History

Webster County was created in 1853 from part of Stewart County. Georgia's 103rd county originally had an Indian name, Kinchafoonee, for a principal creek that crosses it. After outsiders made fun of the name, the county's citizens petitioned to change it to honor Daniel Webster.

The first Confederate flag to fly in Georgia was raised on the Webster County Courthouse lawn in 1861. At the end of the war, Union troops cut down and destroyed the flagpole.

For a short period during World War II, the belvedere atop the courthouse was used to watch for any enemy aircraft that might be headed toward nearby Fort Benning.

Points of Interest

Preston, the county seat, was known as Lannahassee and was the first white settlement after Creek Indians left the area. When the county was created, its name changed to honor William O. Preston of South Carolina.

Endangered species found in Webster County are the southern bald eagle and the red-cockaded woodpecker.

Notable Citizens

Walter F. George, who served as a U.S. Senator for 34 years, ambassador to NATO, and a special advisor to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, was born near Preston in 1878.

Webster County Courthouse, Preston

Mom's Kitchen, Preston