Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, site of the world’s largest azalea garden, encompasses more than 14,000 acres and, in addition to the gardens, offers golfing, boating, cycling, and other leisure activities. In the 1950s Cason and Virginia Hand Callaway transformed land left barren from decades of cotton farming into a place of beauty and relaxation. Since it opened to the public, Callaway Gardens, located about seventy miles southwest of Atlanta, has attracted millions of visitors.

Carl Vinson, recognized as “the father of the two-ocean navy,” served twenty-five consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. When he retired in January 1965, he had served in the U.S. Congress longer than anyone in history. He also set the record for service as chair of a standing committee. He chaired the House Naval Affairs Committee for sixteen years (1931-47) and its successor, the House Armed Services Committee, for fourteen years (1949-53 and 1955-65).

A catastrophe adjuster for Crawford & Company, an Atlanta-based independent insurance adjusting company, examines damage caused by Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast in 2005. Crawford introduced catastrophe services in the early 1970s. Courtesy of Crawford & Company The New Georgia Encyclopedia does not hold the copyright for this media resource and can neither grant nor deny permission to republish or reproduce the image online or in print. All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the rights holder.

The first courthouse in Folkston, built after the town was designated as the county seat in 1901, burned down in 1928. The current courthouse, designed in Neoclassical Revival and Georgian Revival styles, was built during the same year. An annex to the building was constructed in 1978. Photograph by Jimmy Emerson, DVM The New Georgia Encyclopedia does not hold the copyright for this media resource and can neither grant nor deny permission to republish or reproduce the image online or in print.

One of the finest guitar players of his generation, Chet Atkins helped to originate the “Nashville Sound” and played a vital role in turning Nashville, Tennessee, into the home of country music. In addition to his own performing, Atkins discovered and produced some of country music’s greatest artists. Early Career Chester Burton Atkins was born on June 20, 1924, near Luttrell, Tennessee. Many members of his family played musical instruments, and his father made a living by teaching piano and singing with touring evangelists.