Flint river separated Drayton and Danville. Politics of Drayton were Democrats and Danville were Whigs politics. By 1847 they had resolved their differences and both built the steamboat trade down to Appalachicola to ship the plantation cotton crops. They hauled the cotton on wagons, to the steamers. This was called "Magnolia" which became lodged on the Adams Creek Shouls until the river rose enough to float the steamer off. ^[14]

• History of Sumter County, By Jack F. Cox

Adjacent Counties

• Macon County (northeast)
• Dooly County (east)
• Crisp County (southeast)
• Lee County (south)
• Terrell County (southwest)
• Webster County (west)
• Marion County (northwest)
• Schley County (north)

Government

Dec. 26, 1831 The first court met in John Kimmy's house as a temporary courthouse. It is not known how long this continued. ^[3]

1834 John Moore was paid $950 to build a courthouse, however he left the county in July 1834 with the money and no courthouse.^[3]

1839 Thomas Gardner was contracted to build the courthouse in the center of the town square. It was a 2-story wooden building with the lower floor holding the courtroom and 2nd story was a jury room and county offices. The court room was used for church purposes by the Primitives, Methodists, John Talley; Missionary, by Jonathan Davis, and Universalist by Rev. Shehan.^[2][3]

1853 The wooden courthouse was moved to the west side of Jackson Street. ^[3]

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1882-87 The Georgia General Assembly approved a referendum allowing Sumter county to borrow $40,000 for a brick courthouse. Work began 1887 on Forsyth and Lee Streets. This was completed May 1888 and served the county for sixty years. ^[3]

Sumter County Courthouse

May 1959 A new courthouse was finished. ^[3]

Geography

Size-493 square miles (1,280 km2), of which 483 square miles (1,250 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (2.0%) is water or 492.6 Square Miles

Creeks, Lakes -Huckalee Creek flows through Sumter County, which also contains Lake Blackshear and Kinchafoonee Creek.

Soil - Rich black soil good for short Staple cotton

Basin ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin - Western 2/3 of Sumter County (northeast of Americas to southwest of Lesliein.The western two-thirds of Sumter County, ::Kinchafoonee-Muckalee sub-basin - from northeast of Americus to southwest of Leslie

(Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin)- Eastern third of the county is located in the Middle Flint River sub-basin

Crops - Cotton (20,000 acres ) is still the major crop along with soybeans, wheat and peanuts.

Protected Areas

• Flint River,

Demographics

In 2000, there were 33,200 people in the county with a population density of 68 people/sq. mi. In 2010 there were 32,819 people in the county with a population density of 68 people/sq mi. The racial makeup of the county was 51.8% black or African American, 42.2% white, 1.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.2% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 7.3% were American, 6.6% were English, and 5.8% were Irish. The median income for a household in the county was $32,430 The per capita income for the county was $17,436. About 21.7% of families and 26.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.8% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.^[15]

This Sumter county is still a rural county. Cotton is still the major crop (35,000 acres), with wheat, peanuts and corn. Coordinates: 32.04°N 84.20°W

Highways

• US 19.svg U.S. Route 19
• US 280.svg U.S. Route 280
• Georgia 3.svg State Route 3
• Georgia 27.svg State Route 27
• Georgia 30.svg State Route 30
• Georgia 45.svg State Route 45
• Georgia 49.svg State Route 49
• Georgia 118.svg State Route 118
• Georgia 153.svg State Route 153
• Georgia 195.svg State Route 195
• Georgia 228.svg State Route 228
• Georgia 271.svg State Route 271
• Georgia 308.svg State Route 308
• Georgia 377.svg State Route 377

NOTABLES

• President Jimmy Carter
• Charles Lindbergh learned to fly at Souther Field. Mechanics helped him assembled his "Jenny" aircraft

RESOURCES

• Cooper Lighting
• Georgia Southwestern State University
• Magnolia Manor
• Phoebe Sumter Medical Center
• Wal-Mart
• Habitat for Humanity International, Americus, Georgia
• Southwestern State University, (a public 4 year college in Americus 1906 ,part of the Georgia University System.
• South Georgia Technical College, near Souther Field was the base for American and British pilots in World War I. (1917-1918).
• Souther Field. Lindbergh assembled this "Jenny" aircraft with the help of mechanics at Souther Field.
• Windsor Hotel, built in 1892, and the
• Rylander Theatre

Cities

Census

According to the 2010 U.S. census, the population of Sumter County was 32,819, a slight decrease from the 2000 population of 33,200.

Cemeteries

• World Cat Sumter county Cemeteries

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumter_County,_Georgia
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/history.htm
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} https://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/counties/sumter
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} http://www.ourgeorgiahistory.com/ogh/Sumter_County,_Georgia
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} https://georgiahistory.com/ghmi_marker_updated/sumter-county/
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/counties-cities-neighborhoods/sumter-county
7. ↑ http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/history.htm
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/military/ande_pri.htm
9. ↑ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/smithsonian-channel/civil-war-prisoner-camp-place-of-horror/
10. ↑ http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/military/ande_pri.htm
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/history/Danville.htm
12. ↑ http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/history/OldPineville.htm
13. ↑ http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/history/OldPineville.htm
14. ↑ http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/history/Drayton.htm
15. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumter_County,_Georgia

• https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/counties-cities-neighborhoods/sumter-county
• http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/history.htm
• https://georgiahistory.com/ghmi_marker_updated/sumter-county/
• http://www.ourgeorgiahistory.com/ogh/Sumter_County,_Georgia
• http://www.sumtercountyhistory.com/wbts/2MANASS.htm
• https://www.americusga.gov
• https://www.raogk.org/georgia/sumter-county/
• Links for Andersonville Prison
• Jimmy Carter, An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2001).
• http://www.ereferencedesk.com/resources/counties/georgia/sumter.html
• https://www.genealogyinc.com/georgia/sumter-county/
• Jack F. Cox, History of Sumter County, Georgia (Roswell, Ga.: W. H. Wolfe, 1983).