Cotton's resurgence in the postbellum years was fueled by high demand, prices and a lifeline from the North.
The Mary-Leila Cotton and Textile Mill, Greensboro Georgia (1899)
The Old South
Once a rich cotton Plantation district known as "Prosperity Ridge" during the pre-Civil War antebellum South, middle Georgia between Augusta and Atlanta is now the "Lake Country." By examining the historical impact of the cotton boom in the postbellum period in Georgia, we uncover the surprisingly positive economic and social transformations that occurred in the region.
Cotton has long been a cornerstone of Greensboro, GA's economy. Ask anyone about the primary cash crop of antebellum Georgia, and they would likely answer, "cotton." The image of white cotton bolls being handpicked by African American slaves and sent to market is deeply ingrained in the state's history. This lucrative crop fostered a society of leisure for a wealthy minority, reminiscent of the O'Hara family from Margaret Mitchell's internationally acclaimed novel, Gone with the Wind.
When a cash crop like cotton thrives, there's always a resourceful local ready to capitalize on it. By the start of the Civil War, this entrepreneurial spirit had led to the establishment of three productive textile mills in Greene County operating 11,000 spindles and many looms and six-seven hundred employees.
1) The Scull Schoals Factory
2) Greensborough Manufacturing Company
3) The Curtwright Factory (3rd mill established in Greene County and largest before the Civil War)
Postbellum Era
Against all odds and despite a crippled agricultural economy in the wake of Reconstruction, efforts to attract industry transformed Georgia including Greene County into a textile manufacturing powerhouse by 1900. Surprisingly, statewide, Georgia saw a surge in textile mills, many of which were financed or owned by northern companies. These businesses were drawn to Georgia for several reasons after being wooed by New South politicians and businessmen.
The first reason was the proximity to cotton fields which reduced transportation costs. Also, the mild climate was beneficial, and the lower taxes were appealing. However, the most compelling factor was the availability of cheap labor. Widespread poverty among both white and black populations in the postbellum South provided a steady stream of white men, women, and children willing to work long hours for minimal pay.
In towns like Greensboro, GA (Greene County) the textile mill was the primary employer, necessitating entire families to work. Men typically earned just a few dollars a day, women even less, and children as little as 75 cents for a full day’s work. To partially compensate, mills often provided housing and other amenities mimicking the great textile manufacturing facilities of Lowell, Massachusetts. Villages of uniform houses sprang up around the mills, complete with company stores, churches, parks, and other services. Despite the low wages, mill workers generally enjoyed a higher standard of living compared to subsistence farmers and sharecroppers that lived in the area.
"The Queen of Industry" or "The New South" illustration by Thomas Nast (1882) for the cover of Harper's Weekly (King Cotton himself is depicted in the upper left hand corner)
The transformation of Greene county’s local subsistence economy into part of a larger commercial market economy took time-the greatest changes occurred between 1850 and 1880. By the 1880s the commercial market system dominated Greene County’s economy, and the vast majority of Greene County’s people supply their basic needs to commercial exchange rather than subsistence activities a change from the antebellum days.
The Mary-Leila Apartment Lofts, Greensboro Georgia (2023)
The Legacy of Cotton in Greene County can be tied to the railroads of central Georgia
During the Civil War (1861-65), Georgia's Central Railroad remained operational, supporting Confederate military, manufacturing, and economic needs until mid-1864, when Union forces systematically destroyed bridges, tracks, and rolling stock. Images of "Sherman's bowties"—rails heated and twisted around trees—became iconic of General William T. Sherman's destructive march to the sea. Remarkably, the Central Railroad recovered quickly, resuming operations by June 1866.
As highlighted in this pictorial map of the central railroad lines, Greensboro served as a key stop for transporting cotton to distant financial centers. In the early twentieth century, the Central Railroad played a role in actively recruited chemical and textile industries to Georgia.
