Cover Story
The Changing Face of South Georiga
High Profile
Jim Worn - Cracking the corporate shell at South Georgia
Opinion
The Changing Face of South Georgia
By
Kay Harris
Cruising around the modern, four lane state highways which connect the
largest cities across South Georgia, it’s not unusual to see trucks
laden with lumber and farmers driving large combines from one field to
the next. It’s also not unusual to see acres of planted row crops
adjacent to new upscale housing developments and even lining the streets
within a city’s limits.
But what would be unusual is finding someone who gives it a second thought.
South Georgia is a rural dichotomy — a study in contrasts if you will, between the modern face of progressive communities actively seeking tourists, building new conference centers, touting plantation tours and boasting one of the state’s largest theme parks and the older, weather worn face of towns whose foundations were laid with the sweat of farm labor and are still largely dependent on agriculture for their survival.
As an integral part of the South Georgia landscape, agriculture’s roots run deep, permanently embedded into the region’s economy. Although the faces may change, the people remain the same — solid, hard working, and dependable.
While others might shun or try to shed themselves of their agricultural heritage, South Georgia has learned to celebrate and embrace it, safe in the knowledge that diversity is the key to economic success and a strong foundation built on solid agricultural roots will benefit the region for many years to come.