The New South Economic Data
The New South vision achieved notable success, particularly in Georgia's manufacturing sector between 1870 and 1910. In 1870, the state had around $14 million invested in manufacturing establishments. By 1890, this investment had surged to nearly $57 million, and by 1910, it exceeded $202 million. As mentioned above, cotton mills had been present in antebellum Georgia. Prior to the Civil War, these were small operations like those is Greene County located primarily along the fall line (the division between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions of the state), where water power was abundant, a necessity before the days of electrical power!
Despite a ravaged economy due to the failed succession attempt that ended in 1864, Georgia still had the potential to become a major player in cotton goods manufacturing. Business and government leaders in Atlanta recognized that with substantial investment in large textile plants, the state's ample cotton supply and available labor could drive the economy forward. Atlanta hosted the International Cotton Exposition in 1881, featuring over 1,100 exhibits. This event aimed to showcase Georgia’s industrial potential. A notable exhibit demonstrated the entire cotton production process. To all that came through the display, they marveled at the display of how cotton could be picked, ginned, woven, and tailored into a suit all within a single day.
The success of the 1881 exposition led to the subsequent Piedmont Exposition in 1887, attended by President Grover Cleveland. In 1895, Atlanta hosted its grandest event yet, the Cotton States and International Exposition, which showcased the resources and achievements of Georgia and other cotton-producing states. During the 1870s and 1880s, Henry W. Grady of the highly regarded newspaper the Atlanta Constitution championed the industrialization of Georgia, suggesting that every town should build a cotton mill as a civic duty.
And by all these monumental efforts, by 1900, textile manufacturing had become a cornerstone of Georgia's economy, with the U.S. Census reporting ninety-eight textile mills in operation. Accordingly, young men were encouraged to develop skills in the newly formed cotton-trade schools across the state, and in 1899, the Textile Department of the Georgia School of Technology (now known as the Georgia Institute of Technology or GA Tech) was established.
By 1910, Georgia boasted 116 textile mills employing over 27,000 people, many of whom lived in company-provided housing. A 1923 publication by Georgia Railway and Power highlighted the unique spirit of these mill communities, describing it as a vital element of the state's cotton manufacturing industry.
Number of manufacturing jobs in textiles
in Georgia 1860-1910
Millions in manufactured goods in the textile industry
in Georgia 1860-1910
In Conclusion
The antebellum cotton boom brought prosperity to the area, shaping its economy and societal structures profoundly. The allure of cotton was not just a commodity but a way of life. Greene County, with its fertile lands and ideal climate, became a hub for cotton cultivation during the 19th century. By 1996, only 16.5 percent of Georgia's industrial workers were employed in the textile industry, marking a 50 percent decline from the 1950s. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that by 2017, only 19,300 textile mill jobs remained in Georgia—a 60.5 percent decrease since 2001. Today, while a few small mills still operate in the state, Georgia's dominance in textile manufacturing has waned, with China now being the largest producer of textiles.
Examining the postbellum cotton economy at a micro level in Greene County is crucial for understanding the state of Georgia's economic cycles. The boom and bust nature of this geographical area highlights the local economy's resilience and should be celebrated as an example of local ingenuity and adaptability. Today, that adaptability shines in a new shift towards tourism and the leisure industries around Lake Oconee that have brought back great prosperity to the region.
Sources:
Bryant, J. M. (2014). How Curious a Land: Conflict and Change in Greene County, Georgia, 1850-1885. UNC Press Books.
Griffin, R. W. (1964). The Textile Industry in Greene County, Georgia Before 1860. The Georgia Historical Quarterly, 48(1), 81–84. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40578337.
Hall, J. D. (2000). Like a Family: The Making of a Southern Cotton Mill World. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
Raper, A. F. (1993). Tenants of the Almighty. Ann Arbor, MI: UMI.
Wynne, L. N. (1986). The Continuity of Cotton: Planter Politics in Georgia, 1865-1892. Mercer University Press.
(N.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dca.ga.gov/sites/default/files/tillingtheearth_0.pdf
Georgia Studies website (N.d.). Retrieved from https://georgiastudies.gpb.org/c16- industrializing-georgia.
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